Saturday was a beautiful day to go for a drive in the country and visit some local farms and that is exactly what many people did during the Fall Rural Romp.
The annual self-guided tour is organized by Taste Real Guelph and sponsored by the County of Wellington with the goal of promoting food tourism in the area and supporting local food producers.
Taste Real’s free Local Food map lists 108 farms, stores, markets and restaurants in Guelph and Wellington County so people can easily locate their desired destinations.
Rural Rompers were encouraged to snap a Felfie — a farm selfie for the Rural Romp Photo Contest and upload it to the Taste Real website for a chance to win one of three local food prizes.
“Taste Real supplied each farm with a selfie stick,” said Rob Mercier of Harmony Meadow Alpacas on the Sixth Line in Belwood.
Mercier and his wife Kristi started their farm eight years ago.
“We both grew up in the city but we loved the outdoors,” said Mercier. “We decided when we got together to get a place in the country. We figured if we are going to live in the country we might as well raise some animals.”
They have 32 alpacas, one llama and a bunch of chickens and guinea hens.
Their main products are alpaca fibre as well as a variety of products made from alpaca fleece such as yarn, socks, gloves, scarves, toques, insoles and duvets. They also sell free-range chicken, eggs, honey and other locally sourced goods at local markets, fairs and from a shop on the farm.
Another popular destination on the Rural Romp tour is Thatcher Farms Butcher Shop, Bakery and Farm Market on the Fifth Line in Rockwood.
“If it is anything like last year we’re expecting between 800 and 1,000 visitors,” said Dana Thatcher.
Thatcher runs the farm with her husband Adam and their three children.
“This was Adam’s family farm,” she said. “We took over from his parents and opened the store four years ago.”
They sell a variety of farm-fresh products including beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, sausages and smoked meats as well as baked goods, ready-made meals, honey, cheese, eggs, jams, milk and maple syrup.
Visitors Saturday were treated to live music by the band Poverty’s Arse and the kids burned off energy in the children’s play area.
Strom’s Farm and Bakery on Wellington Road 32 has been part of the Rural Romp tour from the beginning. They open in mid July for sweet corn and again in the fall for pumpkin season.
“Today is the opening day for our fall season,” said Channing Strom.
His parents Jay and Marg Strom began growing sweet corn in 1978 and pumpkins in 1995. Channing and Amy bought the farm from them in 2006 and run it with the help of their two sons.
The bakery and market offer a wide variety of local farm-fresh products and there are plenty of activities for the family.
A popular feature is the six-acre corn maze that raises money for a different charity each year.
“We did the first maze in 2002 to raise money for Habitat for Humanity,” said Strom. “People kept asking for more.”
This year’s charity is the Sunrise Therapeutic Riding Centre in Puslinch.
North-west of Guelph on Splint Road in Ariss is Top Market Meats.
It is owned and operated by Jeff and Leslie Zinger along with their two children Lizzy, 12 and Johnny, 11.
They are the fourth generation of Zingers to farm the property.
“We’re almost Noah’s Ark,” said Zinger. “We started farming with rabbits and added something new every year. Now we have chickens, turkeys, sheep, pigs, a donkey and a pony.”
He said they love the opportunity during Rural Romp to invite people out to the farm.
“We had lots of people come out this year,” Zinger said. “The nice weather helped.”
