As published in Fishwrapper newspaper by Laura Byrne Paquet, OttawaRoadTrips.com
Berries and pumpkins and daisies, oh my!
If you love meeting the people who grow your food, flowers, fibres, grapes and gourds—and buying products fresh from the farm—you should Follow 44. That just means driving along Leeds-Grenville County Road 44 as it meanders its scenic way from Spencerville to Kemptville. En route, there are all sorts of farm stands, shops and markets where you can shop locally.
You could start your adventure at the family-friendly Happy Little Farmstead, just west of County Road 44 near Spencerville. Year round, kids can ride mini tractors, do crafts, and visit goats, chickens, donkeys and other farm animals. The farm also hosts special events, such as a Corn Festival (Saturday, August 10).
Also near Spencerville, a few kilometres east of County Road 44, Foraged & Freehand sells foraged wreaths and fresh-cut flowers from its self-serve stand. You can choose from charming mason-jar arrangements, paper-wrapped bouquets and more. The stand is open from mid-May to September on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 2pm.
Drive 10 minutes north of Foraged & Freehand and you’ll discover Little Foot Alpacas in the village of Ventnor. There, you can stroll with the gentle namesake animals, and buy yarn and knitted goods in the farm shop. (There’s even a large vacation rental apartment above the barn, if you just can’t bear to leave!)
Back on County Road 44, you’ll soon arrive at Green Gables Vines. This family-owned winery makes wines from a variety of fruits—not just grapes, but also strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. You can book a tasting or a wine-and-cheese event to sample all they have to offer.
Take Porter Road a kilometre northeast from Green Gables Vines and you see Johnston Brothers Tree Farm, where you can buy landscaping trees and materials in warmer months, and cut your own Christmas tree in November and December.
Just five minutes northeast of Johnston Brothers, Stonyground Farm raises flowers without chemicals. Order at least 48 hours in advance and you can pick up a just-picked bouquet of whatever is in season. Choose bright, moody, neutral or pastel colours, or order a “bulk bucket” and create your own arrangements.
In fall, you can drive another five minutes from Stonyground Farm to the Townline Road Pumpkin Patch to find the perfect pumpkin for your jack o’ lantern. If you don’t want to go with a traditional orange pumpkin, the farm grows lots of other colours, including white, green and pink! You can also buy other Halloween décor items, including straw bales, cornstalks and small gourds.
And here’s another must-stop spot for flower fans: Wilding Acres Flower Farm, on County Road 44 south of Kemptville. Order your blooms online in advance for pickup onsite. The organic farm grows both wildflowers and specialty flowers, making them into artfully hand-tied bouquets.
Even if you don’t make it to a farm, you can still shop local and meet farmers at three great events.
In Kemptville, the Kemptville Farmers’ Market takes place on Sunday afternoons until October 27 in the parking lot of B&H Your Local Grocer in Kemptville.
From September 12 to 15, the 169th annual Spencerville Fair will host competitions to choose the best livestock, fruits, veggies, maple syrup, honey, eggs and more—and you can buy directly from lots of local vendors.
Finally, the Spencerville Seasonal Market takes place several times a year. The next one will be held on Sunday, September 29, at the Spencerville Mill Garden (9am to 2pm).
To find out more about Follow 44, go to https://www.northgrenville.ca/follow44.
Freelance writer Laura Byrne Paquet writes about day trips and weekend getaways in Eastern Ontario and beyond on her website, OttawaRoadTrips.com.
