Highlighting farm and food experiences, and fall foods in Wellington County and Guelph!
Taste Real Fall Rural Romp
When: September 30, 2023, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fall Flavours Map - Farm Visits - Tours - Pumpkins - Corn Mazes - Harvest Foods - Fall Decorations and more!
The Fall Rural Romp is a self-guided farm and food tour to farms, markets and nurseries in Centre Wellington, Erin, Guelph/Eramosa, Puslinch and the City of Guelph.
Meet our taste makers, learn about local food and agriculture and discover local food destinations in Wellington County.
Fall Romp Destinations
Stay tuned for 2023 locations coming soon! See below for 2022 participants.
ABERFOYLE FARMERS' MARKET
23 Brock Rd S, Puslinch
T 226.807.5236 www.afma.ca
AUGUST TREE FLOWER FARM
5881 3rd Line, Erin
T 905.815.0783 www.augusttreefarm.com
CALEHILL FARMS
9319 Erin-East Garafraxa Townline, Orton
T 519.820.1337 www.calehillfarms.ca
CRIEF HILLS RETREAT CENTRE
7098 Concession 1, Puslinch
T 519.503.4168 www.crieffhills.com
DIXON'S DISTILLED SPIRITS
355 Elmira Rd N, Guelph
T 122.620.3271 www.dixonsdistilledspirits.com
ELORA FARMERS' MARKET
127 E Mill St, Elora
T 226.821.5536 www.elorafarmersmarket.ca
EVER SMILES GARDENS
0069 Sideroad 18, Fergus
T 519.787.7643 www.facebook.com/eversmilesgardens
Welcome to our farm Ever Smiles Gardens. We are Homegrown and Handcrafted. Feel free to wander our 2 acres of gardens, greenhouses, and short walking trail. Roast marshmallows over a bonfire and visit our beeyard, rabbits and laying hens. Our in season produce, small batch artisan soaps, bath bombs and soy candles, as well as beeswax wraps are all chemical free and will be available for purchase.
THE GREEN LEGACY TREE NURSERY
6714 Wellington Rd 34, Puslinch
T 519.546.2228 www.greenlegacy.ca
Visit the County of Wellington Green Legacy Tree Nursery and pick up a free tree! Join us for refreshments, explore the nursery, tour the greenhouses, go on a nature hike and try your hand at transplanting a tree. Learn more about how we work with students and volunteers to help increase forest cover locally. Green Legacy nurseries provide 170,000 trees annually to residents and landowners in Wellington County.
THE GUELPH FARMERS' MARKET
2 Gordon St, Guelph
T 519.822.1260 x 2244
Discover the rich bounty of the harvest at one of Guelph's oldest and well-loved community spaces featuring a wide range of vendors, including local farmers and prepared food vendors who use fresh local ingredients. The market is open from 7:00 am - 12:00 pm.
HARMONY MEADOWS ALPACA
6185 6th Line, Belwood
T 519.827.0939 www.harmonymeadowsalpaca.ca
Our Alpacas are looking forward to meeting you! Visit our farm to learn all about Alpacas, and the many uses of alpaca fibre; browse the farm store where you can find beautiful alpaca products and local foods. Make sure to bring your camera to take some fun selfies with our alpacas!
HEARTWOOD FARM & CIDERY
5438 2nd Line, Acton
T 226.979.7860 www.heartwoodfarm.ca
Heartwood Farm and Cidery is a diverse 42-acre ecosystem of mixed pasture, fruit and nut orchards, woods and wetlands.
Heartwood is offering 3 time slots for pre-booking during the Rural Romp on Saturday, September 24, 2022. Our small farm has limited parking, so please help us offer the best possible experience by choosing and booking a 2-hour block for your visit to Heartwood. We will have stations set up all over the farm, and during your visit, choose to visit some or all of the hot spots!:
- watch our cider press in action turning apples into juice
- grab a cold drink in our hoop house to take with you while you explore our orchards and visit the livestock
- meet our adorable Kune Kune pigs -- they might even do tricks for you!
- walk our pastures to meet the sheep, llamas, cows and calves, and learn about regenerative grazing to restore the health of the land
- explore cool, interactive demos on the power of soil to save the planet!
- purchase and enjoy a flight of cider on our woodland patio
- take home products from our farm store
Book your visit for 10-11:45am, 12-1:45pm or 2-3:45pm
JOE'S HOME FARM AND GREENHOUSES
6866 Wellington Rd 16, Belwood
T 416.562.4170 www.joeshomefarm.ca
Visit our serine little family farm just north of Belwood Lake. Enjoy an peaceful and informative walk with us to see our small scale, all natural farm operations and the beautiful scenery. Shop our farm store for our Artisanal chicken, produce, gifts and more! Kids play zones, picturesque scenery, friendly service and real, local, natural food. Fall produce, decorations and fun in full swing. Dogs and cats on premises. Holiday turkeys available for order.
MAJESTIC WATER BUFFALO
6003 1st Line Erin, Orton
T 519.994.0853 www.majesticwaterbuffalo.ca
Stop by the farm to see a few of our water buffalo in person. Watch the free range chickens and turkeys and listen for their calls. See some youth working on their 4-H projects that are some of our Angus calves. Chat with us as we breed, raise and care for these animals everyday. We know you will enjoy our small, regenerative farm. Our farm store will be open so please take the time to browse and shop water buffalo meat, dairy and other items. Don't forget your cooler!
PLANET BEAN COFFEE ROASTERY
259 Grange Rd E, Unit 2, Guelph
T 519.824.9089 planetbeancoffee.com
Learn all about coffee from tree to cup at Planet Bean's roastery. The tour will include a talk on harvesting, Fairtrade, organics, and processing. You will witness coffee roasting and get to taste a selection of beans and roasts with our "cupping" team.
SALAD DAYS FARM
6794 6th Line, RR 2, Belwood
T 416.770.1056 www.saladdaysfarm.ca
Visit Salad Days Farm and tour our production fields where we grow over 30 types of organic vegetables. Shop in our Farm Store for fresh organic produce, local pasture-raised meats, artisanal dairy, honey, preserves, pies and more! Don't forget to pick up a bag of our famous Salad Mix.
STROM'S FARM AND BAKERY
5089 Wellington Rd 32, Guelph
T 519.822.1070 www.strom.ca
Get ready for fall as you wander through over 6,000 pumpkins outside our market. Hungry? Step inside for our famous butter tarts made without corn syrup, pumpkin pie and seasonal goodies. Looking for more adventure? Experience our Harvest Fun Area (admission fee) with our 5 acre Hospice Wellington themed corn maze, tile, rope, cedar and straw mazes, wagon rides, pedal carts, puppet shows, sand pile, pumpkin chuckin', human foosball and fire pits! Harvest Fun Starts Here!
THE TARTLET
59 Metcalfe St, Elora
T 519.820.5484 www.thewildtart.ca
We are a multi functional restaurant with bar, patio, pastry shop, diner and bedrooms. You can see the inner workings of a multi outlet restaurant and browse our incredible take out pastry selection
THATCHER FARMS BUTCHER SHOP, BAKERY AND FARM MARKET
5727 5th Line of Eramosa, Rockwood
T 519.856.4073 www.thatcher-farms.com
Enjoy a countryside drive and visit our family farm on 140 acres in the township of Eramosa.
Join us at Thatcher Farms Saturday, September 24th 11am-3pm for the annual Rural Romp!!!
Featuring culinary delights by Gilbert’s Deli Food truck, incredible countryside views and of course LIVE MUSIC! from Mary Francis Leahy (daughter of Donnell Leahy and Natalie MacMaster). And enjoy a meander through our corn maze and pumpkin patch.
Schedule:
Food truck Noon-3pm
Live music 1pm-3pm
Corn maze 11am-3pm
Ticket Price $25/person. Family bundle $85/4 tickets. Tickets at the door $30/person.
Ticket price includes live music and corn maze admission.
Visit our butcher shop, bakery and farm market. As well, enjoy a walk through our corn maze and pumpkin patch. Corn Maze only admission fee: $10/pp
WELLINGTON BREWERY
950 Woodlawn Rd W, Guelph
T 519.837.2337 www.wellingtonbrewery.ca
Fall Rural Romp Contest
Contest Terms and Conditions |
This Fall Rural Romp Treasure Hunt Contest (“the Contest”) is administered by The Corporation of the County of Wellington (the “Sponsor” or “the County”). Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest should be directed to the Sponsor at christinam@wellington.ca. By participating in this Contest, each contestant agrees to be legally bound by these Official Rules and Regulations (the “Rules”). The contest will begin Monday, September 26, 2022 at 12:00am until Monday, October 3, 2022 at 11:59pm. The winners will be notified by October 24, 2022. ELIGIBILITY The Contest is open to all legal residents of Canada who: (i) are eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the date of entering the Contest; (ii) are not employees, representatives and agents of the County of Wellington. Members of the immediate family, representatives and agents (parents, children, siblings and spouse, regardless of where they live in Canada) and household of such employees may participate but are not eligible to win. (iii) have agreed to comply with applicable federal, provincial, municipal and local laws (including, but not limited to, laws relating to libel and obscenity), assume responsibility for their activities, and not to harass, disrupt, abuse, or invade the privacy rights of others; and (iv) have read and accepted and agreed to comply with these Rules.
PRIZE Three $50.00 gift certificates to Taste Real partner businesses. On or about October 24, 2022 at 12:00 pm ET, in the County of Wellington, in the Province of Ontario, the three winning entries will be selected from all entries received. The contestants who owns the selected entries, and who are otherwise eligible to win, will be the selected contestants who is eligible to win the prizes subject to compliance with these Rules. In order to be declared a winner and be able to claim a prize, each person who is selected as a winner will have to: a. Be reached by the email and/or phone number by the contest sponsors within ten (10) days following the selection of winners on October 24, 2022. b. Meet all Contest eligibility criteria and otherwise complying with these Rules. c. Correctly answer, without assistance of any kind, whether mechanical or otherwise, a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question to be administered by the County of Wellington. d. Complete a Contest Declaration and Release Form and return it to the County of Wellington, to the specified address, within ten (10) days of being contacted as a winner on October 24, 2022. e. Upon receipt of the Contest Declaration and Release Form duly filled and signed by the winner, the County of Wellington will contact the winner with instructions on how to claim the prize. f. In the event that any one of the conditions mentioned herein is not respected, the winner’s entry will be voided and a new selection will be made following the official contest rules until a new winner is selected. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PRIVACY By entering the Contest, each contestant expressly consents to the Sponsor, its agents and/or representatives, storing, sharing and using the personal information submitted with his/her entry only for the purpose of administering the Contest and in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy, unless the contestant otherwise specifies by giving Sponsor notice in writing. No further informational or marketing communications will be received by the entrant unless the entrant provides the County of Wellington with explicit permission to do so. Please see the County of Wellington's Privacy Policy for additional details. |
Romp Trip Tips
- Bring a cooler. Keep the food you purchase along the romp fresh and safe.
- Bring cash. Many locations don't accept debit or credit.
- Leave your pets at home. Many farms do not allow pets on their property.
- Wear proper clothing. There are places where you will have the chance to get dirty so dress appropriately.
- Bring an umbrella! The event occurs rain or shine so bring plenty of layers and a raincoat.
- Bring your camera, take photos and post with #RuralRomp #tastereal
- Pick up a map. Download and bring the Rural Romp map or pick one up at any of the Rural Romp destinations. Directional signage is located along the Romp to help you find your way.
Learn what the Taste Real Rural Romps are all about in the below video.
Local Food Map
Request a hard copy of the Local Food Map
Finding locally grown food in Guelph and Wellington County is becoming easier every day. It's being served up at farm stores, farmers' markets, restaurants, retail stores, and at community events. Look out for the Taste Real brand to identify food from our region. The Guelph Wellington Local Food Map is our community's guide to farms, markets, retailers, restaurants, breweries, and other businesses that feature food grown in Guelph and Wellington County. This year-round guide can be picked up at Guelph and Wellington County libraries, tourism outlets, and select retail and business locations and all participating locations, or request a hard copy to be mailed right to your door!