Contact Us
Experience the South of Wellington County and the Guelph Area
13th Annual Taste Real® Fall Rural Romp
Saturday September 28, 2019 | 10:00am - 4:00pm
A self-guided Tour to Guelph and Southern Wellington County farms, markets and local food businesses.
The Wellington Rural Romp is your chance to get up close to your food. Experience a day in the countryside, meet local farmers, eat, learn about food and experience the local bounty. At each location, you will find farmers and business owners who are passionate about bringing real taste and local food to you.
Share your experience with us! #RuralRomp
CALLING ALL LOCAL FOOD AND FARM BUSINESSES
Farm and food partners in Southern Wellington County (Centre Wellington, Erin, Guelph/Eramosa, Puslinch) and the City of Guelph are invited to participate in this year's Fall Rural Romp! Final deadline for applications is August 9, 2019.
Learn what the Guelph-Wellington Rural Romps are all about in our video below.
2019 information will become available closer to the date. Please check back for updated locations! See below for last years event.
Fall Romp Destinations and Map
Printed maps are available for pick up at each participating location a week prior to the event, or you may download a copy below.
Participating Locations:
| ABERFOYLE FARMERS' MARKET |
|
Guelph Research and Development Centre 23 Brock Rd S, ABERFOYLE GPS 43.471249, -80.151216 Acclaimed as one of Canada’s best Farmers' Market by Real Style magazine, the Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market is a friendly, local farmer and producer focused market. The market’s unique atmosphere is derived from the loyal vendors and customers that see it as an important part of their local community. Experience the unique market vibe for yourself on Rural Romp day! The market is fully accessible, has free parking and is open from 8:00am - 1:00pm. Treasure Hunt Question: Which AFM vendor is the 'most local'? |
| AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA |
|
93 Stone Rd W, GUELPH GPS 43.524571, -80.228897 T 226.217.8018 | www.agr.gc.ca Meet the scientists at the Guelph Research and Development Centre who are carrying out world class research in food safety and quality. Tour our laboratories and learn about: novel new foods like hairless canary seed, the health benefits of oat fibre and the research going into creating environmentally friendly bioplastics from leftover agricultural by-products. Participate in fun science experiments and pick up recipes to try at home. Light refreshments provided. Treasure Hunt Question: What is the focus of research at the Guelph Research and Development Centre? |
| DIXON'S DISTILLED SPIRITS |
|
355 Elmira Rd N - Unit 106, GUELPH GPS 43.533852, -80.306156 T 519.362.1850 | www.dixonsdistilledspirits.com Visit Guelph Wellington's only distillery! We are very proud to be using locally sourced grains to make Gins, Vodka and Whisky. Take a tour of a live working distillery, learn about the distilling process and learn how our spent grain is being used. Sample our large variety spirits and browse our distillery store for spirits and more. Treasure Hunt Question: What types of Ontario grains does Dixon's use? |
| ELORA FARMERS' MARKET |
|
127 East Mill Street, ELORA (Bissell Park) GPS 43.682692, -80.425977 T 519.846.1396 | elorafarmersmarket.ca Spend the morning in beautiful Bissell Park and meet the people who grow your food. Enjoy live music while having breakfast. Participate in the Harvest Food Demo and pick up all the great local produce you need for the week. Free buggy rides through Elora's old town centre, donations for the food bank welcome. The market is open from 9:00am - 1:00pm. Treasure Hunt Question: Which unusual farm product can you find at the EFM? Name one. |
| EVER SMILES GARDENS |
|
0069 Sideroad 18, FERGUS GPS 43.71435, -80.39885 T 519.787.7643 | www.facebook.com/eversmilesgardens Welcome to Ever Smiles Gardens, Homegrown and Handcrafted. We are proud to offer healthy options for you and your family. Wander our 2 acres of gardens, greenhouses, and small walking trail. Roast some marshmallows on the fire and visit our bee yard, rabbits and laying hens. Our produce, meat rabbits, eggs, and small batch artisan soaps are all chemical free and will be available for purchase. Treasure Hunt Question: How big (acres) is out farm? |
| THE GREEN LEGACY Open House – Bradford Whitcombe Tree Nursery |
|
6714 Wellington Rd 34, PUSLINCH GPS 43.44652, -80.24596 T 519.546.2228 | www.greenlegacy.ca Pick up a FREE TREE today! Visit your community tree nursery to see how volunteers are growing trees that are available to all Wellington County residents for FREE! Open House 9:00am – 2:00pm. Make us your first stop for breakfast and stay for a nursery tour, nature hike, children's activities, and prizes. Treasure Hunt Question: What is the most cost effective way to raise crop yields? |
| GUELPH FARMERS' MARKET |
|
2 Gordon Street, GUELPH GPS 43.542324, -80.248412 T 519.822.1260 x 2244 | www.guelph.ca/farmersmarket Kick off the Rural Romp at the Guelph Farmers' Market! Discover the rich bounty of the harvest at the market and visit our incredible vendors. The Guelph Farmers' market is one of Guelph's oldest and well-loved community spaces featuring a wide-range of vendors including local farmers and prepared food vendors who utilize fresh local ingredients. The market is open from 7:00am - 12:00noon. Treasure Hunt Question: What animal used to live in the market building before it became the Guelph Farmers' Market? |
| GUELPH YOUTH FARM |
|
100 Westmount Rd, GUELPH GPS 43.549073, -80.268750 T 519.821.6638 x319 | www.theseedguelph.ca Visit our innovative, youth-led urban farm in the heart of Guelph to learn more about The SEED, Guelph’s community food project! Take a tour through our organically grown veggie beds, taste our famous Souper Heroes soup, and browse affordable produce at our sliding scale Community Food Market. Treasure Hunt Question: Who are the three partners that collaborated to create Guelph Youth Farm? |
| HARMONY MEADOWS ALPACA |
|
6185 Sixth Line, BELWOOD GPS 43.7431, -80.2736 T 519.827.0939 | www.harmonymeadowsalpaca.ca Our Alpacas are looking forward to meeting you! Visit our farm to learn all about keeping alpacas, and the many uses of alpaca fibre. Hang out with our free range chickens and browse the farm store where you can find beautiful alpaca products, eggs, honey and other local goodies. Make sure to bring your camera to take some fun felfie's with our alpacas! Treasure Hunt Question: What is the name of the alpaca that was born this year? |
| HEARTWOOD FARM AND CIDERY |
|
5438 Second Line, ERIN GPS 43.70098, -80.13743 T 416.572.4352 | www.heartwoodfarm.ca Explore our unique forest garden and labyrinth orchard. Meet our orchard pigs, grazing cattle and farm work horses. Enjoy a picnic in our orchard purchased on site from Chef Thorntin’s Roadhouse. The food truck will be on site from 12:00pm - 5:00pm serving up Heartwood grassfed beef and local, seasonal side dishes paired with Heartwood craft ciders "By the Glass". Our tasting room and cider house will be open to sample, purchase and learn about our farm-crafted ciders. Treasure Hunt Question: What "companion" do we plant with our fruit trees to create a healthy orchard? |
| SALAD DAYS FARM |
|
6794 Sixth Line, BELWOOD GPS 43.80175, -80.35797 T 416.770.1056 | www.saladdaysfarm.ca Come see how organic vegetables are grown on a bio-intensive market garden. Learn about our community supported agriculture programme, tour our vegetable fields and greenhouses, and visit our free-range laying hens. Enjoy a delicious snack prepared by Savoy Culinary featuring fire roasted lamb and a selection of our fresh, seasonal vegetables! Treasure Hunt Question: How many laying hens do we have? |
| STROM'S FARM AND BAKERY |
|
5089 Wellington Rd 32, GUELPH GPS 43.4964, -80.2915 T 519.822.1070 | www.strom.ca Experience autumn with a Strom's pumpkin pie, wander through 6,000 pumpkins in our front yard, and experience our Harvest Fun Area ('Heart and Stroke' themed corn maze, wagon ride, pumpkin chuckin', puppet show... to name a few). Also head into our bakery to sample our apple crisp, made with Ontario apples and just the right amount of cinnamon, nutmeg, oats and brown sugar - yum! Please note there is a fee for the Harvest Fun Area. Treasure Hunt Question: What variety of popcorn are we popping? |
| THATCHER FARMS BUTCHER SHOP, BAKERY AND FARM MARKET |
|
5727 5th Line of Eramosa, RR 1, ROCKWOOD GPS 43.6818, -80.2304 T 519.856.4073 | www.thatcher-farms.com Visit Thatcher Farms: Butcher Shop, Bakery and Farm Market. Enjoy live music all day, as well enjoy a cold drink from a local craft brewery. Enjoy a BBQ lunch from our outdoor kitchen featuring all handmade, delicious products made with love right here on our farm. Pull up a straw bale and enjoy the country view, music and food. Tour our butcher shop and learn all about how your food is grown and raised on your local, family farm. "Your Food Story Starts at Thatcher Farms." Treasure Hunt Question: How many equine are at Thatcher Farms? |
| TOP MARKET MEATS |
|
5887 Splint Rd, ARISS GPS 43.579253, -80.404101 T 519.716.9464 | www.topmarketmeats.ca Join us for a farm fun day! Tour our 5th generation family farm and enjoy the day feeding the goats, visiting Dozer the Donkey and Elmo the pony. Feed our fun piglets, collect some chicken eggs and meet Jr. Farmer Lizzy and Johnny's 4H lambs. The Farm Store is open and we'll be firing up the BBQ from 12:00pm - 2:00pm featuring our gluten free meat products and more. Treasure Hunt Question: Which animals do we raise on our farm? Name three. |
| UPROOTED FARM - POSTPONED |
|
Stay tuned on social media for more details of an Open House coming soon. T 519.496.0722 | www.uprootedfarm.ca Come to the Container! Be among the first to take a peak inside a Controlled-Environment Agriculture hydroponic container farm right here in Centre Wellington. See 8ft high vertical towers, the fully automated nutrient control system and the state-of-the-art LED lighting. Meet farmer Donna and take a walk through the container farm where you will learn about hydroponic farming and how it is possible to have FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE 365 days in Wellington County! Enjoy live music that day as well! |
| WELLINGTON BREWERY |
|
950 Woodlawn Rd W, GUELPH GPS 43.533135, -80.320910 T 519.837.2337 | www.wellingtonbrewery.ca Visit Wellington Brewery, Canada's oldest independently owned microbrewery. We craft our award-winning beers in small batches using the freshest all-natural ingredients. Since 1985, we've been a pioneer in the craft brewing scene by producing timeless, traditional style ales as well as experimenting with new recipes as part of our Welly One-Off Series. Please join us for a brewery tour followed by samples in our tap room! Treasure Hunt Question: Which one of our beers is made with all local hops from Ontario? |
| WELLINGTON COUNTRY MARKETPLACE |
|
5259 Jones Baseline, GUELPH GPS 43.5968, -80.2102 T 519.827.1515 | www.wcmarketplace.ca Be sure to bring the family and enjoy visiting our farm animals, have your face painted or go for a jump on our bouncy castle. Safe room for lunch, as we are selling a treasure box' lunch for the lads (hot dog, juice, cup cake and a small surprise). Adults can enjoy pulled pork or sausage on a bun. Lots of fall décor to choose from, and stop and shop our little market full of fresh local foods. Games and fun for everyone! Treasure Hunt Question: There is a nursery rhyme on the wall of our store, what is it? |
| WHITE ROCK OSTRICH FARM |
|
13085 Fourth Line, NASSAGAWEYA GPS 43.575895, -80.082460 T 519.856.2629 | www.whiterockostrichfarm.com Take a fun hay wagon tour to see the Rednecks, Bluenecks and African Black Breeders, feed an ostrich teenager and see the chicks through the hatchery window. Adults $7.00, kids under 18 $5.00. Feed the teenagers $3.00/cup Ostrich burgers on the barbecue $10.00, (until 4:00pm). Tours from 10:00am - 3:30pm. Cash only. Treasure Hunt Question: What is a baby ostrich called? |
Take a "Felfie" Challenge
Capture all that Wellington County has to offer with a felfie (farm selfie) and share your photos on Twitter or Facebook using #RuralRomp.
Download our "How to Felfie" Guide
A winner will be chosen amongst all entries to win a local food gift!
Why not enter your 'felfie' in the photo contest as well for a chance to win another prize? Read on for more information.
Photo Contest
Take your camera along on the Rural Romp and you could win 1 of 3 local food prizes! Judges will decide on winners in the following three categories: Farmscapes, Family fun on the Romp, and Food (farm fresh or prepared).
Local Food Treasure Hunt
Dig deeper into local food! Answer a trivia question at each participating location by filling out a ballot on romp day, and you could win a Local Food Treasure!
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 your wellies! The event occurs rain or shine so bring plenty of layers and a raincoat.
- Bring your camera. And don't forget to enter our photo contest!
- Pick up a map. Download and print the Rural Romp map from our website or pick one up at any of the Rural Romp destinations. Directional signage is located along the Romp to help you find your way.
Culture Days:
Taste Real romp locations are part of the Centre Wellington and Guelph Culture Days! Get your passport stamped on the Romp.
Supporters:
