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Highlighting farm and food experiences and fall foods in Wellington County and Guelph!
14th Annual
Taste RealOM Fall Rural Romp
September 19 - October 12, 2020 (Thanksgiving weekend)
Fall Flavours Map - Farm Visits - Tours - Pumpkins - Corn Mazes - Harvest Foods - Fall Decorations and more!
We are excited to host our fall favourite event – the Fall Rural Romp in a new format this year. We have lined up over three weeks of in-person and virtual farm and food experiences, events and fall foods to explore on your own time.
We are adding more experiences daily. Check back often!
Share your experience with us! #RuralRomp #tastereal
1. Fall Flavours Map
Plan your own Rural Romp and let your taste buds take you on a tour of Wellington County and Guelph’s best fall flavours.
Check out the Fall Flavours Map and discover where to find must taste foods and farm products. Pumpkin butter tarts, apple cider and more - go on a country drive and plan your outing around your favourite tastes.
ALWAYS plan ahead and check opening hours/purchasing procedures for each business. Please remember that masks are mandatory at any commercial/public venue in Wellington County and Guelph. Please follow safety guidelines outlined by the individual businesses. View our Farm Gate Etiquette page for tips.
2. Taste Real Box - SOLD OUT
Whether you are planning your own ‘Rural Romp’ outing this year, or not, we want to make sure you don’t miss out on some great harvest foods. We teamed up with the Guelph Box to bring Wellington County fall flavours to your doorstep. Orders are on a first come first serve basis, and you will receive a selection of delicious local foods to your home on October 1.
Order now and receive a complimentary Taste Real cooler bag.
$5 of each order will be donated to Wellington County Food Banks.
Limited quantities available. Free delivery to all addresses across Wellington County and Guelph.
3. Fall Farm and Food Experiences
There are plenty of opportunities to venture out and experience harvest time and fall foods at Wellington County businesses.
Harvest Fun
Crisp nights, clear days - Fall might be the most beautiful season in Ontario. It certainly is a great time to explore the countryside, visit farms and share the local harvest. Pick your own pumpkins, find your way through a corn maze, enjoy virtual harvest festivals and more.
Pumpkin Season
The Fall season is here. Get out enjoy the smell of fresh crisp air, see the mountains of colour, and tour those county roads. It also means pumpkin flavoured EVERYTHING. Create family memories and PYO pumpkin. Pick your spot.
Local Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to get together with family and friends and celebrate the local harvest with a good meal. Why not start with a fresh local turkey? Visit a farm directly, or pick up at a local food retailer. Find your perfect turkey.
Picnics and Pairings
Enjoy those last warm days, dress warm and step outside and experience Wellington County for day trips full of food and scenery. Get inspired by our list of favourite local picnic spots – with all the fixin’s to fill your basket. Plan your outing.
Butter Tarts
Ooey gooey, flakey and oh so sweet! We might be biased, but we think Guelph Wellington is the best place to find Ontario’s favourite sweet treat – the iconic butter tart. Delicious any time of year, we especially love them in fall. Oh, and have you ever tried a pumpkin buttertart? Find your butter tart.
Farmers' Markets
Farmers' Markets offer freshly picked, in season produce is at its peak in flavour and nutrition, as well as other wonderful products. It is a great way to support your local farmers, community, and the economy. This year, markets have been extended. Find one near you.
Outings, Events, Videos and More
Cooking Classes, Workshops and more
| Outdoor Indian Cooking Class (September 26) |
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Join Krisha Indian Cooking School for their Farm To Flame – Outdoor Indian Cooking Class Learn how to cook one of their famous Indian menu at this in-person cooking class set at a beautiful farm in Puslinch on September 26 If you prefer to learn from the comfort of your own home, check out their online version. Information on both options can be found here. |
| Sourdough Online Workshop (September 27) |
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Have you seen the surge in sourdough bread popularity and wanted to try it yourself? Now is your chance! Join Minga by 10C on September 27 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm to learn how to make delicious fresh sourdough from the comfort of your own kitchen. This online workshop will take you through the process of making the dough, fermentation and baking. In the follow up class you will be able to show off what you've made, and ask their expert instructor any questions you have. The workshop is a mix of hands-on and instructional, and will leave you confident and ready to make your own great bread. Register for tickets here. |
| Fruit to Glass - A Craft Cider Farm Experience (October 4, 10 and 12) |
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Apple pressing, cider tasting, and farm visit! Heartwood Farm and Cidery Pre book a unique on-farm experience at Heartwood Farm and Cidery. Participants will:
Dates are October 4, 10 and 12 with 2 time slots for each. The whole experience is 1.5 hours long and you'll leave with a good sense of how we make craft cider. Maybe you'll even be inspired to try a batch at home! Book your spot here. |
| Virtual Kitchen Tour (October 8) |
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Join Minga by 10C on October 8 at 4:00 pm for a virtual tour of their community kitchen. They will show you around the fully equipped space, and share how you can start your very own food-based venture. The live tour will conclude with a Q and A period, where you can ask questions about the kitchen, or about starting a food business in general. This event will take place as a Facebook Live on the 10C facebook page. This event is free, and open to the public! We hope to see you there virtually! |
| Kid's Culinary Classes | Culinary Studio Tour and Tasting |
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Check out Pam Fanjoy's Kid's Culinary Classes this fall as they focus on safety first and are offering only 4 week 'Peer Pods' to reduce the risk of COVID exposure. As youth experience unprecedented stress, the new culinary studio and Fan/Joy Jr. Chef Programmes this fall will focus on teaching culinary life skills, building children's resiliency and offering a safe space for youth to bring their concerns and simply decompress from their week with some fun on Sundays 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Registration is open for the first 4 week pod for 8-13 year olds. Pre book your tour and tasting at the new socially distanced Culinary Studio where groups of 10 can enjoy delicious local ingredients and learn from award winning Food Network celebrity Chef Pam Fanjoy whose #feedingconnection and #cookingupchange using food to nourish body, mind and soul during COVID. Learn more about Chef Pam Fanjoy on this Dawe’s Dishes episode. |
| Authentic Italian Online Cooking Classes |
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Natalina's Kitchen usually welcomes guests at her cooking studio to each authentic Italian recipes. But for now check out her awesome YouTube Channel featuring her Back To Basic series, as well as Isolated Kitchen series for recipes, and other tips and tricks. If you are inspired, why not check out Natalina’s online cooking classes featuring classic Italian recipes. |
| University of Guelph Hospitality Services |
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Knife skills video Sharpen your knife skills with this great video from the University of Guelph’s Hospitality Services team! |
Alpaca Farms and Fibre Mill
| Alpaca Time |
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5509 Highway 9, Harriston ON N0G 1Z0 Visit our unique fibre mill where we process Canadian and North American alpaca fibre to make premium alpaca products. View the machinery in the fibre mill, learn how yarn is made and visit the alpacas. The store offers socks, scarves, insoles and yarn made on site, as well as quality imported alpaca items, and a selection of local foods. Watch this video learn more about alpaca fibre and the process of making socks. |
| Brae Ridge Farm and Sanctuary |
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7667 Maltby Rd E, Puslinch ON N0B 2J0 Visit with the 10 award winning alpacas at Brae Ridge Farm and Sanctuary. Discover the beautiful world of alpaca fibre and the fibre products that are designed and produced on the farm. Meet the Indian Runner Ducks and learn about the benefits of duck eggs. Learn about our honey bees and the role they play at our sanctuary. Honey and warm alpaca wearables will be available for purchase. Please note farm visits must be reserved online at www.braeridgefarm.com/events. While their alpaca yoga programs are finished, get a peak of their alpacas in this video. |
| Harmony Meadows Alpaca |
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6185 Sixth Line RR 5, Belwood ON N0B 1J0 Our alpacas look forward to meeting you! Book your private tour and learn all about alpacas and the many uses aof alpaca fibre. Spend time in the pasture and feed the alpacas a treat. Visit our farm store lots of soft warm alpaca goodies! Socks, yarn, clothing and super cute stuffies! Get a taste of the experience - watch the video of the QM Bunch visiting the farm www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or7quMM2NpI And a visit by Breakfast Television https://youtu.be/fdONMNRaGqg |
| Pootcorners Alpaca |
| 9455 Road 146, Palmerston ON N0G 2P0 Pre-book your tour to visit the alpacas and learn about the harvest and processing of their luxurious fibre, visit the farm store, take your picture with our cuddly alpacas. $7/person fee. You may add a walk with the alpacas in the beautiful fall foliage tour. Pre-booking required, $25/person fee, minimum 2 people (because alpacas are herd animals and don't like walking alone). |
Apple Picking and more
| Ignatius Jesuit Centre (September 26, October 2) |
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5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph ON N1H 6J2 Pick your own apples at the Ignatius Farm Community Orchard. Public picking is available on:
Bring your own bags or picking containers. Apple Picking is available on a pay-what-you can basis. Recommended contribution is $10 per person per 2L basket. Be generous so that this orchard can be available to the community! Cash/cheque contributions onsite or using this LINK. Follow the driveway to Loyola House to park. Walk from there following the signage into the community orchard. |
| Springmead Farm (call ahead) |
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7500 Wellington Rd 8, Alma ON N0B 1A0 Pick your own organic apples! Springmead farm has organically managed apple orchards that boast nearly 40 varieties of Canadian and heirloom variety apples. These apples suit a wide array of uses including baking, fresh eating, fresh and hard cider. Bees are kept on site to pollinate the orchards and provide an extra sweet treat each autumn. Please contact us ahead of time to book a time slot for your family/group for pick-your-own apples. |
Virtual Fall Fairs
While fall fairs across Ontario have been cancelled, the Arthur Fall Fair has spared no efforts to celebrate farming and their rural heritage. Check out their series of Ag Education videos.
Make sure to check out the great photos of their parade and quilt crawl on their facebook page.
| Sheep Farm Tour |
| with Marshview Acres, Arthur https://youtu.be/SG7aG-aqM1Q |
| Artisanal Chicken Farm |
| with Mapletwiss Farm, Arthur https://youtu.be/qPurvMqXYnA |
| Visit Honey Bees |
| with New Hope Apiary, Belwood https://youtu.be/rp6BNfBJU7c |
| Pig Barn Tour |
| Farm just outside of Arthur https://youtu.be/hi3Of3YIaRo |
| Grain Farming |
| with Shawridge Farm, Wellington North https://youtu.be/WD4UTgugZmQ |
| Nutrient Management and spraying services |
| with Clean Fields Services, Drayton https://youtu.be/2egZfSs8uJM |
This year would have marked the 184th Fergus Fall Fair, one of the oldest running agricultural fairs in Ontario. Instead they are celebrating the Fair with a virtual online experience: CARRY ON THRU COVID! Check out instructional and entertaining photos and videos on a variety of Fair topics all related to agriculture, fall harvest and community spirit. www.fergusfallfair.ca
The Erin Fair is still bringing a bit of fair to you with baked goods, a chicken BBQ, online auction and more. Check out their line-up of events.
“Ride Local, Shop Local” – Use RIDE WELL to get around during the Rural Romp!
Get 10% off your RIDE WELL trips by using the coupon code “TASTE REAL”
RIDE WELL™ is Wellington County’s rural transit service offering door-to-door transportation throughout the County of Wellington and to or from the City of Guelph.
Service Hours are Monday-Friday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Book a Ride by using the RIDE WELL app, through the website www.ridewell.ca, or by phone at 1.833.900.RIDE (7433).
As a precaution against COVID-19, RIDE WELL has put measures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our passengers. Visit www.ridewell.ca for more information.
