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Please note: due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis this event will be moved to the fall. For email updates please sign up to the Taste Real Newsletter. For details on how to support local farms and food businesses in the meantime, please see our updated business list. It includes purchasing details during COVID-19.
Experience northern Wellington County
Taste RealOM Spring Rural Romp
Saturday May 29, 2021 | 10:00am - 4:00pm
Annual self-guided tour of farms, nurseries and local food businesses to farms, markets, gardens, restaurants and places to stay, in Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North. Spend the day in the countryside meeting your local farmers and enjoying the first tastes of spring! Take part in educational activities, guided tours, planting workshops and more!
Enjoy a 'must taste' at many of the participating locations prepared by local chefs, or try your hand at the treasure hunt! There's something for the whole family to enjoy.
Share your experience with us! #RuralRomp #tastereal
Learn what the Guelph-Wellington Rural Romps are all about in our video below.
Please see below for last years information.
Spring Romp Destinations and Map
Printed maps are available for pick up at each participating location a few weeks prior to the event. Map downloads available when new locations are determined.
Participating Locations:
| All SORTS ACRES FARM - HAPPY SHEEP CREAMERY |
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312088 Highway 6, AYTON GPS 44.060164, -80.794781 T 519.803.9875 | www.allsortsacre.ca Visit our farm and sheep dairy and enjoy a sheep milk gelato from our farm store. Wander up the hill to see the rolling pastures and watch the sheep and the ducks frolicking in their field. See why we call it Happy Sheep Gelato! Must Taste Item: Chocolate sheep milk gelato! Scavenger Hunt Question: On average, how many days do the sheep spend in each pasture before they get moved to the next one? |
| ALPACA TIME |
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5509 Highway 9, HARRISTON GPS 43.950937, -80.945016 T 519.327.4566 | www.alpacatime.ca 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. Scavenger Hunt Question: How many different styles of socks do we make? |
| ARTHUR GREENHOUSES, NURSERY AND MARKET GARDEN |
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7470 Second Line, ARTHUR GPS 43.829720, -80.492952 T 519.848.6816 | www.arthurgreenhouses.ca Visit our family farm and plant nursery for a huge selection of herbs, fruit trees, shrubs and vegetable transplants. Choose from a wide variety of seeds and browse our greenhouse for bedding plants, perennials, hanging baskets, planters and more. Join us at 3:00pm for a hands-on make your own planter workshop! Visit with our friends from Wagram Springs Farm and try samples of birch syrup and birch products. Learn about the new Wellington Mobile App and enter the raffle to win a Nursery tree, courtesy of Animated Media Inc. Unique finds: Unique fruit shrubs and trees Must Taste Item: Wagram Springs’ Birch Syrup Products Scavenger Hunt Question: Which pollinator plants do we carry? Name 3 |
| BIG JOHN'S COUNTRY MARKET |
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GPS 43.935561, -80.689447 T 519.323.6996 | www.bigjohnscountrymarket.ca Visit our farm and see first-hand how our vegetables are grown. Join us at the Country Store for free samples and browse our selection of naturally raised meats, home baking, preserves, fresh spring produce and more. Visit our greenhouse and plant your own seeds. Must Taste Item: Butter Tarts Scavenger Hunt Question: Who is Big John? (Who is our market named after?) |
| THE GREEN LEGACY TREE NURSERY |
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8554 Line 6, KENILWORTH (DAMASCUS) GPS 43.920893, -80.454748 (View a Map) T 519.546.4788 | www.greenlegacy.ca Open 9:00am – 1:00pm. Visit the County of Wellington Green Legacy tree nursery and pick up a free tree! Join us for breakfast, explore the nursery, 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 years annually to residents and landowners in Wellington County. Scavenger Hunt Question: Why does the Green Legacy grow Norway Spruce? |
| HARRISTON PACKING CO. |
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142 Arthur St., HARRISTON GPS 43.910696, -80.875758 T 519.338.3330 | www.harristonpacking.ca Come by our family butcher shop, deli and smoke house and sample some of our 'house made' specialty meat products. Learn about the meat smoking process, and browse our well stocked butcher shop and deli for our 'own' meat specialties, smoked products and our large selection of local foods, preserves and condiments. Must Taste Item: House Made Beef Jerky Scavenger Hunt Question: How many flavours of pepperettes do we sell? |
| MAPLETON'S ORGANIC DAIRY |
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8548 Wellington Rd. 7, MOOREFIELD GPS 43.824402, -80.737839 T 519.638.1115 | www.mapletonsorganic.ca Meet the animals in our demonstration barn, see how our cows are milked with our voluntary milking system, or find your way through a cedar maze. Purchase ice cream, meat or a light lunch in our farm store. Our organic ice cream is made right on site! Must Taste Item: Dandelion Ice Cream |
| MEAT THE BUTCHER |
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157 Main St. S., MOUNT FOREST GPS 43.981092, -80.734893 T 519.323.3482 Visit our small town butcher shop where we use time-honoured techniques to prepare fresh meat specialties. Browse our selection of local foods, including prepared meals, honey, preserves and more. Stop by on Romp Day for samples at our meat counter and visit with our friends from the Bell’s Edge Farm for samples of their delicious gourmet butters from 11:00am - 2:00pm! Must Taste Item: Selection of house made entrees Scavenger Hunt Question: How many different varieties of entrees to we offer? Hint: Check the fridge! |
| MEIKLEJOHN HOUSE B AND B |
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116 Arthur St. E., HARRISTON GPS 43.916679, -80.868133 T 519.338.2671 | www.meiklejohnhouse.ca Explore our beautiful Victorian home and discover its many unique features, such as a recessing wall, a greenhouse conservatory and eight ornate fireplaces. Relax on our patio, stroll through the gardens and enjoy a cup of tea served with homemade scones and jam. Must Taste Item: Apple Pie Jam Scavenger Hunt Question: What year was the House established? Hint: Look for the plaque! |
| POOTCORNERS ALPACA |
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9455 Road 146, PALMERSTON GPS 43.802661, -80.817539 519.343.3745 | www.pootcorners.com Come visit the alpacas at Pootcorners and learn all about the alpaca industry. Enjoy hourly alpaca shearing, fibre demonstrations and view our new crias (baby alpacas)! Get your hands on the fresh fleece as it comes off the alpacas, so soft and warm (try not to laugh at our 'naked' alpacas, they get embarrassed). Shop our farm store for a variety of alpaca products. Be sure to take your "felfie" with an alpaca! Must Taste Item: Alpaca Pepperettes Scavenger Hunt Question: What colour of alpaca were we shearing when you visited? |
| REROOT ORGANIC FARM |
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5642 Eleventh Line, HARRISTON GPS 43.919975, -80.917114 T 519.820.1891 | www.reroot.ca Welcome to our busy, diversified, organic farm! Visit our critters in the barn and pastures, take a wagon ride around our certified organic gardens and check out our produce and meats at our farm store. We have a good selection of vegetable seedlings for your home garden. Sausage on a bun, by donation, from 12noon - 1:00pm! Must Taste Item: Farm Raised Pork Sausage Scavenger Hunt Question: Which farm animals do we rase at Reroot Farm? Name 3 |
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
Enter the Rural Romp Photo Contest for your chance to 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).
Enter the Photo Contest View past winners
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 an umbrella! 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 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.
Don't forget!
Mark your calendar for the Fall Rural Romp, which happens every year on the last Saturday of September. The 2019 Romp will take place on Saturday, September 28.
Thank you to our Partners and Sponsors!
