Uxbridge Farm Tour
Sunday, July 12, 2009, 2:00 pm
This afternoon tour will begin with a visit to Farmhouse Garden, just north of Uxbridge, where we will participate in Mike Lanigan’s annual organized farm tour starting at approximately 2 pm. We’ll load up onto horse drawn wagons for a leisurely tour of this 200 acre mixed farm.
Farmhouse Garden has been chemical free since the mid-1970’s and certified organic since the early 1990’s, with ten acres also certified biodynamic. We will have the opportunity to learn about Mike Lanigan’s extensive vegetable gardens and how he cultivates them using antique tractors and draft horse technology. We will also view pastures full of beef cattle, an ingenious irrigation system and possibly some newly hatched baby chicks – and if you are really daring, Mike welcomes you to take a dip in his pond!
To get to Farmhouse Garden, head north on Lakeridge Rd. (Durham Rd. 23), less than a couple kilometres north of Uxbridge you will reach Scugog Line 12. Turn right onto Scugog Line 12, Farmhouse Garden is the first house on the right (#30 Scugog Line 12).
We will then travel to Willowwind Farm (about twenty minutes away) for our second tour of the afternoon, which will begin at about 4:30 pm. Willowwind Farm is a beautiful property home to the Stocking family. Here, Adrian and Deana will show us around their small but productive market garden vegetable patch and introduce us to their animal menagerie consisting of goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and more! We will also have the opportunity to view their strawbale home and learn about its construction just a few years ago.
Willowwind Farm uses organic principles, but is currently not certified, and also runs a bed and breakfast on the property. At the end of the tour we will have the opportunity to purchase some of their heirloom vegetables and to taste test some of their famous pickled eggs – yummm!
To get from Farmhouse Garden to Willowwind Farm: return to Lakeridge Rd. (Durham Rd. 23) and continue north to Regional Road 13. Turn left onto Regional Road 13 and head west toward Leaskdale. Where Regional Road 13 ends in Leaskdale, turn right onto Regional Road 1 and head north. Take the next left onto Zephyr Road and head west to Concession 5 (Regional Road 2). Turn left onto Concession 5 (Regional Road 2) and head south Willowwind Farm is #12740 on the right hand side.
To register for this outing contact Dana Smith at 905-668-6528 by July 8th.
For the summer tour: You are not required to bring lunch as this is an afternoon tour only, however, you may wish to bring a snack. Please bring substantial footwear, sunscreen and a hat. We recommend that people carpool to limit the number of cars at the site, but if you have problems finding a ride please advise. In the event of poor weather, contact a member of the executive for an update.
