Produced in cooperation with Explore North Grenville, which also provided the cover photo (above) of Happy Little Farmstead.
Berries and pumpkins and daisies, oh my!
If you love meeting the people who grow your food, flowers, fibres, grapes and gourds—and buying products fresh from the farm—you should Follow 44. That just means driving along Leeds-Grenville County Road 44 as it meanders its scenic way between Spencerville to Kemptville.
For Ottawa readers, I advise starting at the south end and working your way back north toward Ottawa—that way, you’re close to home when your day’s adventures are done.
En route, there are all sorts of farm stands, shops and markets where you can shop locally.
You could start your adventure at the family-friendly Happy Little Farmstead, just west of County Road 44 near Spencerville. Year round, kids can ride mini tractors, do crafts, and visit goats, chickens, donkeys and other farm animals. The farm also hosts special events, such as a Corn Festival (Saturday, August 10).
Also near Spencerville, a few kilometres east of County Road 44, Foraged & Freehand sells foraged wreaths and fresh-cut flowers from its self-serve stand. You can choose from charming mason-jar arrangements, paper-wrapped bouquets and more. The stand is open from mid-May to September on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 2pm.
Drive 10 minutes north of Foraged & Freehand and you’ll discover Little Foot Alpacas in the village of Ventnor. There, you can stroll with the gentle namesake animals, and buy yarn and knitted goods in the farm shop. (There’s even a large vacation rental apartment above the barn, if you just can’t bear to leave!) Advance reservations for alpaca visits are recommended.
Back on County Road 44, you’ll soon arrive at Green Gables Vines. This family-owned winery makes wines from a variety of fruits—not just grapes, but also strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. You can book a tasting or a wine-and-cheese event to sample all they have to offer.
Take Porter Road a kilometre northeast from Green Gables Vines and you’ll see Johnston Brothers Tree Farm, where you can buy landscaping trees and materials in warmer months, and cut your own Christmas tree in November and December.
Just five minutes northeast of Johnston Brothers, Stonyground Farm raises flowers without chemicals. Order at least 48 hours in advance and you can pick up a just-picked bouquet of whatever is in season. Choose bright, moody, neutral or pastel colours, or order a “bulk bucket” and create your own arrangements.
In fall, you can drive another five minutes from Stonyground Farm to the Townline Road Pumpkin Patch to find the perfect pumpkin for your jack o’ lantern. If you don’t want to go with a traditional orange pumpkin, the farm grows lots of other colours, including white, green and pink! You can also buy other Halloween décor items, including straw bales, cornstalks and small gourds.
Here’s another must-stop spot for flower fans: Wilding Acres Flower Farm, on County Road 44 south of Kemptville. Order your blooms online in advance for pickup onsite. The organic farm grows both wildflowers and specialty flowers, making them into artfully hand-tied bouquets.
About 3.5 kilometres north of Wilding Acres, just west of County Road 44, The Kirk Farm sells lavender in early summer, holds luxury picnics in the fields in summer, and sells specialty pumpkins in shades of pink, blue and red in fall.
Return to County Road 44 and turn left to keep heading north. If you like trails, turn left at the next intersection onto Bedell Road at the Kemptville Campus (formerly an agricultural teaching college). There, you’ll find the Peter Wensink Maple Forest and Agroforestry Centre. Road parking is available by the gate.
This working sugarbush operation tends to 1,162 taps spread over 18 acres and is part of the larger campus forest, which is now a certified forest under the Forest Stewardship Council.® The trails are open to the public year round; watch for special maple events in spring and fall. Fall in Love with Maple happens around the first weekend in October and features pancakes, music, guided forest tours and more.
Agritourism events in Kemptville and Spencerville
Even if you don’t make it to a farm, you can still shop local and meet farmers at three great events.
In Kemptville, the Kemptville Farmers’ Market takes place on Sunday afternoons until October 27 in the parking lot of B&H Your Local Grocer in Kemptville.
From September 12 to 15, the 169th annual Spencerville Fair will host competitions to choose the best livestock, fruits, veggies, maple syrup, honey, eggs and more—and you can buy directly from lots of local vendors.
Finally, the Spencerville Seasonal Market takes place several times a year. The next one will be held on Sunday, September 29, at the Spencerville Mill Garden (9am to 2pm).
For more details on things to see and do along this scenic driving route, check out the Follow 44 website.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.