First Bites: May 2022 - Field Days
The Full Farm Experience
If you’re looking for that full-farm experience, there’s always something happening at Proulx Farms. A mere 30 minutes east of downtown Ottawa will have you at its charming doorstep. The Proulx family has been running this farm since 1920, adding products and services with each generation. From the early spring sugarbush experience and summer produce picking to Pumpkin Fest in autumn and the starry Winter Wonderland in late December, Proulx Farms has something for everyone.
When it comes to picking your own produce, the choices couldn’t be sweeter. Proulx Farms makes planning a day of u-pick easy as pie (which you most definitely should consider making with those berries by having a plethora of options and helpful information on its website.
Strawberries start in June, followed closely by raspberries, blueberries and sweet corn, but don’t ignore the farm market, which boasts garden vegetables, honey, maple and homemade pies. Breakfast and brunch are sometimes on offer, so check the farm calendar to see what events are running. A day at Proulx farm is always an adventure.
Proulx Farm
1865 O’Toole Rd., Cumberland, Ont.
proulxfarm.com | 613.833.2417 | @fermeproulxfarm
Quiet Days, Shady Pines
Drive just 25 minutes south of Ottawa and you’ll find some secluded fields far from the noise and bustle of roads and highways. This is Rideau Pines Farm, family-owned and operated since 1980. While upon purchase, the land was merely an overgrown, abandoned and poorly drained dairy farm, some hard work and love turned it into the gorgeous rural landscape it is today. The shady grove of red pines, which are a popular spot for a mid-afternoon picking break, inspired the farm’s name.
All the fields and produce are maintained by hand, using old-school methods that are good for the crops and the land. In addition to many varieties of strawberries, raspberries and currants, May will yield asparagus and rhubarb, with more crops coming into season as the weather continues to warm. The farm also has a charming market, where one can purchase already picked produce and local preserves.
Rideau Pines Farm produce is already prominently featured on the menus of some of your favourite local restaurants, such as Arlo, Corner Peach, Two Six Ate, Riviera and Beckta, so why not grab the kids, plan a trip and see those fruits and veggies right at the source?
Rideau Pines Farm
5714 Fourth Line Rd., North Gower, Ont.
rideaupinesfarm.com | 613.489.3601 | @rideaupinesfarm
Red Berries at the Red Barn
Since 1957, folks have known to c me to the big red barn when they crave the season’s sweetest strawberries. Dentz Farm was at the forefront of offering the u-pick experience. It's been doing it since the early ’70s. This gorgeous family-owned and operated farm is just an hour southeast of downtown Ottawa and prides itself on growing quality produce, using sustainable and environmentally friendly growing methods and giving back to the community that surrounds it.
The fields boast some of the most beautiful, plump berries in the region. Sweet strawberries and sweet-tart raspberries are just the beginning, as juicy apples and farm-fresh vegetables are also on offer. Picnic tables are available for those who need to sneak a taste of their fresh-picked bounty.
While the fields and berry picking open in June, you can swing by earlier and pick up bags of sweet Honeycrisp apples and creamy potatoes, while dreaming of the field-fresh strawberries, raspberries and sugar snap peas to come. June also sees the farm market re-opening, where more produce is available, alongside sparkling jars of homemade raspberry jam.
Dentz Orchards and Berry Farm
4766 County Rd. 16, Iroquois, Ont.
dentzfarm.com | 613.652.2397 | @dentzfarm
