Warming Up to Winter…
Hello again. It’s sweater time – my favourite. The air is crisp, the pumpkins are full and WE are in full swing for Fall and our Fall Harvest Festivals.
Before I begin I would like to introduce everyone to our newest addition – Laurel Grieve. She is our new Outdoor Education Ninja and will be taking over the task of running School Groups and Educational Farm Tours. She is currently revamping our School Tour Programming and more information will soon be found on our website: www.mccullys.ca.
We are currently taking orders for Thanksgiving Naturally-Raised Fresh Turkeys and Yummy Pies. Turkey sizes are mostly in the 15 – 20 lb range and numbers are limited - so get your order in today.
October is time for our annual HARVEST FESTIVALS and GREAT CANADIAN PUMPKIN TOSS. The first four weekends in October bring loads of Fall fun. Like wagon rides to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin then through the sugar bush to see the Fall colours. The Great Canadian Pumpkin Toss is run by local charitable groups, with proceeds going to them. Anyone can bet where the pumpkin will land for prizes, then our sheep get to feast on the pumpkin carcass. Our bunnies, chickens and other animals in the barn will be waiting for your children to visit. Then back down at the market we have hot apple cider, hot burgers and sausages waiting to be feasted upon with live music to entertain you.
This year’s line-up for the Feature Attractions are as follows:
Oct. 2 CREEPY CRAWLIES: Join SCARY GUYS from Shakespeare and spend the day with a variety of lizards, snakes, spiders, Kool-Aid the Boa Constrictor and their exploring tourtise and learn about these fascinating creatures
Oct. 3 MONARCH DAYS: Discover the world of butterflies with expert John Powers- a.k.a. The "Butterfly Man". Along with his Flying Jewels Exhibit he will be helping YOU tag and release a monarch. The Incredible World of Bugs Exhibit is also here, presented by Orkin-PCO Services
Oct. 9 & 10 APPLE FEST & GRANDPARENTS WEEKEND: Bring grandma & grandpa for free on Thanksgiving weekend and enjoy apple treats, a children's Mini Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie eating contest, Antique farm equipement in "action"
Oct. 16 AGILITY DOG DAY: Watch their amazing tricks. Shows at 11:30 & 1:30 – our most popular event of the season
Oct. 17 WILD & WOOLIE: Explore the world of the wild - domesticated. The Mills Family here to talk about raising BISON, the Reneker's about ELK. Meet Wesley's Wild Birds
Oct. 23 DONKEY DAYS: The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is here to educate us on their Donkey Foster Program, why donkey's are the coolest animals around, why WE love them and to let YOU SEE THEM FOR YOURSELVES - a pair of donkeys will be here for everyone to pet and visit with. Dwight Bennett will also be working up the commercial garden with his working horse team.
Oct. 24 PUMPKIN CARVING: Purchase a pumpkin for half price and enter into the Pumpkin Carving Contest. Judging by you at the Leo Club haunted farm night, Sat. Oct. 30th. We will also be featuring the many ways of wearing a Pook Toque. Oh what fun!
The Community Garden Co-Op is shortly coming to a close. We are very proud at the success of this and we plan to open up twice as many plots as last year. The waiting list is already on the go. We will be rotating out of the current space and look forward to even greater success in the future. Keep your ears open for the first scheduled meeting in early spring, where a Chair will be elected.
We have loads of pumpkins available already. As well as some gorgeous mums in two sizes, new puppets, a couple of new varieties of cheese from C’est Bon, frozen blueberries, new retail items, a fresh supply of Pook Toques, Loops, Dukes, Baby Toquies and Boots, Hockey Sockey’s, loads of squash, straw bales & gourds for decorating, many, many Apples with lots of the Heritage varieties, Sweet Potatoes, fresh apple cider, summer sausage, Pumpkin Ice Cream. The list goes on.
One last thing: Sat. Oct. 30 the Leo Group from St. Marys is putting on a Haunted Farm night from 8 – 10 pm. This will be a super fun event, geared to kids a tiny bit older. It will be a bit “scary”. More about this event will be sent out soon.
Happy Pumpkin Hunting!!
