Notes from the Farmer’s Daughter – 2023 Greenhouse Car Rally Announcement
| Event organized by Connie Zeran, Owner of Beyond The Arbour. An opportunity May 7th to get a sneak peek into eight local greenhouses, enjoy a farm-fresh lunch and learn from a flower farmer! |
 |
ConnieZeran, Owner of Beyond The Arbour, takes great care in curating the annual Sneak a Peek Greenhouse Car Rally. This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday May 7th from 9am to 4pm. Every stop on the tour promises something different, with eight unique businesses highlighted and a fresh farm lunch at Furnace Falls Farm in Lyndhurst included. First up on the tour, depending on the direction you are driving from, is Forman Farms, located at #4040 Brewers Mills Road outside Seeley’s Bay. With an impressive 13,000 square feet of greenhouses, Forman Farms specializes in hydroponically grown tomatoes, including Beefsteak, Cherry, Campari, Cluster and Roma. I have word that there are ripe tomatoes on the vine now! |
 |
| Forman’s selection of greens, their vast array of Proven Winner plants and a fruit-bearing peach tree growing in their greenhouse make them a must-see! Next up, Let it Grow Greenhouse, only minutes away at #3227 County Road #32, is a lovely stop where Dawn Kirkby makes it her mission to bring joy to your gardens and your heart with access to an abundance of annuals and easy-to-care-for hanging baskets. From hwy #32, take hwy #15 to #184 Sweets Corners Road, where you will see a sweet roadside stand at Firelight Farm with Carol and Bill Welch. Carol says their daughter, Leslie (A.K.A. The Firelight Farmgirl), has happily married a fellow farmer and now resides in MD, USA. Though Leslie will not be greeting you at the stand, her artisan soap and the sheep, rabbit, and cow compost you need will be available. Carol and Bill will also have an assortment of plants and some quail eggs at the stand. Wendy’s Country Market, #408 Fortune Linde Road, another stop on the list in the Lyndhurst area, will showcase a wide variety of vegetable, perennial and heritage plants. An extensive selection of annuals will be available to purchase by the pack, the flat, basket or planter, while Wendy Banks, Owner, will be on hand to provide expert growing tips and advice. A bonus while at Wendy’s is the friendly farm animals you can visit during your stop. Across the road from Wendy’s is her other business, Furnace Falls Farm, #504 Old Briar Hill Road, where you will be welcomed by Chef Karen, who will be fixing you a fresh farm lunch (included in the ticket price for the tour). |
 |
Then it is off for an afternoon of more greenhouse visits, conversation with like-minded gardening enthusiasts and new discoveries. Valley Acres Greenhouse, located at #619 Reynolds Road Lansdowne, is celebrating ten years in business, growing an abundance of annuals, vegetables and herbs for you to enjoy. Stop in, congratulate Owner Ann Jackson on her ten-year anniversary, and check out her beautiful hanging baskets. Up hwy #2 East at #1892, Donna and her son, Derek White of Green Things, will be waiting to greet you. Donna, an expert horticulturist, sees to it that there is a diverse selection of trees, shrubs, fruit trees, perennials, vines, and roses in the nursery. With over 12,000 sq feet of greenhouse space, the choice of annuals, vegetables, and hanging baskets will surely meet your needs. Donna and Derek are excited to launch their new website, greenthings.ca, this spring and are equally excited to be phasing out plastic hanging baskets and using more environmentally friendly containers. Another Brockville stop on the list is Ritchies Feed & Seed Inc. at #3043 County Road #29. Manager Andrea Stewart and staff provide quality plants, gardening tools, and supplies for all stages of your gardening adventures. Whether you are just starting on your garden creations or are a gardening pro, Ritchies Feed and Seed has what you are looking for. Last but certainly not least is Adair Gardens Flower Farm at #9236 Branch Road, North Augusta, the first flower farm showcased in the Beyond the Arbour Greenhouse Car Rally. Owner Amy Fogo is eager to share her goals as a flower farmer specializing in growing cut flowers, naturally without pesticides or other chemicals. In her third growing season, Amy says she is thrilled to provide fresh, locally grown flowers from Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving. While at Amy’s, you will witness the beauty of colourful tulips in bloom and have an opportunity to purchase some for yourself. There will be coupons and discounts to take advantage of throughout the day, and Connie, the tireless organizer of the Greenhouse Car Rally, tells me there is still time to purchase your ticket to get in on the fun. Each ticket purchased will also give you a chance to win a workshop with Connie. Why wait? Get your ticket now, join in the excitement, and get your 2023 Greenhouse passport today! An exciting day of local adventures and valuable gardening advice awaits! Contact Connie at beyondthearbour@gmail.com View the helpful map below here. Order tickets here. |
