Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you’re having a great weekend, and that you enjoyed my last post about the beautiful Haliburton Sculpture Forest – a must-visit attraction in Ontario cottage country! Today I’m excited to share another unique Haliburton destination with you, and trust me: this one’s pretty special. Recently, while I was up in the area for my friend’s bachelorette weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the amazing Abbey Gardens.
Abbey Gardens is a lot of things, so it’s hard to sum up in a sentence. There are gardens, yes – but it’s also a food market, café, brewery, horse farm, bee yard, disc golf course, event venue – and much more! Walking around the gorgeous property, it’s hard to believe that it was once a 300-acre gravel pit. Founder John Patterson started the project in 2009. Inspired by B.C.’s Butchart Gardens and England’s Eden Project – both former mines that are now world-renowned gardens – he dreamed of turning the bleak, lifeless pit into a thriving green space and local community hub. 15 years later, Abbey Gardens is now a vibrant and flourishing destination for Haliburton locals – not to mention intrigued out-of-towners like myself! I was so impressed by their mission to “convert an ‘unusable’ piece of land into a community resource” – as well as their commitment to environmental sustainability and promoting local economic growth – so I was excited to check it out in person!
My first stop was the Food Hub. This market and café specializes in healthy, sustainably grown, locally sourced food. 90% of the items in the Food Hub are sourced within a 200-km radius of Abbey Gardens. The market sells everything from fruits and vegetables to cheeses, meats, breads, soups and pre-made meals. You can also grab a freshly baked treat from their drool-worthy display case! I treated myself to an iced coffee and a delicious butter tart, which I enjoyed on their peaceful garden patio.
Next, I headed over to the gardens. There are so many gardens to discover and explore: from the two-acre vegetable garden (built over old sand pits) to perennial flower gardens to shade gardens, pollinator gardens and herb gardens. The Education Garden features raised beds, vertical growing techniques and a solar-fed water tower.
Education plays a key role throughout Abbey Gardens: there are tons of educational signs and displays all over the property. Even on my short visit, I learned so much!
After my stroll through the gardens, I headed over to the coop to say hello to the Chantecler chickens! This rare breed of chicken originated in Quebec in the early 1900s. Their body-hugging feathers, combined with their small cushion combs and wattles (which provide natural protection against frostbite) make them one of the cold-hardiest chicken breeds – a must in our Canadian winters!
Next, I went over to the 5-acre pony paddock to say hello to some of Abbey Gardens’ other animal residents: their beautiful Ojibwe horses. This is an extremely rare Canadian horse breed: there are only about 200 of them in existence today! Abbey Gardens is home to two of them: brothers Maple and Sammy. If you’d like to meet Maple and Sammy “in person” (in pony?) Abbey Gardens offers various Pony Programs – including an Equine Assisted Learning program.
Next, I took a short stroll along the charming Chickadee Trail. During the winter, visitors can hand-feed chickadees with sunflower seeds – what a magical experience that would be! The trail features a cute children’s story, educational signs about chickadees, and a sitting area that’s perfect for birdwatching. If you’re looking for more of a hike than a stroll, Abbey Gardens has got you covered: the property has no less than 140 acres of mature forest, with plenty of hiking trails to explore.
The Little Pit Drive-In is where Abbey Gardens hosts movie nights and other special events. It’s also where you can grab a slice of wood-fired pizza from Into The Blue Bakery’s food truck, sample beers from award-winning microbrewery Haliburton Highlands Brewing, or snap a selfie with these charming murals.
Before leaving Abbey Gardens, I took a moment to stand inside this timber frame kiosk overlooking the property, and soak in the views. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I can’t believe this was once a giant gravel pit! It just goes to show the power of a little creativity, a lot of innovation, and one incredible vision.
Abbey Gardens is free and open to the public. You can do a self-guided tour like I did, or you can email [email protected] to book a guided tour for $15 a person (kids are free!) They’re always hosting various events, so keep an eye on their calendar for updates.
They say it takes a village, and that’s especially true here. Abbey Gardens wouldn’t be possible without the support of its members, donors and volunteers. Membership costs $75 a year and offers various members-only perks such as an annual calendar, preferred rates on event tickets, access to special member events, and a 10% discount on most products at the Food Hub. To purchase a membership, visit the Food Hub in person during regular business hours. To explore volunteer opportunities, click here. To make a donation, click here. Abbey Gardens is a registered not-for-profit charity, and you’ll receive a tax receipt for donations over $25.
Do you know an organization that’s making a big difference in your community? Please share their name(s) in the comments or send me an email – I’d love to hear about them!
Until next time, wishing everyone a great rest of the weekend – and to my Canadian readers, a very happy Canada Day! May we never lose sight of how fortunate we are to live in this beautiful country.
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