- Est.2007 -

Hazelwood Gardens

ORGANIC, REGENERATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PERMACULTURE PRACTICES

FARMING FOR OUR FUTURE

FREE RANGE GMO-FREE

BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYTEM FOCUS

HAPPY NATURAL OLD FASHIONED LIVING AND GROWING

PRODUCING MAPLE SYRUP, GARLIC, NUTS, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HERBS, FLOWERS AND MINDFULWILD CRAFTED GOODS AND SO MUCH MORE

ABOUT THE FARM

Our Story

FRESH FARM
PRODUCTS

Hazelwood Gardens is our family's farm.

Join us on our adventures while we strive to produce the best foods for you and your family.

What's available

Another attempt. Yummy, but too bready. Not croissant. More like crescent rolls. Number 4.
The tartine recipe.
I won’t quit though.
( and the kids are here for it 🤪)

🧵 ISO: Grafting Enthusiasts! ✂️🌳

We have an opportunity to host a Grafting Workshop with JD Van Allen (Prescott’s own permaculture author!) and we need your input to make it happen.

Last year was a blast, and this year you get to go home with 2 grafted trees of your own! (Choose Pear, Plum, or Apple 🍐🍑🍎).

Please help us decide by answering in the comments or DMs:
1️�⃣ May 1 or May 2?
2️⃣ Vankleek Hill or Dalkeith Farm?

Cost is $60/person. We need a minimum group size, so please speak up if you want a spot! ✋

DM me to secure your place once we confirm the date! 🚀

Trying out Seed Snails this year! 🐌🌿

How they work: You roll up a thin layer of soil in a flexible strip (think cinnamon roll style!), stand it upright, and plant seeds in the spiral on top. The roots grow straight down through the layers .🐌

We’re using bubble wrap (you can see it in the pics!)—it’s flexible, reusable, and helps hold the shape perfectly. 📸

The advantages:

· 🌱 Healthier Roots: The deep spiral encourages long, straight roots instead of the circling you get in small cells .
· 📦 Space Efficient: Pack dozens of seedlings into the space of one pot .
· 💰 Saves Soil: Uses significantly less potting mix than trays .
· 💧 Less Watering: The design retains humidity and you can bottom-water once sprouted .

It’s a new method that provides deeper rooting space and easier transplanting, while saving on both space and soil. We’re giving it a shot! 🤞

Shout out to Tristan for the assist, but the real helper is Bilbo who is supervising 🐶👀

Also, a huge thank you to Kierstian Hardy and her family for organizing the amazing Vankleek Hill Seed Swap yesterday! ❤️ It was wonderful to see the whole community come together.

#SeedStarting #GardeningHack #VankleekHill #SeedSwap #GardenLife Propagation GreenThumb SeedSnailMethod BubbleWrapGardening

Teachers: Want to grow with your class this season? 🌿✏️

If you don’t have a budget for seeds, don’t stress—just send us a note or come find Hazelwood Gardens at the Seed Swap tomorrow at Knox Presbyterian Church in Vankleek Hill (10 AM – 2 PM).

We’re happy to sponsor you with the seeds you need to get those little hands dirty and cultivate a love for growing in children. See you there! 👋🌱

🌱 Hazelwood Gardens is all about the next generation! 🧒👧
📚 Education is king. 👑
🌿 Self-sufficiency is king. 👑

So teachers… need eggs to hatch? 🐣🥚 (We supply classrooms every year!)
Need a plant , a tree ? 🌿💚

Just reach out—we’re always happy to help! 🍎✏️🌱

#HazelwoodGardens #SupportLocalTeachers #SeedSponsor #SchoolGarden #SeedSwap VanKleekHill

Mel was preparing 1$seed packs from a variety of « ooops, I forgot I bought those already »s and seeds that we grew ourselves.

These packs are urban garden size friendly- not 200-of-the-same-variety kinda size.
Affordable enough to try a little of everything.

What would you like her to package up? My seed collection is vaste and anything that I am willing to sell will be a seed that is from last year’s stock or that I have full confidence will sprout. ( I usually use up my older seeds myself) .
So request away!

We will be there. we will have seeds...honey and maple syrup....anything else we could bring?

🌸 Spring is TIMIDLY arriving ! 🌸

We did it, guys! We survived the winter and the adventure is just beginning. Val has been a total tapping machine—last check-in he was at 230 trees! That’s more than half our goal for the season. 🙌🍁

Now, it’s time to get to work on the wood pile... and maybe a few (okay, a lot) of other things. 🪵🪓

I know we said we wouldn’t take on too many new projects this year, but where’s the fun in that? The chaos is what makes the journey so grand!

✨ CAN YOU GUESS what else we’re up to this Spring? ✨
(If you’re in the inner circle and already know, shhh! Don’t tell! 🤫)

Drop your best guesses in the comments! 👇

#HazelwoodGardens #MapleSyrupSeason #SpringFever #HomesteadLife #GuessTheProject SmallFarmBigDreams

It’s a girl! 1st female of the Season, 4th lamb.
The twins born on Imbolc are strong and curious.
Hold tight my friends, Spring is coming! 💐

🌸🍞✨
so i haven’t made sourdough croissants in a loooong time…
and wow — first attempt back? not exactly a rise to the occasion 😅

but look at those layers 😍
the taste is still there, the beauty is there — just gotta adjust the recipe + give it another go.

reminder: your first try doesn’t have to be perfect.
the second, third, or fourth either.
you just keep showing up. 🥖💛

💕💙💗And reminder friends, spread some kindness , love and joy today.
the world could really use it. ❤️🌍✨

#sourdoughstruggles #bakingdiaries #trytryagain #spreadkindness #firsttrynotperfect layersoflove

From last year’s harvest 🧄 to this 2026 gold ✨
As seed starting season begins to sprout🌱 (lol lol lol I love a good pun), I’m giving my 2025 garlic some love before it dries out 🔥
Turning it into freeze-dried garlic powder 🌬️🧂
Just as potent, just as tasty — and not a clove wasted ♻️💚
Perfect for seasoning soups, roasts, sauces… everything! 🍲🍗🔥

#GarlicPowder #PreserveTheHarvest #NoWaste #FromTheGarden #KitchenMagic SeedStarting Homegrown GardenToTable GardenPantry PreservingFood

Yesterday, I said goodbye to my Duchess.

For sixteen years, she was my garden’s constant companion—a cat who knew her calling was to be loved among the flowers. She preferred the open sky to any roof, but never missed our morning coffee by the pond. She was a great friend.

This winter has been a season of gentle goodbyes to our older family members. Now, it was her time.

Duchess was the last of three. She and her siblings, Berlioz and Marie, came to us as tiny, helpless kittens, dumped on a roadside. They were saved by a kind soul—Mr. Steve, our handyman at the time. He spotted them from the corner of his eye while driving, and though he couldn’t keep them, he made sure they found a home. We raised them, loved them, and gave them a life. Duchess was our final, living thread to that act of kindness.

She was special in every way. Even with my severe cat allergies, my heart never reacted to her with anything but love.

The sun is out, and the garden is peaceful, but her absence is a quiet ache. It truly feels like the closing of a long, beautiful chapter her rescue began so many years ago.

Time to change things up, perhaps. But I will always be grateful for every moment with my garden guardian.

Rest easy, sweet Duchess. You were, and are, so deeply loved. 💔

It feels like the end of an era.

This terribly harsh, extremely cold, never-ending winter has seen us say goodbye to so many of our family. The donkeys, Wallace, Jade, and now my dear Duchess, my garden companion of 16 years.

It seems almost impossible to endure any more. But that’s what happens, I guess. We age. And when you choose a life with elderly companions, you also choose these seasons of letting go. The price of all those years of love is this deep, collective ache.

My heart feels as quiet and frozen as the fields.

But today, the sun is trying. And I’m holding onto a truth that feels fragile but real: a winter this hard cannot last forever. The ground will soften. New life, in its own time, will find a way.

For now, we remember. We honor them. And we endure.

#HardWinter #PetLoss #FarmLife #AnimalCompanions #Grief EndOfAnEra RainbowBridge SeasonOfGoodbye

Pure peace. There’s nothing quite like watching the herd bask in the gorgeous winter sunshine. Life feels beautiful, quiet, and perfect on days like this.
...And then there’s this goof . 😂 The ram who has everything he needs, but insists the feeder is his throne. Don’t worry, he’s okay—just a certified silly goof. #FarmLife #CowsOfInstagram #AnimalAntics #WinterSun

✨ When everything new breaks... go back to 1941. ✨

Our pre-vacation saga:
🚗 2 days before flying: Car breaks down.
🧺 5 days before flying: Dryer dies. Repairman says: “$500... just for the part.” 😤
🏡 The day we return: Kids say, “Oh, the washing machine’s broken too!” 😅
Programmed obsolescence! The machines are just past their 5 year warranty.

Stores had nothing we loved. So we didn’t buy new. We bought OLD. 💙

Meet our 85-YEAR-OLD HERO! 👵🎉
This gorgeous 1941 wringer washer is now humming in our garage. Drains a little slow (hose check needed 🤔), but HELLO — it’s older than penicillin in Canada and still works! 👏🇨🇦

Sometimes the best upgrade is a glorious step back in time. 🕰️🧼

#VintageWasher #1941 #BuiltToLast #ApplianceSaga #MarketplaceWin FixDontReplace OldSchoolCool SustainableLiving TheyDontMakeEmLikeThisAnymore CanadianHome LaundryDay

We’re back. ✈️

You may have noticed the silence here. My husband and I finally took a long-overdue vacation to Cuba with dear friends.

We went to rest, and we did. But we returned with so much more than a tan.

We returned with our hearts expanded by the luminous spirit of the Cuban people—a people of profound resilience, dignity, and open-hearted joy, despite daunting scarcity. Their grace is humbling.

I’ve shared a longer reflection from my personal page in my stories. It’s about the transformative experience of meeting a people with such rich humanity living under such punishing material poverty.

I didn’t come home just rested. I came home resolved.

Resolved to use my voice, to advocate, and to return with tangible aid. If you’re considering a trip, go to Cuba. You’ll see incredible beauty, but you’ll meet an unforgettable people. Your tourism is a vital lifeline for them.

This isn’t a travel ad. It’s a witness to human strength and a call for a fairer world.

#Cuba #TravelWithPurpose #Varadero #HumanConnection #cubanpeople

Today, we say goodbye to sweet Lily. Buckwheat’s best friend, his BFF.

We knew in our hearts she wouldn’t be long for this world after losing him. Buckwheat was her guardian. When she arrived with hoof overgrowth and foot issues , he watched over her. He found the best patches of grass and kept a careful eye out, as she could never walk very far or quickly.

She didn’t suffer. After he passed two weeks ago, she got to spend time lingering by his side, her Bestie, one last time.

We knew Lily wouldn’t want to go on without him. Sure enough, last Friday, despite being spoiled and cared for, she refused to eat—even her favourite treats. She was simply ready to say goodbye.

Lily was the gentle donkey: mild-mannered, reserved, but so very sweet. If Buckwheat was the clown, she was his biggest fan.

A farm without donkeys feels profoundly still. We’ve never known this particular quiet. The silence is a new sound, and it echoes. It’s the loss of family, a specific emptiness—perhaps “donkey-shaped emptiness” is the term.

In time, our hearts and fields may open for another in need. It will never be the same, for Buckwheat and Lily were one of a kind.
Their memory creates a legacy of care. While no one could ever take their place, we will likely welcome another donkey in need when we’re ready. Not to fill the void, but to honor the love that Buckwheat and Lily taught us to give. We’ll see what the future holds.
Rest easy together, Buckwheat and Lily. Your love story was a quiet, beautiful lesson in devotion. 💔

#DonkeyLove #AnimalBond #SeniorDonkeys #FarmLife #AnimalSanctuary BuckwheatAndLily DonkeyBestFriends RainbowBridge GrievingPets RescueAnimals

Snow dogs loving it!
( but Honey says :” don’t touch my sister” - did you see it?)

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say a sad farewell to our beloved mini donkey, Buckwheat.

For twenty incredible years, his gentle presence was a constant on our farm. He came to us as a senior gentleman, well into his teens or even twenties, and graced our lives with his quiet, steadfast soul.

Recently, he began to lose weight, and despite our best efforts, he just couldn’t keep it on. I spent treasured time with him these last days, giving him treats. On Thursday, he was chewing so slowly, savoring each moment. Friday morning was the usual routine. But by Friday evening, he had peacefully left us.

He didn’t leave alone; he left a legacy of love and a heartbroken best friend. His partner-in-crime for all 20 years, Lilly, is also slowing down, and we are unsure how she will navigate life without her lifelong pal. For now, she is comforted in a stall with Lilac, our last goat.

As our Quarter Horse, Sunny, prepares to turn 30 this January, it truly feels like the end of an era here. With Buckwheat’s passing, the last few living ties to our original East Coast farm, nearly two decades ago, are slipping away.

Buckwheat, you were more than a donkey; you were family. You saw our children grow, weathered seasons with us, and taught us about gentle resilience. We are so grateful for every single year.

Rest easy, sweet old man. You were so, so loved.

#FarewellBuckwheat #MiniDonkey #DonkeyLove #FarmFamily #rainbowbridge

Yeti 🏔️, our big mushy couch potato 🥔… who moonlights as a certified guardian of ALL the things! 🛡️✨

This floof ball and gentle soul is the sweetest, smartest, drama-free doggo. ❤️ He’s so patient with our younger Maremma girls 👧🐾 (the future guardians in training!), a calm big brother to Prince 🐕, and unbelievably gentle with our entire army of senior Chihuahua-poodle mixes 👑🐩. The ultimate family member! 🏡

But don’t let the snuggles fool you — when duty calls, this love bug means BUSINESS. 🐕💥

🌙 One evening, we went to turn off the forgotten barn lights. Yeti was ON GUARD until he saw it was us. Alert mode: activated! 🔦

🚗 Another time, while he was enjoying his favorite car ride, a stranger reached in to pet him. Yeti made it VERY clear — in no uncertain terms — that arms near his people should be removed… or else. 😳✋ Safe to say, the gentleman got the message! 🙊

In his mind, WE are also his livestock to protect. 😂❤️ So he’s calm, friendly, and drama-free when told… but he follows command, gets along with everyone, and keeps the bad guys away — whether furry, feathered, or two-legged! 🦊🐦👤

☕🌅 And my favorite daily ritual? When I have my morning coffee by the pond, Yeti will always wander over and quietly take a seat beside me on the swing. 🪑🐾 No fuss, no drama — just peaceful companionship, watching the world wake up together. Pure bliss. 😌💖

✨🎉 AND TODAY IS EXTRA SPECIAL… because it’s Yeti’s 4th Birthday! 🎂🐾 Thank you so much to the wonderful Mel for making him feel so loved and celebrated today — you truly made his day magical! 🥳❤️

The perfect Livestock Guardian Dog… who guards his humans most of all. 🥰🛡️

#YetiTheGuardian #GentleGiant #LivestockGuardianDog #FamilyProtector #BigMushyLovebug CouchPotatoGuardDog FarmLife DogsofInstagram GuardDog SweetButStrong FamilyDog HappyBirthdayYeti BirthdayDog

Don’t worry Beetje has a stall mate: Maurice. He’s just camera shy 🙈
Gingin is the ultimate photo bomber though. She is ALWAYS ready ! 🐷

💧 FIZZY FUN FACT FRIDAY! 💧
Did you know your gut is throwing a party every day? 🎉 And the ultimate drink for it—WATER KEFIR!

👇 WHY IT’S A GUT HEALTH ROCKSTAR:
✅ Packed with probiotics to support digestion & immunity
✅ Naturally fizzy & fermented—full of good bacteria & yeast
✅ Light, tangy, and way less heavy than dairy kefir
✅ You can flavor it endlessly—hello, raspberry-ginger or lemon-mint fizz! 🍋✨

🧫 HOW TO MAKE IT (super simple!):

1. Get water kefir grains (the living culture!).
2. Add them to sugar water in a jar.
3. Ferment for 24–48 hours.
4. Strain out grains, bottle with fruit/juice for a second ferment (extra fizz!).
5. Chill, pop open, and enjoy your homemade probiotic soda! 🥤

No dairy, no fuss—just a bubbly, gut-loving bevvy. Your microbiome will thank you! ❤️🦠

Have you tried water kefir before? What’s your favorite flavor combo!
#WaterKefir #GutHealth #Probiotics #Fermentation #DIYDrinks

So yummy 🤤
Hubby only works part time outside the farm now. I could get use to this. 🤪

✨ Mission Accomplished: Galette des Rois Edition. ✨

Homemade flaky pastry ✅
Hidden whole almond ✅
And the winner is… VAL! 👑
He found the almond and has been crowned king for the day. Long live the king!

Did you know? / Le saviez-vous ?
This tradition dates back to Roman times! The “Saturnalia” festival involved hiding a bean in a cake to choose a “king of the day.” 🫘👑
Early Christians later adopted it for Epiphany (January 6th), celebrating the Three Kings’ visit to baby Jesus. The “fève” (first a bean, now often a charm or, in our case, an almond!) and the paper crown complete the ritual.

Cette tradition remonte à l’époque romaine ! La fête des “Saturnales” consistait à cacher une fève (un haricot) dans un gâteau pour désigner un “roi d’un jour.” 🫘👑
Les premiers Chrétiens l’ont ensuite adaptée pour l’Épiphanie (le 6 janvier), célébrant la visite des Rois Mages. La “fève” (d’abord un haricot, maintenant souvent une figurine ou, chez nous, une amande !) et la couronne en papier parachèvent le rituel.

Mission accomplie : Galette des Rois.
Pâte feuilletée maison ✅
Amande entière cachée ✅
Et le gagnant est… VAL ! 👑
Il a trouvé l’amande et est couronné roi pour la journée. Vive le roi !

#GaletteDesRois #Epiphany #Epiphanie #FrenchTradition #History Saturnalia KingVal Homemade Fève FrenchCulture FoodHistory RoisMages ThreeKings

🌲 FEED A GOAT, FUEL THE LAND! 🌲

Turn your Christmas tree into goat joy & garden gold! 🐐✨
We give every tree a local, eco-friendly second life —
first as a tasty treat, then as nourishing mulch for our land. 🌍❤️

📍 Hazelwood Garden Gardens
1765 Fraser Road

📞 PLEASE CALL BEFORE ENTERING
For your safety & our animals’ comfort, wait at the entrance for accompaniment. We have farm dogs who need to be secured first! 🐕

✅ Drop-off: Leave your undecorated, chemical-free tree by the driveway anytime.
✅ Goat-feeding experience: Book an appointment feed yourself!
♻️ Full-circle sustainability: Snacks for goats → mulch for gardens.

Give your tree a purpose — feed an animal, support local land!

✨ A Special Thank You ✨
To our amazing farm friends who save their peelings, veggie clippings, soft apples, and food scraps — whether in a bucket, bag, or frozen block — your donations keep our animals happy and our cycle of sustainability turning. We are so grateful! 🥕🍎🥔

DM or call to schedule your visit!

#FeedTheGoats #TreeCycle #EcoFriendly #LocalRecycling #ClosedLoopFarm HazelwoodGardenGardens SustainableLiving GoatLove SecondLifeForTrees ZeroWasteFarm 🌲♻️🐐

The year ended with a gust 🌪️…
…and began with a gentle baa. 🐑✨

This sweet boy lamb arrived safely after the wind had died down a little— a soft little promise of new beginnings. Everyone is now cozy in the barn, tucked deep into hay and straw, warm and watched over. ❤️🌾

As I look at him, so new and peaceful, my wish for you in 2026 grows fuller:

May your days be wrapped in a deep and steady peace,
may gentleness meet you in small moments,
and may kindness find its way back to you, again and again.

May joy surprise you in ordinary hours,
laughter echo through your home,
and good health hold you through every season ahead.

Wishing you a year as hopeful as a newborn lamb,
and as peaceful as a barn at dusk. 🕊️💫

#NewYearsLamb #FirstLamb #FarmLife
#Gentle2026 PeacefulBeginnings FarmMagic NewBeginnings
HappyNewYear #homesteading SheepOfInstagram CountryLife

🥚 BREAKING NEWS FROM THE COOP 🥚

The Great Egg Strike is OVER! ✨

After weeks of suspiciously empty nesting boxes, our Head of Chicken Relations, Val, cracked the case. He refused to accept their “extended bawk-cation” story. 🐔💼

The new treaty includes:
• 📈 A 20% increase in mealworm rations
• 🛀 A premium dust bath zone upgrade
• 🚫 An end to questionable human “bawk-bawk” impressions- just kidding , but they do get added lighting and pelletized feed.

The hens have clucked back to work! Production has resumed. 🎉 We have EGGS! 🥚🥚🥚

#PoultryPower #TreatyOfTheCoop #EggcellentNews #ChickenDiplomacy #BackyardFarm

Christmas photo dump 🎄✨

I hope you’re enjoying your holidays so far! Here’s a little peek at what’s been going on on our farm. From cozy moments to festive barnyard cheer, it’s been a season full of simple joys.

Wishing you warmth, peace, and a very merry holiday season! 🐑❤️✨

#FarmChristmas #CountryChristmas #HolidayOnTheFarm #ChristmasPhotoDump #SimpleJoys WinterFarm MerryAndBright CozySeason FarmLife HolidayVibes

Okay, my time machine is officially a kitchen. 🔮✨

I’ve been building a multi-century Christmas feast, and the timeline is getting wonderfully jumbled:

🥧 1390: Started with the foundation—a “boiled” pie crust recipe (yes, boiled!) for my savory Christmas meat pies. The medieval cooks were onto something.

🎄 1845: Answered the classic carol’s persistent demand with a true Victorian Figgy Pudding. It’s dense, spiced, and finally explains the urgency in the song.

🍷 1723: Crafted the ultimate pairing: Chocolate Wine. Because if you’re going to time-travel, you might as well do it in luxury.

Cooking is my favorite passport. Each stir of the pot feels like a whisper from a kitchen long gone, asking the same timeless question: “I hope this tastes good.” So far, history is delicious.

If you could taste one dish from history, what would it be?

#HistoricalCooking #FoodHistory #MedievalRecipes #VictorianChristmas #FiggyPudding

Nailed it! 🎯 Home-smoked lard from your own pork? That’s the secret ancient hack right there. No wonder they’re the best in years! 🏆✨

And a huge shout-out to Val for that master-level smoke on the lard and skin! 🥓🔥🙌 Teamwork makes the dream work — and the beans legendary! 👏

Fun Quebec Beans Fact Time! 🕰️🍁
Did you know fèves au lard have been the heartbeat of Quebec for centuries? 🇫🇷
• They were a voyageur & lumberjack staple — cheap, filling fuel for long winters. ⛏️❄️
• Traditionally baked overnight in a clay pot in a wood-fired oven, or buried in embers! ♨️🔥
• Every family has their own version (maple syrup 🍁, molasses, salted pork)... but with the smoked homegrown lard? That’s adding next-level to my ancestors’ cuisine! 👵👨🍳✨

So remember when you make these dishes, you’re not just making beans... you’re keeping history simmering! 🥘💖
And that , to me, is a BIG part of Christmas.

Who else makes fèves au lard? Share your recipes, tips, and tag your kitchen partner (your Val!) below! 👇

#FèvesAuLard #QuebecTradition #HomemadeMagic #Teamwork #SmokedLard FromScratch FoodHeritage 🥘❤️🍁

🎄✨ 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗡! ✨🎄

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 6️⃣ 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮: 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 “𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗳𝗳”! 🎁❤️

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀? 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀:
✅ 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗚𝗜𝗙𝗧 🎁🤝
A trampoline 🏆, a vacation ✈️, something for everyone — and everyone had to agree! It taught us to choose joy, together.
✅ 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 🧦
Filled with cozy socks, soaps 🧼, and useful delights. Simple & sweet!
✅ 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗟! 🎨✨
The heart of our season! Each child got 1-on-1 time with Mama 👩‍👧‍👦 to craft something for every sibling & Papa. A grueling but magical labour of love! 💖
🎁 Bath bombs 💣, lip balms 👄, fancy ribbon hangers 👗...
🎁 My son once made me a SHOPPING BAG from NEWSPAPERS 📰👜 — so cool!

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦:
✅ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗧! 🌲🪓
We go full National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — into the woods to find “the one”! 🚗💨
Spoiler: It NEVER fits. We always trim it! ✂️😆

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡… 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧! 🍽️❤️
My kitchen is a holiday headquarters! 👩‍🍳🔥
Simmering ragouts, baking tourtières 🥧🥧🥧, and filling the house with the smells of love & tradition.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀. 🧱💝

The best gifts aren’t bought...
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁, 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱—𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. ✨

What’s your family’s favourite holiday tradition? I’d love to hear! 👇🎅

FamilyChristmas 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 | #OneBigGift 🎁 | #HomemadeHoliday 🎨

DIYChristmas ✂️ | IntentionalParenting 💡 | #QuébécoisChristmas 🥧

SimpleJoy ✨ | #ChristmasMemories ❤️ | ChristmasTreeHunt 🌲

HandmadeWithLove 💖 | Traditions | MomLife 👑 | #ExperienceOverStuff 🌍

Look at these two grateful little fellas! 🐷❤️ They’re always thrilled with the yummy treats Tim and Chantel save for them—thank you!!

But these aren’t just any piglets—they’re Kunekunes, a heritage breed from New Zealand, and they make fantastic homestead companions or unique family pets. Here’s why:

✅ Gentle & Friendly: Known for their incredibly docile, calm, and social temperament.
✅ Easy Keepers: They are natural grazers! They thrive on pasture and require less supplemental feed.
✅ Perfect Size: A smaller, manageable breed, ideal for smaller acreage or as a devoted pet.
✅ Hardy: Their wiry coat helps them tolerate cooler climates.

We have Kunekune piglets available for adoption now! And with our new boar Barney here, we will have new lines starting this spring, plus unrelated litters.

Adoption Fee: $250

Interested in adding some gentle, grassy snouts to your family or homestead? Send us a message! 🌱

#KunekunePigs #Kunekune #HomesteadPigs #PetPigs #HeritageBreeds HomesteadLife PasturePigs AdoptAPig FarmFriends ThankfulPiggies

For all of you concerned…
This is she- the- cow!
She’s getting up and eating and acting as though nothing ever happened!
Hooray!
And thank you for caring xo

When a cow goes down and can’t get up, they’re called “downers.” Keeping them alive is a race against time and you rarely win. 🐄💔

Yesterday morning, we found one of our cows wedged between a feeder and a fence. (Turns out it’s not just sheep with a talent for finding trouble… cows seem determined, too.)

We freed her, but she couldn’t stand. Her back legs worked, but her front legs locked—a dreaded sign. We massaged her, gave her warm molasses water, offered grain, and tried to help. She managed to get on her knees, but time was slipping away.

We checked first thing this morning. She’d moved(!), giving us hope… but still couldn’t rise. She began refusing food—our hearts sank.

After several tries with hip lifts (straps to help hoist her—grueling for her and us), around 3 PM… she got up. And stayed up. She walked until another cow bumped her down. But we got her up again and moved her to a quieter space with the dairy cows and sheep.

For 15–25 minutes, she stood. She ate hay. She drank water. She lived.

My husband’s text said it all: “Christmas miracles do happen.” 🎄🙏

Sometimes farming is heartbreak. Sometimes it’s a fragile, hard-won victory. Tonight, we’re grateful for the miracle of seeing her on her feet.

#FarmLife #DairyFarm #DownerCow #AnimalRecovery #FarmMiracle Livestock CowCare FarmStory ChristmasMiracle GratefulFarmers NeverGiveUp

Saying goodbye to Maïmaï last week was one of the hardest days. For years, she was a good pig—friendly, fun, loving, and easy. But in the last while, she became increasingly aggressive, biting people and other pigs, even harming her own piglets.

After consulting with experienced farmers and a vet clinic, the belief is she likely had a painful medical condition. We faced a hard choice: isolate her completely for a lonely life, or make the call to harvest her.

It’s been about a week now, and the experts were right. The whole drove is much calmer. Everyone is getting enough food. They’re not being pushed away from the trough and the whole ambiance is lighter, happier, and healthier.

This is always the hardest part. But knowing she was causing real suffering made it a necessary decision. On our farm, we don’t keep animals with a dangerous streak—for the safety of everyone. We choose to breed from the gentlest ones to ensure a peaceful, happy drove.

We remember and are thankful for her good days and are grateful for them. This is the responsibility of stewardship. #FarmLife #HardDecisions #DroveOfPigs #AnimalWelfare

A rare pic of Eastern Ontario polar bears sunbathing 😁😂😁

Who also has this box ?
I think I was gifted this when I moved out when I got married some 32 years ago
I’m due to rewrite the recipes before they fade into oblivion.
It carries all the secret recipes of our family.🤫🤐

🥳🎉 Yay, yay, yay! 🥳🎉

Found my favourite pumpkin muffin recipe after it was lost in the endless web ocean of recipes… 🌊🎃

Lesson learned: This time I’m printing it out and saving it for good! 📄✂️📌

What’s cool:
✅ It’s vegan — so no eggs needed!
✅ Works with oat, soy, almond, or (like I usually use) cow’s milk 🥛
(I actually use milk powder + water 😅)
✅ I also cut the sugar — still perfectly sweet! 🍂

#PumpkinMuffins #BakingDay #VeganBaking #RecipeFound #ComfortFood #BakingTips #FallBaking #HomeBaker

https://www.rainbownourishments.com/vegan-pumpkin-muffins/

🍂✨ The last couple of days have revolved around food: harvesting it, preparing it, preserving it.
I’ve been baking in the kitchen — making green fig preserves, fresh bread 🥖, muffins, and a rich red sauce for pork tamales 🌶️.

The kids have been incredible — cutting the most recent beef, while Val packages and stores everything. 🥩✂️
We’re preparing for our traditional Christmas feast, so that means lots of pork and beef: tourtière (Tourtière du Lac St-Jean), ragout de pattes, cretons, ragout de boulettes… comfort food that tells our story. 🥧❤️

This is the kids’ second time butchering beef — and they’re doing a fabulous job. Multiple guides + Thomas’s butcher school experience are helping, but it’s different when you’re doing it all yourself.

It’s an awesome, deeply satisfying feeling to be this closely connected to your food. A lot of people might not understand — but some of you do. 🙏🌱

Ps🔪🏠 Quick addendum: all this butchering happens in our well-sanitized, brightly lit garage — kept cool and prepped specifically for meat processing. A clean, dedicated space makes all the difference!

#SafeButchering #HomesteadPrep #CleanSpace #HomeProcessing
#HarvestSeason #HomesteadLife #FromScratch #TraditionalFood #Butchering #ChristmasPrep #FoodPreservation #FamilyTradition #RootedInTheLand #SlowFood #QuebecCuisine #HomesteadKitchen #Handmade #Blessed

🍂✨ A little late-season harvest update!
We finally got a couple of ripe figs, and—look!—our first ever medlars grown on the farm 🥳 Also shown: some green figs Tristan just picked, which I’ll be turning into green fig jam, thanks to a tip from friends in our fig-growing group 👏🌍 Will report back on how it turns out!

📚 Fun facts about medlars 📚
🍐 Medlars are one of the few fruits that are eaten bletted—essentially when they’re soft and slightly overripe (almost fermented!).
⚔️ They were beloved in medieval times and mentioned by Shakespeare and Chaucer 📜
🌳 Related to apples and roses—check out the blossom!
🕰️ They were called the “fruit of patience” because you have to wait for them to soften after picking.
🥧 Traditionally used in jellies, cheeses (fruit cheeses!), and wines 🍷

#Medlars #FigHarvest #GreenFigJam #RareFruit #HeritageFruit #Homegrown #GardenHarvest #FarmLife #FruitFacts #Bletting #HistoricalFruit #FigTree #FirstHarvest

Here’s where I get a little frustrated... 🤔

In Ontario, an adult can choose to consume alcohol (a known poison) or regulated drugs, but we are prohibited by law from selling or even giving away meat we process ourselves. We can’t share it with you, and you can’t buy it directly from us.
This means unless you raise your own, your meat must come from a centralized slaughterhouse. Think about that: animals from countless farms, stressed from transport, amalgamating bacteria in one facility... versus knowing your farmer, knowing their ethics, and potentially having a say in how your food is raised and processed.
Imagine a system where you could build a relationship with a farmer you trust, support low-stress, humane harvests, reduce food miles, and take control of your food safety. It would be better for animal welfare, the environment, and consumer choice. It would also be a massive boost to the local economy, keeping food dollars right here in our community and prices lower for consumer in most cases.
This law doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t protect us—it removes our right to choose and stifles local, ethical food systems. This isn’t just about meat; it’s about the right to self-sustain, to make informed choices, and to support the farmers next door.
If this resonates with you, it’s a crucial subject to raise with your local representatives. And if you have questions about why this matters, please feel free to reach out—I’m happy to talk.
#FoodSovereignty #EthicalMeat #FarmToTable #OntarioFarming #LocalEconomy #ClosedLoopFarm #SelfSufficiency #RegenerativeAgriculture #LocalFood #RightToChoose #KnowYourFarmer #AnimalWelfare #SustainableLiving #Homesteading

A day of respect, gratitude, and full-circle farming. ✨
Part 1 of 2
Today, we’re breaking down one of our Dexter-Angus steers that’s been properly aged for 9 days. Every part of this animal will be honored and used, a principle at the core of how we farm.

The prime cuts are for our family. The bones will be smoked for our pack of dogs—Christmas is coming early for them! 🦴

What doesn’t go to the dogs goes to the birds or into our “bio-pods.” These pods attract flies in summer, whose maggots break down the scraps. The maggots then become protein-rich treats for our chickens, ducks, and guineas. It’s a closed loop, a circle of life right here on the farm.

We caught Lucy self-serving in the compost bucket!
Little bugger .
We can’t leave the buckets on the floor because we have a pack of strange wee dogs that are bonkers for veggie scraps.
We love our weirdos. 😂

If Minnie is our refined food critic, Lulu is our tough-as-nails, grumpy-hearted treasure. 💎

This 14-year-old lady (who absolutely does not act her age) is the Sophia Petrillo of our pack. She gets the zoomies, grunts about everything, and has a permanent growl that means both “I love this” and “I hate this.” Decoding her is a full-time job, but one we cherish. 🐾

Her tough exterior comes from a hard past—surviving two pitbull attacks left her with a poorly set rib and a guarded heart. But underneath? A total softy. She now lets me pick her up for kisses, putting on a theatrical show of protest before circling back for more. ❤️

And then there’s her palate. 🍗 A true connoisseur of comfort:
• Favourite meal: Chicken (followed by lamb, beef, and eggs—over easy or scrambled, please).
• Temperature: Warm. Not hot. Not cold. (She has standards).
• Secret life: Junk food junkie. Seaweed snacks, chips, popcorn, candy… you name it, Lulu’s tried it. 🍿

Because she’s slender and can lose weight on kibble alone, she now gets a special warm meal every day alongside her skinny soulmate, Bilbo Baggins. They are our spoiled pupper supper club. 🥘

We couldn’t imagine life without our complex, hilarious, resilient Lulu. Adopting this senior has been a masterclass in love, patience, and seeing the softness beneath the growl.

Celebrating our one-year adoption of Minnie & Lulu!

#AdoptASenior #SeniorDog #RescueDog #GrumpyDog #GoldenGirlsVibes #SpecialNeedsDog #JunkFoodJunkie #DogPersonality #AdoptDontShop #SDGSPCA

One year ago, we opened our home to two beautiful 13-year-old souls, Minnie and Lulu. Our mission: to give them a home full of love, presence, and dedicated care for their golden years. ✨

This is Minnie, now 14 and thriving! She has brought us endless joy with her specific… culinary standards. 🍽️ Witness the nightly ritual: the meticulous search for that one perfect kibble at the very bottom of the bowl. Every quirk is a treasure. 🥰

We are still so thankful to the amazing @SDGSPCA (Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry SPCA) for bringing these precious girls into our lives. They are now totally part of our pack.

(Stay tuned—Lulu’s spotlight is coming next!) 🐾❤️

#AdoptASenior #SeniorDogLove #AdoptDontShop #SDGSPCA #RescueDog #GoldenYears #FoodMotivated #dogquirks

🍂 Fig & Gingerbread Loaf — My Zero-Waste Creation! 🍞

When groceries are skyrocketing 📈, getting creative is my favorite recipe

I didn’t want to waste a thing, so this cozy yummy comforting loaf was born from what I had on hand:

✨ Adapted gingerbread cake — not cookies, but soft, spiced bread
✨ Sweetened with figs! I boiled down organic dried figs (they were too hard to eat) into a purée and used it instead of molasses
✨ Glazed with homemade lemon syrup from precious organic lemons boiled with sugar + water into a bright, tangy topping

My kids would’ve voted for chocolate chips 😉 but friends + neighbors loved the warm, fruity spice!

A recipe that saved ingredients & brought smiles — sometimes the best bakes come from not wanting to lose a thing. Sometimes the best bakes come from not wasting a thing. A little ingenuity turns “almost-gone” ingredients into something special. ♻️💡♻️💛

Ps green tomatoes make an excellent gingerbread too!!
#RecipeAdaptation #ZeroWasteBaking #FigBread #GingerbreadLoaf #UseWhatYouHave #HomemadeGlaze #BakingFromScratch #KitchenCreativity

Mr. Von Snood’s feet were really cold after that bitter cold snap. He was waiting at the door so when I opened the door to give him some food scraps he naturally thought it was an invitation to come in and carunkle just walked in
We figured he could use a little bit of warming on his feet so he let him stay a while. He was a very well behaved turkey. I have to say.
Yes, that’s the kind of crazy thing that happens on farms 🙃😂

GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE!!
It’s going to be a
FRESH SOURDOUGH BAGELS kinda weekend ☀️🥯✨

YES, you can totally make some too! ✨

Yesterday’s kitchen adventure was all about turning my bubbly starter into warm, chewy, everything-spiced joy. And guess what? It’s SO FUN and not scary at all!

If you can stir dough and boil water… you’re basically a bagel artist already. 🎨
The best part (besides eating them)? Watching them puff up in the water then in the oven like little doughy clouds. SO SATISFYING.

Why this will make your whole weekend:
☀️ That “I can’t believe I made these” pride
☀️ The heavenly smell in my kitchen
☀️ That perfect crispy-chewy first bite 🤤
☀️ Sharing with a friend = instant happiness boost

This is your sign to grab your starter and have a happy, floury, delicious bagel-making day. You’ve got this! 🥳
Please share your pics!!

#HappyBaking #SourdoughJoy #BagelLove #WeekendVibes #HomemadeIsHappy #BakingTherapy #EverythingBagelSeason #SourdoughMagic #SpreadTheJoy #BakeItYourself

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow us on Instagram

@hazelwoodgardens

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

''Garlic season coming soon, I wanted to share a few words on the one grown by Hazelwood Gardens. I have been using their garlic for the past 2 years. The most yummy garlic you can get. I use it for pickling, garlic butter and my everyday cooking. The most impressive is that it keeps for more than a year. The picture attached is my basket of garlic from last year.

Thank you Hazelwood Gardens for producing such incredible produce.''

Ginette L. Besner

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK

#hazelwoodgardens