LAKELAND - Rocky Meadows Country Get-Away was one of many local farming operations that opened its doors on Aug 17 and 18 for Alberta Open Farm days, displaying their hybrid u-pick farm, campgrounds, and mini golf course in the MD of Bonnyville.
“Alberta Open Farm Days has been great for getting the word out about our u-pick,” says owner Lori Toker. “We have been participating every year [in Open Farm Days] since they started, except for one year.”
Toker reports that they used to be the only farm in the region that participated in the Alberta Open Farm Days, but it has since grown to include many farms in the area. Organizations such as agricultural societies and museums have also jumped on board.
Alberta Open Farm days is described as a province-wide open house providing people with the opportunity to meet their rural neighbours, and connect with where their food comes from.
According to information from Alberta Open Farm Days, “Alberta Open Farms Days is an incubator for agri-tourism and rural sustainability. We bring Albertans together through educational and experiential agricultural-based initiatives to learn about where your food comes from.”
For Rocky Meadows Country Get-Away, their story “begins with planting Saskatoons to diversify our grain and cattle farm. When we made the decision to quit farming, we turned the farm machinery into the mini golf and I started baking more pies and making preserves,” explains Toker.
“My mother in law wanted a place where people could come and have pie made from the berries... At first, she made the pies, then she taught me how. I still use her pie crust recipe,” says Toker. “I love chatting with interested people about the berries and other products that we make from the berries.”
Toker explains that during Alberta Open Farm Days, there usually are not any berries ready to pick, so to offer more entertainment Toker brought in local artisans to set up their tents and sell their wares.
Local musician Emmett Lupton was invited to play during the event - his young voice delivering the soulful music of Johnny Cash.
Toker explains Rocky Meadows Country Get-Away is both a passion project and something they fell into.
“Someone mentioned how nice and peaceful it was here, and that we should make some campsites. We now have 56 full-service sites and a large group camping area for special events (reunions or staff functions).”
Another group that took part in this year's Alberta Open Farms Days was the St. Paul Museum. The Aug. 17 event offered butter and ice cream making demonstrations, wagon rides, a petting zoo, and of course a good dose of local history.
A healthy list of Lakeland farms and organizations opening their doors to the public for the mid-August initiative made for a lively Alberta Open Farm Days in the region.