Leisure FarmsFarming & Agricultural Services in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario

Pick-Your-Own Berries, Pumpkins, Farm Bakery & Family Fun in Sturgeon Falls in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario

A farm year, from strawberry shortcake to pumpkin pie

At Leisure Farms, the calendar is measured in crops. Out on Quesnel Road in Sturgeon Falls, along the Sturgeon River, the family-owned farm has grown food for its neighbours since 1981, and anyone who has lived in the Nipissing region long enough has a favourite season there.

Summer: berries first

Strawberry season usually opens in July, with raspberries following close behind. The farm also grows haskap, the early, tangy blue berry that has become a northern favourite, and the press has pointed to Leisure Farms as one of the bigger strawberry operations in the province. Berries are sold fresh at the farm market, and a number of pick-your-own listings include the farm for strawberries and raspberries, so it is worth checking the farm's Facebook page for picking days before you head out. Early in the season you will also find carrots, corn and other garden produce, and the farm's own jams and jellies, some of which have won awards, line up next to the fresh fruit.

The bakery all year

The on-farm bakery turns a lot of that fruit into fresh-baked pies: strawberry, raspberry, strawberry-rhubarb and pumpkin. Breads, muffins, cookies and cinnamon buns round out the shelves, and the farm sells gift certificates and takes orders through an online shop with farm pickup. On Saturdays, some of the baking and produce also travels to the North Bay Farmers' Market.

Fall: pumpkins, squash and mazes

When the leaves change, the farm turns into a destination for families. Pumpkins, pie pumpkins, corn stalks and squash (spaghetti, buttercup and butternut) fill the market, and the farm has hosted events such as wagon rides, a pancake breakfast, a haunted barn, a corn maze, a straw maze and a playground. A wagon ride out to the field is part of the tradition for many local families, and picnic areas and bonfires for marshmallow roasting have been part of the visit. Event details change from year to year, so check the farm's website or social pages for the current schedule.

Visiting

• Address: 744 Quesnel Road, Sturgeon Falls, Ontario P2B 2W3
• Posted hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (confirm seasonal hours before visiting)
• Accessibility: the washrooms and bakery are wheelchair and walker accessible
• Language: the farm's website is available in English and French
• Phone: 705-753-0109

Follow Leisure Farms on Facebook and Instagram for what's ripe this week, or visit the farm's website to order from the online shop.