#farmlife
Come stay at a small family farm located in the heart of Southwestern Ontario’s agricultural community. Enjoy a tranquil retreat just minutes from the 401 in a spacious farmhouse on sixty-nine acres down a quiet dirt road. Cozy up on the leather couch for some good reading or take a bubble bath in the claw foot tub.
#stayawhile
Enjoy the simplicity of an Amish built house, built as an add on to the original farmhouse. Updated with modern amenities and furnished to reflect the unassuming Amish lifestyle this house makes a wonderful getaway. Take the whole family!
Upstairs you will find a second bathroom; the second and third bedrooms, both with queen beds; the fourth bedroom containing a twin bed with a trundle; and the fifth bedroom with 2 twins and a wonderful view of the surrounding farmland.
With five bedrooms and two bathrooms, there is room for up to 10 people. On the main floor you will find a full kitchen/dining room; a cozy living room; a games room stocked with games, books, puzzles and toys; the main bedroom with a queen bed and direct access to the main bathroom containing a cast iron claw foot tub; as well as laundry facilities.
Outside we have a seating area on the covered porch where you can enjoy the views of the surrounding landscape.
Take A Virtual TourThis is a working farm and your safety is important to us, for that reason we are asking that you do not enter any of the outbuildings on the property. Also, parties and events are not permitted.
#comingsoon
The original farmhouse, this is a century home, with 5 bedrooms and large main rooms. It is not yet ready for guests and we will be working to update the rooms and add modern amenities like plumbing and electricity throughout the next year.
Hi! We are the Saarloos family, and we are passionate about farming. We love growing things! Currently we grow grain corn, soybeans, wheat, hay. In the future we hope to add livestock to make use of the outbuildings.
At our home farm, Kingsmill Gardens, we grow the same crops, as well as over 50 varieties of pumpkins squash and gourds, and a small cut flower garden. We believe it is our calling to be stewards of creation through responsible and sustainable agricultural practices.
It saddens us to see the small family farm slowly disappearing from Southern Ontario, and with it the history and character of the local agricultural landscape. With the disappearance of the small family farm the connections between farmer and consumer are also being lost. It is important to us that people know where their food comes from and how it is grown.
We purchased this farm in the fall of 2021 as the next step in fulfilling our dream of being fulltime farmers. For the past 50 years, time stood still all along Forbes Road as it was exclusively populated by members of a local conservative Amish community. This community made the decision to move out of the area giving us the opportunity to farm here.
When we took possession, the home and buildings did not have hydro. The house also did not have a furnace, running water, indoor washrooms, or even a kitchen sink! It has been quite an adventure updating the house and learning about the Amish way of life! Amish farming practices relied heavily on the use of horses and manual labour. This required smaller field sizes as well as several fenced pastures for the horses and other livestock to graze on. We have taken out and moved the fence lines to accommodate modern farm machinery such as tractors and combines.
Why did we choose the name Muriel’s Ridge? The soil on this farm is a Muriel Silt Loam, which is a very productive soil type that is suitable for growing a large variety of crops. When we purchased the farm, we were expecting a daughter, so naturally her middle name is Muriel.
Here at Muriel’s Ridge we welcome visitors to our working farm to enjoy the beauty of Southwestern Ontario and its rich farming tradition.
We aim to preserve the history and character of the small local family farm, and to rebuild the relationships between farmer and consumer through exposure to real life farming practices, person to person connection, and learning opportunities.
Do you like what you see? Did you find your mattress or pillow extra comfortable to sleep on? Do you love the aesthetic of the home? Most of our furnishings, appliances and accessories have been provided by Roszell’s Furnishings in Aylmer. Check them out in person or online and they can help you with your furnishing needs.
Visit Website of Roszell’s Furnishings
This is our home farm located at 10527 Springwater Rd. Our self-serve farm stand is open from mid-July to the end of October. During July and August we have some of the best sweet corn around, and during September and October we have a huge selection of pumpkins, squash and gourds, as well as a fall display and plenty of opportunities for photos.
Visit Website of Kingsmill GardensAddress
4141 Forbes Rd., Mossley, OntarioMailing address
10527 Springwater Rd., Aylmer, Ontario N5H 2R6