Monday, March 21 was a rather momentous day here at Bentpath Getaway! After several months hard work and planning efforts by a very talented and experienced group of people and agencies, excavation of a pond and wetland area began. The big CAT has been in operation every day this week as the preliminary work continues.

This afternoon I spoke on-site with the contractor who shared his vision for final actual shape of this project  - one which will provide
- enhanced wildlife habitat for birds, animals, turtles, salamanders, pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.)
- wetland that will hold and filter rain floodwaters, and slow down the flow before the run-off enters the Sydenham River adjacent to our property
- erosion control
- AND a natural water feature for guests to enjoy as they walk the area, rest on a bench to enjoy the view or, perhaps,  take advantage of our canoe or pedalboat for a ride.
This is going to be a fantastic space! 

Having enjoyed hand-dug small ponds in my own back yard, I can guarantee there will be frogs and birds, dragon flies and loads of other interesting inhabitants finding their way here in no time. I can hardly wait.

Among the plans for the six acres we are retiring as farmland, there will be a prairie area planted with native grasses and wildflowers, plus more trees and shrubs. We're doing some research to see about stocking the pond with fish as well.

Hopefully, the weather will oblige enough over the weekend we'll be able to post an updated fly-over of how much the work has progressed in only a week. Much is still to come, so stay tuned ... and in the meantime, have a look at the beginnings of our project in the video below.

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​The snow had already stopped when I got up at 6 a.m. and the wind had died down but not before totally burying the fruit/nut muffins I had lined up along the porch rail yesterday for the birds. Industrious and hungry, the juncos and sparrows remembered where the muffins were and dug them out this morning. Doves stopped by for a while and the ever raucous blue jays are taking a share as well.
I had two big bags of seed in the truck to refill the feeders but I don't have have the strength to carry them to the bin on the deck. Last night my B&B guest was kind enough to bring them to the bin so I will get the feeders refilled this morning when I shovel the drifts off the deck. It's been great fun watching the muffin buffet in the meantime. Plus, breakfast provided some bacon grease to which I added peanut butter and tossed in stale bread to soak it up. That will get tossed around for the birds as well.

With 2021 behind us - some would say "finally behind us" - we are starting to think about each cold, dreary, snowy day as one day closer to spring when everything comes to new life again. Yay for that!! We hope you all had a safe and healthy Christmas and holiday season.

Our seed catalogues have arrived and we have already purchased some veggie seeds for the garden we will plant this spring. Fingers crossed we'll find a green gage plum tree this year and that the pawpaw seeds we kept from the delectable fruit we bought last fall will germinate and grow.  Even at the bitter cold -10°C temperature today, there is some warmth to that sunshine as it came through the kitchen window earlier this afternoon. That's always a positive sign. The cold days do present the perfect opportunities though, for making sourdough breads, waffles, pancakes, muffins and so on as well as creating pots of hearty homemade soups to fill the house with wonderful aromas as well as fuel the tummies.

This time of year people are often starting to plan vacations, too. For Ontario residents, an interesting incentive is being offered for anyone planning a getaway within the province in the 2022 tax year under the new "Ontario Staycation Tax Credit" program.  You'll find the link for more information here: www.cp24.com/news/ontario-announces-plan-for-staycation-tax-credit-and-here-s-how-it-works-1.5652600  We hope you'll consider a stay here at Bentpath Getaway sometime in 2022! 

In the meantime, stay safe, stay warm, good health to each of you, and be kind to one another.

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​With 2021 behind us - some would say "finally behind us" - we are starting to think about each cold, dreary, snowy day as one day closer to spring when everything comes to new life again. Yay for that!! We hope you all had a safe and healthy Christmas and holiday season.

Our seed catalogues have arrived and we have already purchased some veggie seeds for the garden we will plant this spring. Fingers crossed we'll find a green gage plum tree this year and that the pawpaw seeds we kept from the delectable fruit we bought last fall will germinate and grow.  Even at the bitter cold -10°C temperature today, there is some warmth to that sunshine as it came through the kitchen window earlier this afternoon. That's always a positive sign. The cold days do present the perfect opportunities though, for making sourdough breads, waffles, pancakes, muffins and so on as well as creating pots of hearty homemade soups to fill the house with wonderful aromas as well as fuel the tummies.

This time of year people are often starting to plan vacations, too. For Ontario residents, an interesting incentive is being offered for anyone planning a getaway within the province in the 2022 tax year under the new "Ontario Staycation Tax Credit" program.  You'll find the link for more information here: www.cp24.com/news/ontario-announces-plan-for-staycation-tax-credit-and-here-s-how-it-works-1.5652600  We hope you'll consider a stay here at Bentpath Getaway sometime in 2022! 

In the meantime, stay safe, stay warm, good health to each of you, and be kind to one another.

Autumn presents the perfect opportunity to look back over the year and realize how much has happened, and hopefully see how much has been accomplished. Pictures are the best way to document the goings-on and today, as I've been going through them, it is almost astounding how the landscape around Bentpath Getaway has changed from earliest spring until now. 
Although we still have a few trees to plant and the herbs to harvest and dry before the winter settles in, most of the outside work is finished for this year. We have an orchard! That's the biggest and most significant change. Along with 25 fruit trees and countless fruit bushes, mostly native to the area, the wildflowers, strawberries, sunflowers and various herbs have flourished and provided colour as well as great flavours. 
We actually even harvested a single apple, WooHoo! From a first year planting, that's a worthwhile statement, at least in my estimation. The strawberries, in particular, have done extremely well, still producing the odd one for a nibble as we wander through. I do believe planting plenty of garlic cloves throughout the other plants has been helpful in keeping some little furry foragers away. 
All in all, I consider this year a success from the agricultural perspective. 
Going forward through the winter months we will operate on a B & B basis. Please check the brochure  for our special, all-inclusive package over the Christmas Season ... and share it! 
Till next time .... stay safe, get some fresh air every day and take advantage of every moment of sunshine. 

​Walked to first rows of the corn field picking up walnuts. I see the deer have been nibbling and really tromping down a couple areas. It was raining again by the time I came back to the house with my walnut loot, some late rhubarb stalks and a bouquet of small sunflowers.

Just a few minutes picking wild grapes has yielded enough for a batch of jelly .. tomorrow's  plan in place. 😋

                                                                                  Wow!
A whole year has gone by! We are finally open for business and are booked through Labour Day. 
We have poured heart and soul, plus a lot of sweat into this project, and proud to say we believe we have done a stellar job of it. Notwithstanding Covid! We have done everything plus more, including having an elevator installed inside! We have planted a small orchard of 25 various fruit trees, plus red currants, yellow raspberries and other berries, incorporating many native species. We have researched many ideas for upcoming projects to begin once the present crop of corn is harvested. We picked dandelion and violet blossoms for jelly in the spring and look forward to foraging through the woods for more kinds next year, especially as we consider some B&B options. 
We weren't able to host that Open House as we had hoped, but please take a tour through the pictures on the website.  Thanks for all the encouragement, kind comments and best wishes we have received throughout this past year. 💕💕💕