The organizers behind Barrie Hill United Church’s Harvest Home Tour are hoping people throughout Wellington County will come out and enjoy a day in the country on Oct. 12 and 13.
The tour features six homes throughout Guelph and Eramosa, including heritage farmsteads and modern, custom built homes in rural settings.
“People are amazingly excited to be a part of it,” said Shirley McFarlane, one of the event organizers. “They are all community people who want to be involved.”
Sandra Howatt, who shares the organizing duties adds, “They aren’t even all affiliated with the church, but they were all willing to be involved.”
She adds, “We have six beautiful homes and one has opened his totally refurbished bank barn, so people can see inside.”
Each of the home locations will also feature a local business offering food samples for patrons to enjoy.
“We’ve had really good support from our local businesses,” McFarlane said. “The community really does support us.”
Howatt explains that support has come in financial donations, as well as participation during the event.
Also on the tour is the church itself, which will be transformed into a country store, set up to sell crafts, baking, quilts, fresh produce and preserves for sale to the public.
Lunch will be available for purchase on Oct. 13 from 11:30am to 1:30pm, featuring a “One hundred mile – Taste of Ontario Meal,” that includes locally grown produce, meats, cheeses, and maple syrup. The menu offers a choice of salads, soup, an entree and desert, plus a beverage for $10.
The tour is a fundraiser to support the church’s kitchen renovation project, currently underway.
“The ladies of our church do a lot of catering, and they do a really good job,” said Howatt.
Now they will do so in a fully-renovated, commercial kitchen, with improvements that include making it more accessible, moving stairs, taking down a wall and removing a post.
“All funds raised will go to the kitchen project,” McFarlane confirmed.
“Congregations nowadays have to be more creative in their fundraising efforts,” said Reverend Kyle Benger. “This is probably the most creative congregation and this event is just awesome.”
The event is part of a year of celebrations for the church’s 180th anniversary, and the kitchen will be in full use on Oct. 20, for their turkey supper.
Tickets for supper are $13 for adults, $6 for children aged 5 to 12 years, and preschoolers are free. Take-out is available.
For tickets contact Bernice at 519-824-8609 or Lillian at 519-821-4555.
The self-guided Harvest Home Tour runs on Oct. 12 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm and Oct. 13 from 9am to 4pm.
Tickets are $25 and are available at the church throughout the event or prior to by contacting Sandra Howatt at 519-843-3778 or showatt@sympatico.ca, or Shirley McFarlane at 519-822-4997 or jsmcfarlane@xplorenet.ca.
Barrie Hill United Church is located at 5702 Wellington Rd. 29, in Rockwood. For more information, visit www.barriehillunitedchurch.com.
