Crieff Hills Retreat Centre

10/16/2026

As the days grow shorter and the weather cools off, we are splitting and stacking firewood out behind Hermitage. Most of it comes from the dead ash trees cleared on the red trail last year. Some of it will still be used for bonfires this fall, but most of it is for maple syrup season--we are making sure there is plenty of dry wood when the sap starts to run. We can smell the syrup already!

10/15/2026

Once a year our Board of Directors gathers at Crieff Hills for a full day of conversation, planning, and thoughtful work. This year we were also joined by two staff members from the Presbyterian Church in Canada as we took a closer look at our safety policies and practices. Good governance may happen quietly behind the scenes, but it makes everything we do here possible. We are very grateful for the time, wisdom and care that our Board members and colleagues bring to this work.

10/13/2026

There is so much we are thankful for on our farm!

Daily Prayers for October - December 2026 are available to download at: https://www.presbyterian.ca/worship/prayer-partnership

10/13/2026

Look at this handsome fellow! Property staff stopped to say hello to this turtle making its way along the road near Yeats House. Thankfully, it was a quiet day and our friend was able to make it safely on his journey without any trouble. When you visit, be sure to drive slowly and watch for turtles as well as chickens, pedestrians and even stray cows out on an adventure. You just never know who you will share the road with.

10/12/2026

Happy Thanksgiving! Our office is closed today so that our staff can celebrate the harvest season. We will be open again Tuesday morning at 9am.

10/11/2026

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. --Melody Beattie

Happy Thanksgiving from our table to yours!

10/10/2026

Domestic turkeys are descended from the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). On their head and neck are bumpy, fleshy nodules called Caruncles that change color with the bird's emotional state. Blue or white indicate a relaxed bird but when excited, stressed or trying to attract a mate, their whole head and neck turn bright red. This weekend we are appreciating turkeys for their beauty as well as for the nourishment they provide.

photo credit:

10/09/2026

This is Ontario Agriculture Week and we are celebrating the work of Ontario farmers! Here at Crieff Hills our farmers Emily and David produce a huge amount of food: honey and maple syrup, fruit and vegetables, eggs and meat, flowers and herbs. But they do far more than produce ingredients: they also care for the land, welcome folks who want to learn and help guests find rest and healing. Join us in giving thanks for our farmers and every farmer who feeds us.

10/08/2026

Calling all local makers, crafters and creators! We are planning a festive Christmas market on Sunday, December 6 and hope to find small local vendors to join us. Set up your table, share what you make and spend the day with us on the farm. Along with the market, we’ll have a seasonal café in our historic schoolhouse and visitors can wander the property to say hello to the sheep, cows and chickens. Vendor details:
• Indoor and outdoor spaces available
• $50 per table
• Limited electrical service available
• Small, local makers and crafters are especially welcome
• No resellers, please
If you are interested in joining us contact Emily at [email protected] for more information or to register. Help us fill the farm with plenty of local creativity this December!

10/07/2026

Our Facility Manager, Jason (pictured here with Christina Mann from Wellington County), joined professionals across the region for the first-ever Sustainability Stocktank hosted by Wellington County and Sustainable Waterloo Region (SWR). People from the agricultural and industrial sectors shared practical ideas for managing energy use, reducing emissions and learning from what is already working locally. We are grateful for the leadership of Wellington County and SWR, a social enterprise nonprofit helping Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington, Perth, and Oxford counties. Collaborative learning events like this one help all of us to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.



County of Wellington