Benjamin Tree Farm

Less than 1 month until our first week Summer camp is underway!

Check out our new interactive farm map to see what is new on the farm. We hope the campers are excited as we are!

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=18xuOYwgWc-8yQ2zki9rNq2r1k9r9Bmc&usp=sharing

Our corn maze was planted earlier this week!

With some changes around the farm we were able to increase its size for this 2025 season by almost 50%!!

Stay tuned for more changes and additions to our farm this year. We can’t wait to show you!!

It’s seedling season!!🌲

Our team has been hard at work getting 5,000 future Christmas trees in the ground!

Our Spring hours are officially underway!

From Saturday May 3 to Saturday June 21 our hours are:
Monday - Wednesday - By Appointment
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday - CLOSED

A wide selection of cedars, spruce, and shade trees with delivery and planting available! Landscape basics also available in bags or bulk (mulches, top soil or triple mix).

Can’t make it in? Call 519-699-5000 or email [email protected] for information or pricing 🌲 🌳

Happy Earth Day 🌎

Today we acknowledge all those working to make our Earth a better place for everyone!

“Don’t waste the Earth, it is our Jewel”

Maple Syrup season is coming to an end 🍁

Over the last 6 weeks we were able to produce over 30 litres of syrup with the 30 taps we have on the farm (the rest of the bush is tapped by our neighbour!), welcome many friends from our local schools for our sugar bush tour, and continue to develop our maple syrup program in preparation for our first year of Summer camp this coming July and August!

Now it is time for us to start ramping up for our Spring plantings! Set up is underway and inventory is arriving 🌲🌳

DAY 5 - FARM ANIMALS

During the farm animal day campers will be introduced to our farm animals. We have chickens, rabbits and ducks as well as some four legged friends such as sheep or goats.

Over the course of the day campers will learn about our farm animals and how they contribute to humanity by producing food such as eggs and milk to natural fabrics such as wool. Campers will also learn the differences between common eggs as well as free range and pastured eggs and much more.

The learning will be taught through demonstration, activity sheets, educational videos, books and hands on leaning which even includes having a chance to feed our farm animals.

All learning will be geared toward to the ages of the campers and of course everyday includes some farm filled fun in our activity areas. The highlight of the day could be looking for freshly laid eggs in the nesting boxes!

At the end of the day children will receive a half dozen pastured eggs from Nature Plus where eggs are handled with family care!

DAY 4 - ORCHARD

During the orchard day, campers will learn about the varieties of fruit we have in our orchard. Apples, pears and cherries that rippen in July through October.

Over the course of the day campers will learn about planting and maintaining fruit trees as well as uses for the fruit such as in baking and canning. Modern concepts such as integrated pest management will be introduced at the campers level to help educate campers on the benefits of sustainability.

We will also touch base on the different types of grafted rootstocks and how they affect the growth of the tree and production of fruit and much more.

The learning will be taught through demonstration, activity sheets, Twinkl educational videos, books and hands on leaning which includes draping fruit tree netting over the trees!

All learning will be geared toward to the ages of the campers and of course everyday includes some farm filled fun in our activity areas. the highlight of the day will be testing out our Apple launcher!

We hope our campers have a favourite fruit and we want to hear about it. Maybe it’s an Empire, Gala, HoneyCrisp, Red Delicious, or Granny Smith apples, possibly a Bartlett or Bosc pear or even cherries!

At the end of the day children will receive crispy apple chips from Martin’s Family Fruit Farm.

DAY 3 - HONEY BEES 🐝

During the honey bee day, campers will learn all about honey bees and the inner workings of their hive as well as the importance of pollinators on earth.

Over the course of the day, campers will have a chance to see all the equipment used in beekeeping from the white beekeepers suits we wear to protect ourselves to the tools we use while inspecting the hives. Campers will even have a chance to see the bees actively working on frames.

The learning will be taught through demonstration, activity sheets, educational videos and hands on leaning which includes building a 10 frame Langstroth hive, the common hive used by the majority of beekeepers today.

All learning will be geared toward to the ages of the campers and of course everyday includes some farm filled fun in our activity areas. The highlight of the day could be possibly meeting the Queen of the hive!

At the end of the day children will receive a jar of honey from Nith Valley Apiaries where they bring nature’s sweetener from our hives to you!

DAY 2 - GARDENING

During gardening day campers will learn all about gardening. From planting to harvest and storage and everything in between.

Over the course of the day, we will be maintaining and caring for our 2800sq foot garden. Campers will learn about planting based on frost dates, concepts such as square foot gardening, companion plantings such as the three sisters, soil health and much more. Our vermicomposting bin is sure to peak campers interests!

The learning will be taught through demonstration, activity sheets, educational videos, books and hands on leaning which includes composting our yard clippings and any lunch scraps!

All learning will be geared toward to the ages of the campers and of course everyday includes some farm filled fun in our activity areas. The highlights of the day will be designing their very own garden with all their favourite veggies and taking a tractor ride to our meadow of wild flowers to pick their own bouquets.

At the end of the day children will receive in season vegetables from our local St. Jacobs Farmers Market!

Every Tuesday over the next 5 weeks we will be posting what campers can expect during our Summer Camp!

DAY 1 - MAPLE SYRUP DAY

During our maple syrup day, campers will learn about all the aspects of maple syrup production from the processes used in the past to the modern vacuum and reverse osmosis systems used today.

Over the course of the day, we will be boiling frozen sap to make finished syrup so campers will be able to see the entire process from start to finish. We will use hydrometers and refractometers to measure the sugar content in the sap and syrup as well as cone filters to remove the sugar sand!

The learning will be taught through demonstration, a video produced by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association, activity sheets, books and hands on leaning which includes installing a tap!

All learning will be geared toward to the ages of the campers and of course everyday includes farm filled fun in our activity areas. One of the day highlights will our Sappy’s Sugar Bush Scavanger Hunt!

At the end of the day children will receive a 250ml bottle of maple syrup from one of over 1000 trees tapped in our forests!

Have you heard NEW to Benjamin Tree Farm in Summer 2025 is our Summer Camp?? Our Summer camp is close to 80% sold out!

Our all things farm theme will be a mix of learning activities and everyday farm fun!

Each day we will explore a different farm related topic. Over the next several weeks we will be posting weekly to give more in-depth detail on what these days look like. The farm theme days are Maple Syrup, Gardening, Honey Bees, Orchard, and Farm Animals.

Sign up before March 1st with code BTFCAMP2025 to save $25!

We are super excited to welcome kids from JK to Grade 5 on the farm for this new experience this summer!!

Don’t delay - visit our website to register now!

*link in bio*