The “Western Townships” have kept their agricultural landscapes of yesteryear, between valleys and forests with huge trees. These cantons can be explored wonderfully by bike, to meet passionate small producers.
Posted at 11:00 a.m.
The boars of Domaine Herdman
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Wild boars at Domaine Herdman are fed fresh grass all summer long.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Éric Leboeuf, a former financial analyst, took a butcher’s course to pursue his second career.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The small shop at Domaine Herdman sells cuts of frozen wild boar meat, including squares.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
On weekends, the Domaine Herdman street food truck offers nutritious pulled boar sandwiches and poutines garnished with good cuts of meat.
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1968 Highway 202 Hinchinbrooke
Take route 202 to the east, then the rise of Rockburn which crosses the hamlet of the same name, and you will arrive without even warming your calves at the Black Creek farm.
In the old apple trees of Black Creek Farm
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Denis Rousseau grows 53 varieties of apples at Black Creek Farm. He also picks wild apples in an old orchard to blend his artisanal ciders.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Denis Rousseau can’t wait to use the two concrete vats he recently brought over from France to make his ciders.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Two ciders from the Black Creek farm and a few bottles of Büldog, an effervescent drink made from maple sap
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2638 Rockburn Rise, Hinchinbrooke
After taking the climb up Rockburn in the opposite direction for 5 km, turn onto Rang des Botreaux and you will arrive, almost 4 km further on, at the Boutique fermière.
The delicacies of the farmer’s shop
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Rebecca Amrein’s pastries are irresistible.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Originally from British Columbia, where she grew up on a dairy farm, Rebecca Amrein has been living in Quebec for almost 10 years.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Boutique fermière’s freezers are stocked with meats raised on site, including lamb, kid and water buffalo.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
La Boutique fermière is an ideal place for a coffee break.
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980 Botreaux Row, Ormstown
Continuing on your way on the rang des Botreaux, you will come across the Jardins de la Résistance cooperative 1 km further on.
Primeurs at the Jardins de la Résistance
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Olivier Lamoureux, co-founder of the Jardins de la Résistance cooperative, with some vegetables harvested in the greenhouse at the end of May.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
On Wednesdays in the summer, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., passers-by are invited to stop at the kiosk in the Jardins de la Résistance to stock up on fresh vegetables, honey, eggs and bread.
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PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The Jardins de la Résistance cooperative grows early vegetables in bio-intensive agriculture on ten acres and in two greenhouses.
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1150 Botreaux Row, Ormstown
Retrace your steps for some 300 m, then take Montée Guérin, which will bring you back 7 km further on Route 202. Take it east, and you will arrive at La Ferme aux Mille Cailloux in 4 km.
Abundance of berries at Mille Cailloux
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Brothers Louis-Charles and John-William Faille
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
From Saint-Jean, visitors can pick their own berries at La Ferme aux Mille Cailloux, in Franklin.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The farm has belonged to the Faille family since 1915.
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2635 Route 202 Franklin
For the return… or a detour
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
If you have any energy left at the end of the nearly 45 km route, take the time to climb to the top of Covey Hill, where the view is breathtaking. You will also find the friendly Livingstone brasserie there.
Between Stone and Earth: 1260, route 202, Franklin
Livingstone Brewery: 2150 Covey Hill Road, Franklin