Fall Updates from The Homestead
As the leaves begin to turn and the air finally grows crisp, things are starting to wind down here at Sunnyhill Homestead.
Fall is always such a bittersweet time; a season of reflection, wrapping up, and dreaming ahead.
While we’re starting to tuck the gardens in for winter, there’s still plenty of excitement happening around here!
Wrapping Up Our Workshop Series With Adults in Motion
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Moments from our latest horticulture workshop; from harvesting fresh herbs and veggies, to enjoying the salads and sandwiches we made together. |
We recently wrapped up our custom four-part workshop series with Adults in Motion Cambridge, and it couldn’t have been a better way to end the growing season.
In our final session, participants harvested the vegetables they’d grown, along with a few from our homestead gardens, and used them to make a fresh salad and toasted tomato sandwiches! A true garden-to-table experience!
It was such a rewarding program, and I loved seeing how much confidence and joy everyone found in growing (and eating!) their own food.
If your organization or community group is interested in hosting a custom workshop, we’re now booking for the upcoming year!
From seed starting to container gardening, we love helping others discover the joy and independence of growing food right where they are.
Updated Consultation Packages & The Village Sustainability Initiative
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| Offering one-on-one support through our garden consultation packages. Here I am helping a local resident with their backyard plum tree. |
Whether you’re a beginner just learning to grow your first herb or salad garden, or someone ready to scale up to year-round food production, there’s a package designed for you.
Through our consultation work, we’re proud to launch the Village Sustainability Initiative, a reflection of our belief that true sustainability begins within our own community.
Through this initiative, Hespeler residents receive 30% off in-person consultations, making expert gardening and homesteading guidance more accessible, while encouraging shared learning and stronger local connections.
This discount applies to our On-Site Garden Planning Visits and helps foster a thriving, self-sustaining community.
By investing in your own growing space, you’re helping cultivate a healthier, greener Hespeler, and contributing to a more connected “village” where everyone can thrive.
Find out more about our consultation packages on our website:
Treehouse Progress
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| Progress on our backyard treehouse build. Walls and windows now in place, bringing this family project to life. |
If you’ve been following along on Instagram or watched our last garden tour, you’ve probably seen a few glimpses of our ongoing treehouse/backyard bunkie build!
It’s been such a fun family project, and while progress has slowed a bit as our fall schedules get filled to the brim, we’re getting close to finishing some of the final details.
This space has truly become a little piece of magic for our boys. A place for imagination, outdoor play, and connection with nature.
Stay tuned… we will share a full reveal once the last board is nailed in!
Finding Stillness on the Mats
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| A new milestone! Moving from white to yellow belt. Kung Fu has become a new way to find stillness and growth for me. |
For years, I was the only one in our family who hadn’t trained!
That all changed this year.
Shortly after turning 41, something clicked. Maybe it was watching our youngest proudly earn his yellow belt and realizing I was the only one still sitting on the sidelines.
Or maybe it was the quiet reminder that the longer I waited, the harder it could very well become.
Either way, my toes finally hit the mats and it’s been one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
I’ve never been a “sporty” person. As a kid, I was happiest outside exploring and using my imagination. I had pockets full of frogs and toads, arms full of caterpillars - all proudly presented to my poor, unsuspecting mother.
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A glimpse into my early love for simple living and outdoor play. |
Sports just weren’t my thing. So, part of me did worry that I would be the odd one out, the only family member who didn’t enjoy martial arts.
But I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Yes, Kung Fu is physically challenging, but that’s not what stands out most to me. What I’ve found instead is something I’ve been missing for over a decade: stillness.
I used to think that “playing” in the garden brought me that same sense of peace, and in many ways it does, but not to the same degree.
There’s something about being fully present on the mats, where every movement demands focus, that quiets my mind in a way nothing else has.
For the first time since becoming a mom, my mind quiets completely when I step onto the mats. No endless to-do lists, no family management, no worries or mental planning; just total focus. And it’s beautiful!
If you’ve ever wanted to try something new, just do it. Step into that discomfort - as Yes Theory says, “seek discomfort.” It’s often right there that your life begins to shift in the best ways.
If you’d like to see more of our amazing instructors and their incredible teaching and athletic ability, check out this four-part YouTube series; you might even spot a few of our boys showing off some of their skills!
Closing Up the Garden
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Dried echinacea seeds catching the sunrise. A quiet reminder of resilience and the beauty of every season. |
The garden is very slowly being put to bed for another year. We’ve been pulling the last of the late harvests, cleaning up spent plants, pruning and mulching our raspberry hedge, and will be adding compost to refresh the soil before winter.
Our no-dig method makes this process simple and sustainable. Nature really does most of the work for us!
Speaking of the garden… keep an eye out for our final garden tour video of the season, coming soon to our YouTube channel!
We’ll not only take you through what’s left growing, but also share something we’ve never done before - a full tally in weight of the food we grew this year! It’s going to be so exciting to see the numbers add up!
Dreaming of Spring?
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| Our community seed library standing ready for winter beside our raspberry patch. Both are preparing for next season’s growth. |
The weather may have brought our second frost of the season overnight, but that never stops us from planning for next year's garden. Our latest seed library is now live and contains many varieties that will require a head start indoors early in the new year.
Stocked now in our little library:
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Explore the many varieties currently available in our free community seed library. |
Please remember, we have thousands of seeds of different varieties available. If you are searching for a particular kind, please reach out!
To request free seeds (Canada Only - Delay's may be in place during Canada Post's rolling strikes) please refer to our website:
https://sunnyhillhomestead.com/#seed-library
Give the Gift of Growth
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| Give the gift of growth! Sunnyhill Homestead gift certificates are available for consultation packages &/or seedling sales. |
If someone you love has been finding it hard to get their garden flourishing or has dreams of starting their very first garden, a Sunnyhill Homestead gift certificate is the perfect way to help them succeed.
Our certificates can be used toward any of our consultation packages or our annual seedling sales, making them a thoughtful and practical gift for anyone ready to learn, grow, and become more self-sufficient.
It’s a wonderful way to give the gift of knowledge, inspiration, and self-sufficiency - something that continues to give season after season.
Email us at thesunnyhillhomestead@gmail.com to order!
Thank You for Growing With Us
We’re so grateful for everyone who’s been following our journey this year! From seed starting in the spring to harvest in the fall.
Your support helps us continue growing this amazing community of homesteaders, gardeners, and local change-makers.
Stay tuned for our final garden tour video, and make sure you’re subscribed on YouTube and following us on Instagram and Facebook so you don’t miss it!
Here’s to a cozy, reflective, and inspired fall season.
Until next time,
Sarah & The Sunnyhill Homestead Family
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