Muskoka isn’t known for its agriculture. The ever-present rock and trees and the shallow, nutrient-poor soil make it difficult to raise crops, but the region was founded by hardy settlers who replaced forests with fields of swaying hay, golden grain, and plump vegetables. One of the few farms to endure from those difficult years is Milford Bay’s Brooklands Farm.
Charles Riley began farming on the property that is now Brooklands Farm in October 1876. He was forced to experiment with different animals and crops in an attempt to find a winning combination.
Through ingenuity and hard work, he succeeded in establishing a farm that today is run by the fifth generation of the family, Ken and Katya Riley. Over the years, Brooklands Farm has undergone a number of transitions, from mixed farming under Charles Riley to dairy farming in the early 20th century.
Today, the 30-acre property is devoted to market gardening—sweet corn, asparagus, and rhubarb grown from stock planted by the family over 100 years ago and six acres of pick-your-own strawberries—as well as a thriving maple syrup operation employing traditional principles and 21st-century technology (the maple syrup produced has a distinctive flavour owing to the unique mineral content of the farm’s soil). The farm boasts a number of restored heritage buildings, including a century-old sugar shack, a 1913 barn, and the original 19th-century log cabin—the latter two frequently used as event venues for weddings and other celebrations.
Brooklands Farm offers a true taste of Muskoka.
Just the Facts
Location: 1375 Butter and Eggs Road
Phone: 705-764-1888
-Excerpted from Exploring Hidden Muskoka (Andrew Hind, Folklore Publishing)
