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Welcome to Whistler’s Bay
Thank you for stopping by our page. Let me tell you a little about our new adventures on the farm.
The farm was purchased in the 1930's by my Great Grandmother Elizabeth McGinnis, and nicknamed NOELJA farm after her 3 daughters (Norah, Elizabeth and Janet). It is located about 10 kilometres East of Kingston, along the St. Lawrence River. Over the years, the farm has had many titles; dairy, beef, equestrian boarding stable, and presently a hobby farm producing fresh flowers, produce and apples.
As long as I can remember, my favourite time of year has always been the fall. I remember getting packed in the car and heading west of Kingston for our yearly visit to an apple orchard. As my sister and I grew up, that tradition continued with our friends, but of course adding trips to the local wineries too. It was my interest in hard cider which really got the ball rolling. Why not put my love of orchards together with the growing industry of hard apple cider. The research began over four years. Many hours went into searching for the right variety of apples, perfect location on the farm, and the ultimate goal - how to make hard cider. We are currently in the beginning stages of this research. In 2017 I met with a nursery in Western Ontario and was advised to plant varieties that could both be used for cider and general human consumption, as apples grown specifically for cider don’t tend to be that edible. In the spring of 2018, 450 apple trees were planted; Ambrosia, Honey Crisp and Imperial Gala. As apple trees take awhile to mature, we decided to add flower beds to the farm in 2019.
That fall we planted over a thousand bulbs for the following spring, and in 2020 expanded even more with the addition of floral cutting gardens and 9 new apple tree varieties. Before my time, my grandparents ran a small greenhouse on the property selling plants and other floral goods to local florists in Kingston. I never had the chance to meet my grandmother, but I feel as if this journey I am on was meant to be, and the tradition of her 'green thumb' was unknowingly passed down to me.
A lot of time, dedication and love has gone into this farm by my family. The biggest thing I have learned so far, is planting an orchard/field of flowers and starting a small business takes an incredible amount of time and patience. I don’t imagine this journey is going to be easy, but it sure will be a lot of fun! Make sure you stay tuned and follow our journey on Instagram @whistlersbayfarm
- Emily