A Stay at The Wild Rose Sanctuary Farm Retreat in Perth County, Ontario

The Wild Rose Sanctuary, situated in Perth County, is a retreat option for those who are keen to get out into nature, and take a deep, restorative breath. It feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and that’s the point.

Standing outside the Hawthorn Cabin at Wild Rose Sanctuary Farm Retreat in Perth County, Ontario

Perhaps now more than ever, there’s an urge to get off the grid for a moment. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, where our time and energy can be consumed so easily, it almost feels like a statement to set aside time to reconnect with the simpler things in life.

It’s funny, but when I first arrived at Wild Rose Sanctuary, I put my belongings into the Hawthorn Cabin, and almost had a sense of “what now?” It’s as if my mind was telling me, “you’re not doing anything right now? Should you be?”

And it’s a beautiful feeling to embrace that uneasiness and tell yourself, emphatically, “no.”

In fact, it’s an even greater feeling to lean into that emotion, and listen to your thought process. It’s not a mistake that folks like Bill Gates and others spend a week or so a year disconnected and in nature per quarter or per year.

It’s restorative, sure, but it also gives you distance from your daily comings and goings, which can ideally allow you to consider what comings and goings you want to keep around, and which you’d be better off getting rid off.

Julia McIntosh, the owner of Wild Rose Sanctuary, understands all that with an admirable clarity.

“The sanctuary is created as a place where guests can truly slow down and disconnect from the fast pace and busyness of life, experiencing the peace, clarity and well-being that comes from this. There’s purposefully no wifi, electricity or running water on the property so that we can all reconnect with nature’s slower rhythms more deeply here while truly appreciating life’s simplest pleasures - fresh air, good food, the sound of the nearby creek, a beautiful sunrise or set, great talks around a campfire, the moon and stars.”

From an Idea to an Ontario Country Retreat

Wild Rose really is a little different.

I mean, I can’t remember ever waking up, putting on my shoes, grabbing my towel and heading to the nearby stream to bathe before while staying at any other listing on Airbnb. There’s probably some part of me that when I first woke up would have preferred a hot shower but, to be honest, I take steps to actively combat that part of me. How much more memorable was it to bathe in the stream, right? I don’t remember the cold, I remember the rush of the cold water that essentially supplanted my need for caffeine that morning.

My point here is that Wild Rose is a little different, but that’s because Julia is a little different, in the best sort of way. She has a positive aura about her that, to me, feels wonderfully contagious.

When I first arrived, she walked me around the property, and let me know about the aforementioned stream, and the outhouse, and all that good stuff. The tour was only about half an hour, as I had to busy schedule while in Perth County that included visiting the local towns and restaurants, as well as cycling the Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail. But, I would have been happy to be on that tour for hours. I could see that she was proud of what she had created and, quite frankly, she had a right to be.

There were many casualties of the pandemic in the world of Ontario small businesses, but Julia’s story is one of opportunity. The whole nature of the pandemic forced her to consider what really mattered to her.

“Wild Rose Sanctuary is a dream that I’ve long had to run a country retreat. Growing up on a farm, just a couple of country blocks from the retreat, I’ve always had a close connection with nature. Having moved away to various cities, I often found myself missing the wide open spaces and quiet of the countryside and feeling overwhelmed by the hustle of the city.

When the pandemic hit last year, I was also growing very tired of working my online job, indoors on my computer all day. I craved going back to the country and starting a little homestead, and it became clear to me how incredibly important it was for all of us - especially those living in urban environments - to have access to nature and open outdoor spaces amidst all the restrictions.”

So Julia and her father got to work building the sanctuary from the ground up. They’ve put a ton of time (and love) into Wild Rose so far, but I can see that it continues to be something which is ever growing, and delightfully mutable.

The foundation has been built, but I sense that if I returned one year from today, there would be a number of new things for me to take note of. In fact, I asked Julia about that, and I’ll share some ideas they’re working on towards the end of the article.

In the meantime, let’s talk about where you can rest your weary head at Wild Rose.

Accommodation Options at Wild Rose Sanctuary

Thus far, there are two options that you have for staying overnight at Wild Rose. They both offer a little something different, so it’ll largely be a preference based decision. As I mentioned above, I stayed in the Hawthorn Cabin and very much enjoyed my stay there.

The Hawthorn Cabin

The Hawthorn Cabin was the perfect size for a little solo escape, but would also be great as a couples’ retreat. The location is ideal, as you’re well away from the road, and nestled between the lush forest and the soybean field.

It’s fairly minimalist by design, but you can expect the following during your stay:

A full size bed
A private little wraparound deck with an arrangement of seating
A washing basin
Candles and a small lantern to light the space (you may want to bring a chargeable lantern if you like your spaces to be very bright)
Your own fire-pit to have a campfire and look up at the breathtaking stars (firewood is included for one night, and you can get more for a fee for the following night if you’d like)
A small burner to make yourself coffee or tea (also provided), or heat something up
Basic dishes & cooking supplies
Fresh bedding, blankets, and towels

I should note a few things. When you stay here, you’re also getting access to an 100 or so acre farm. You can go hiking, exploring, swimming, or do some forest bathing. You may want to bring a part of hiking shoes along with you so you can properly explore! I also brought along a little portable speaker, and I was happy to have some music for my little solo campfire and stargazing escapades.

You can check for availability through Airbnb here.

The Rose Tent

The Rose Tent is, like the Hawthorn Cabin, quiet and secluded and right beside the forest. It’s actually located on a small hill which gives you some views of the creek below.

It’s a fully furnished bell tent that includes many of the same features as the Hawthorn Cabin, such as:

A full-size bed with a memory foam mattress
It also has a private deck area for relaxing
Vintage, tasteful decorations
A washing basin inside
A private fire-pit outside.
An east facing view which makes it ideal for sunrises

You can read the full description on Airbnb, but do note that, as with the rest of the property, there’s no electricity or running water (though ample drinking water), so you’re very much off-the-grid.

The rustic, removed nature of it all is part of the experience.

The Food at Wild Rose

Julia holding the delicious crostini with beet butter and local feta on the Wild Rose property right near the Hawthorn Cabin.

Oh my goodness, where do I start?

The farm fresh food was probably the highlight of the experience.

Julia is an exceptional cook, but it’s also easy to see how much she genuinely enjoys sharing her food with others. I get the sense that you can talk to Julia about what suits you best for your stay, but I was lucky enough to have a breakfast and a dinner there. I won’t soon forget those flavours which felt like the perfect representation of what was growing all around me.

To give a picture of just how special the food was, let me rattle off a few things that I had the absolute privilege of tasting while there:

Crostini with beet butter + local sheep’s feta
Grilled zucchini, sweet corn & cous cous salad with fresh herb dressing
Peach & Halloumi skewers
A heirloom tomato, olive & rosemary gallette with local greens

Every single thing I tasted was worth savouring, and because I was at Wild Rose, I actually took the time to do so. We don’t often realize how regularly we’re in a rush to finish what we’re doing currently so that we can get on to the next thing. When I lived in Turkey, I began to recognize that food wasn’t something to consume so that we could do other activities, it was the activity.

So, there I sat beside the Hawthorn Cabin with some low-key music playing, and with my food laid out on my little porch. I ate slowly and happily, and with a pronounced smile. I then built a fire, and digested by leaning back and looking into the flames.

Since the meal was my absolute focus, I feel as if I can recall the colours and flavours of the meal almost perfectly. The experience is politely etched into my memory, and I’m very grateful for that.

What’s Next for This Ontario Farm Retreat?

It seems like there’s always something in the works at Wild Rose, be that small improvements or grandiose ideas.

For one, I know that they’re hoping to add one more bell tent to the property, but not at the expense of the privacy or seclusion of the yurt and cabin that are already there. Wood burning stoves are also something that Julia is looking to add to the units for the colder months.

In the longterm, she’s also aiming to have a small, off-grid home on the property for herself that would have a larger garden, greenhouse, and animals.

I also noticed something built in the forest in between the cabin and the yurt and asked her about it, and she excitedly noted, “next year, I’ll be offering personalized wood-fired outdoor bath experiences on the farm which is such a special treat! I also hope to add solar showers, an outdoor kitchen, and more solar power in general.”

Whatever direction the Wild Rose Sanctuary heads in, I have full faith that it’ll stay true to its core, and continue to offer something that feels as pure as it comes, and reminds us that there’s an innate beauty in simplicity, if only we embrace it.

I want to humbly thank Perth County Tourism for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own.

If you appreciated this article, you’ll love our newsletter, as well as our Facebook group! Feel free to join, all are welcome. If you’ve got any questions or comments, add them below, and I’ll be sure to get back to you.