Ruckle Farm Tours

Take a guided tour around the farm while hearing about it’s rich history on Salt Spring Island. Learn about the Ruckle family, farming and animal husbandry while walking the picturesque grounds. The tours vary with the seasons and are tailored to your interests. Seasonal options include feeding the bottle-fed lambs, viewing us hand-milking Alison (our Jersey cow) and churning butter, seeing the Highland cows. Tours are approximately one hour and are $120.

We also offer Goat Happy Half Hour, that allows you the opportunity to observe and play with the farm’s nine adorable Nigerian Dwarf Goats. We’ll be nearby for assistance but unlike our other walking tour option that offers a lot of farm knowledge and plenty of time for questions, the goat experience is about immersing yourself in a nature. These animals will relax your mind and fill your heart with joy! This 30 minute experience is $60.

Email abey@ruckleheritagefarm.com for more information and to book.

Farm Stand

This charming honor-system farmstand is found at the end of the Norman house driveway and provides in-season fruit and vegetables, along with coffee and cookies and an assortment of farm products like herbs, seeds, lavender, catnip, fresh and dried flowers, and handcrafted items such as cards with photos from Ruckle Heritage Farm, natural deodorant and lamb bone broth. Hikers love the fresh lemonade and homemade cookies and visitors from around the world leave notes expressing their delight at this vintage experience.

Farm Day on Salt Spring Island

Every spring, Ruckle Farm Day brings the farm heritage to life. With demonstrations of pioneering practices such as churning butter, blacksmithing, spinning wool and weaving. This free event is fun for the whole family with kids’ activities, live music and historic films played in the heritage barn. Mike Lane and the dogs put on an impressive sheep herding demonstration while the local Lions Club raises funds with sales of barbecued burgers and hotdogs. Check calendar of events.

Pilates on the Farm

Abey Scaglione teaches Pilates group classes on the farm seasonally. In the late spring, summer and early fall these are held in the field in front of Grandma’s Bay- just follow the signs! There will be a sign by the heritage barn pointing you towards the trail that leads to Grandma’s Bay and another sign close to the beach that points you towards the class and a gate allowing access to the field. Group classes in the field will not be offered again until Spring 2024.

Check our instagram for updates or you an email abey@ruckleheritagefarm.com with questions.
Please bring a mat or towel and dress in layers with sun protection if needed. Group classes are $20/person and will be on a drop-in basis

Pilates private and duet lessons are also available by appointment. These can be done on the farm, at the Norman House or on the covered porch of the Daniel House.

Abey has over 15 years of Pilates teaching experience and received teaching certificates from Stott Pilates, Power Pilates and The Pilates Method Alliance. She has taught at classical Pilates studios throughout California and formerly owned and operated Hummingbird Pilates in Beverly Hills for three years. Abey believes that Pilates is not only a challenging workout but also an essential part of health and wellness. As Joe Pilates said, “The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier.”

Salt Spring Island Apple Festival 

The fall Apple Festival on Salt Spring Island showcases our heritage orchards with heirloom varieties of apples, pears and nut trees, with some trees known to be roughly one hundred years old yet still producing a bounty of beautiful fruit.

Check our calendar for the date of the next festival.

BC Heritage Week

Ruckle Heritage Farm is the perfect place to celebrate Heritage Week, a special week each February that celebrates heritage farming in British Columbia. Each year we participate with farm tours, with partial proceeds benefiting the Salt Spring Abattoir, which helps keep heritage farming alive on the island.

Email abey@ruckleheritagefarm.com for more information.

Please check our calendar for more information on this year’s offerings.

Photo Shoot Location

A unique and timeless backdrop for your next photo shoot. Perfect for family portraits, engagement photos, fashion shoots, etc. Ruckle Heritage Farm will provide access to areas restricted to the public and can provide optional animal staging to get the perfect shot! Contact local Salt Spring photographer Hannah Spray via  www.hannahsprayphotography.com to book your shoot! Or contact abey@ruckleheritagefarm.com if you are bringing your own photographer.