Breathe in the presence of nature.

Five Generations at the 42nd Parallel

A Century of Stewardship

Located at the southernmost tip of Canada, Bridgewood Farms is a testament to the enduring spirit of Ontario agriculture. For five generations, this land has been held and helmed by the same family, evolving from a traditional homestead into the thriving 225-acre farm it is today. In the past the farm has acted as the home to cows, horses, pigs and chickens as was the case years ago when more farms tended to have mixed purposes. The farm has grown a diverse variety of crops in the past ranging from tobacco, fresh market potatoes, chipping potatoes, seed corn and processing tomatoes.

Current owners Andrew and Sandra Woodbridge took the reins in 2012, expanding the farm's footprint and vision. Today, Bridgewood is a productive engine of the Lake Erie north shore, utilizing a "cash crop" rotation of corn, soybeans and winter wheat.

Meet Your Hosts: Rooted in the Land

Your hosts, Andrew and Sandra Woodbridge, don't just manage the land—they live and breathe it. Both hold University Degrees in Agriculture and bring a lifetime of practical farming and agribusiness expertise to the operation.

Andrew serves as the Market and Business Development Director for Plant Products, staying at the forefront of global agricultural innovation. Sandra is the owner of The Woodbridge Factor Inc., specializing in high-level business and leadership coaching.

Andrew, Sandra, and their son Alex—along with their German Shepherd, Luna, and their cat, Daisy—are dedicated to sharing the wellness and peace that the farm lifestyle brings. They are always eager to answer questions and share their expertise.

The Gold Standard of Soil & Science

You are standing on one of the most unique agricultural landscapes in the country. Situated on the 42nd Parallel, Bridgewood shares a latitude with the legendary growing regions of Northern California, Central Italy, and the South of France. This positioning provides a long, sun-drenched growing season and a temperate microclimate moderated by the proximity of Lake Erie.

The secret to our productivity lies beneath your feet. Our Sandy Loam soil is the "gold standard" for agriculture, prized for its ability to drain excess moisture while retaining vital nutrients. This is the same foundation that has made our region famous for its world-class wineries; here, the terroir—the unique "sense of place"—is reflected in every harvest.

Powering the Global Bio-Economy

Beyond our gardens lie the working fields of Bridgewood Farms. While the pollinator sanctuary is 20,000 square feet or about a half of an acre, the surrounding 225 acres are dedicated to a high-precision rotation of "Cash Crops." These are the staple commodities that form the backbone of our global economy. At Bridgewood, we don't just grow food; we grow the raw materials for energy, industry, and nutrition.

Commercial Field Corn: The Industrial Powerhouse

If you look closely at our corn, you'll notice this is "Dent Corn," not the sweet corn from a roadside stand. Unlike sweet corn, which is harvested while the kernels are soft and sugary, field corn is harvested once the kernels are dry and hard.

• The Energy Source: Most of our corn becomes high-energy feed for livestock, ensuring healthy protein for dinner tables across Canada.
• Renewable Fuel: A significant portion of our harvest is processed into Ethanol, a renewable fuel that reduces carbon emissions in gasoline.
• The Spirit of the Farm: Our high-starch corn serves as the base for premium Canadian Whiskey.
• The Hidden Ingredient: From high-fructose corn syrup to corn starch used in paper and textiles, this crop is likely in your pantry, your clothes, and your car.

The Miracle Soybean: The Protein King

The soybean is often called the "Miracle Bean" because of its incredible versatility and its unique relationship with the soil. As a legume, it works with underground bacteria to "fix" nitrogen, naturally fertilizing the ground for next year's crop.

• Protein & Oil: Once harvested, the bean is crushed locally in Windsor. The Soybean Oil is used for cooking, salad dressings, and even industrial bio-lubricants.
• High-Protein Meal: The remaining "meal" is the world's most important source of high-protein feed for poultry, swine, and cattle.
• Sustainable Cycle: Because we grow soybeans on our Sandy Loam soil, we can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, keeping our watershed healthy.

Soft White Winter Wheat: The Secret to the Perfect Crunch

In Essex County, we plant Winter Wheat in the autumn. It stays in the ground all through the snowy months, "waking up" in early spring to be harvested in the heat of July.

• The "Soft" Advantage: Unlike the "Hard" wheat grown in the prairies (which is used for bread), our Soft White Winter Wheat has a lower gluten content and a delicate, fine texture.
• The Pantry Staple: If you enjoy a crisp cracker, a light biscuit, or a flaky pastry, you are likely tasting the results of Ontario's soft wheat. It is the "secret ingredient" in many of the most famous snack brands in North America.

Why "Cash Crops" Matter

By practicing a precise three-crop rotation (corn → soybeans → wheat), we maintain the health of our Sandy Loam terroir. This rotation prevents soil-borne diseases and ensures that the land remains productive for the next five generations. When you look out over our fields, you aren't just seeing a crop—you are seeing the start of a global supply chain that begins right here at the 42nd Parallel.

The Monarch Sanctuary

Foundation of the Great Migration

Essex County serves as one of the most vital "refueling stations" in North America for the Monarch Butterfly. This 5,000-square-foot quadrant is a living tribute to their incredible 4,000 km migration. The Monarch is a specialist; while the adults can drink nectar from a variety of flowers, their caterpillars depend exclusively on Milkweed to survive. By planting our Native Milkweed and Orange Glory Flower, we are providing the essential "nurseries" needed to ensure the next generation of this iconic species can continue its journey.

This "Legacy Meadow" is composed of native perennials that have adapted over millennia to our local climate. Because our Sandy Loam soil drains so efficiently, these plants—such as the Gayfeather and New England Aster—are able to send root systems deep into the earth, sometimes reaching up to 15 feet. These deep roots do more than just sustain the plant; they stabilize the soil, prevent erosion into the nearby Fox Creek, and sequester carbon. As you watch the Monarchs dance across the meadow, remember that you are witnessing one of the greatest natural migrations on Earth, supported by the very ground you stand on.

The Harvest Gallery

Where Beauty Meets the Honeybee

In this quadrant, we celebrate the fact that a working farm can be both highly productive and breathtakingly beautiful. The Harvest Gallery is more than just a flower bed; it is a high-energy "cafeteria" designed to provide a massive sugar-boost to our most important winged partners.

The Honeybee's Five-Kilometre Commute

While our resident bumble bees live nearby, our honeybee hives are located two kilometres to the north on the farm. These incredible insects are the ultimate commuters, flying up to five kilometres to forage here. On their journey to this garden, they fly through our local apple orchards, providing the essential pollination needed for a successful harvest.

The nectar they collect from the Iceland Poppies, China Asters, and Cosmos in this gallery isn't just fuel—it is an ingredient. These specific blooms contribute to the unique, complex, and floral flavour profile of our farm's signature honey.

The Hummingbird & The Forest Corridor

The Harvest Gallery also serves as a primary destination for the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Notice the shape of the Rocket Larkspur, Hosta flowers and Peacock Orchids; these tubular flowers are evolutionarily "keyed" to the hummingbird's long beak.

Because we maintain around 40 acres of protected forest and woodlots nearby, these birds have a safe "green corridor" to travel. This allows them to move under the cover of trees before darting into the garden to feast on nectar. It is a perfect example of how our forest, and our fields work in harmony.

The Art of Succession Planting

To keep our pollinators—and our guests—happy, we practice Succession Planting. Because many of these species are annuals (living for only one season), we carefully time our replants so that as one flower fades, another begins to bloom.

• Early Season: Sweet William and Baby's Breath provide the first critical forage of the year.
• Late Summer: Autumn Beauty Sunflowers rise to create a stunning backdrop and a late-season food source.

This constant cycle ensures there is always nectar for the bees and beautiful cut flowers for our home and the Airbnb. The Harvest Gallery is our daily reminder that when we grow beauty, we are fueling the most delicate and important travelers on the farm.

The Bumble Bee Sanctuary

The Buzz of the Working Farm

While honeybees often get the most fame, the Bumble Bee is the unsung hero of the Ontario farm. In this quadrant, you are standing next to our resident bumble bee colonies. Bumble bees are "buzz pollinators"—they are capable of a unique behavior where they grab a flower and vibrate their flight muscles at a specific frequency. This "sonication" releases pollen that is tucked away in deep pores, which honeybees simply cannot access. This makes them essential for the pollination of many fruits and vegetables, including the tomatoes and peppers you might grow in your own garden.

This sanctuary is planted with "powerhouse" nectar plants like Anise Hyssop and Bee Balm. These plants are selected because they produce high volumes of high-protein pollen. A healthy bumble bee queen needs this protein to start her colony in the spring. Because our farm uses a rotation of corn, soybeans, and wheat, the availability of wildflowers can change throughout the year. This sanctuary acts as a "constant" in their lives. Even when the wheat is harvested or the corn is tasseling, the Bumble Bee Sanctuary remains in full bloom. This creates a "pollinator bridge" that keeps the bees healthy so they can move out into the nearby apple orchards and surrounding fields to do their vital work. When you hear the low, rhythmic hum in this quadrant, you are hearing the farm's engine at work.

The Beneficial Haven

Natural Protection & Soil Health

"The Farmers Silent Partners." This zone features a beneficial insect blend and a lush carpet of Crimson Clover.

At first glance, this quadrant might look like a simple green field, but it is our "Biological Control Center." Every farm faces pests like aphids, mites, and beetles that want to eat our crops. Instead of relying solely on chemistry, we use this quadrant to recruit an "army" of beneficial insects. The herbs and flowers here—like dill, cilantro, and fennel—attract ladybugs, lacewings, and tiny parasitic wasps. These are the natural predators of the pests that attack our soybeans and corn. By providing these "good bugs" with a home and alternative nectar source, we keep them on our land, ready to move into the fields to protect our harvest.

Equally important is what is happening underground. The Crimson Clover you see here is a "legume," a plant with a magical ability to pull nitrogen gas from the air and convert it into a solid fertilizer in the soil through its roots. This is called "nitrogen fixation." In our farm's rotation of corn, wheat, and soybeans, soil health is our most valuable asset. This quadrant serves as a living laboratory for how we build soil fertility naturally. The clover acts as a "living mulch," protecting the soil from the heavy Essex County rains and preventing erosion. This station teaches us that sustainable farming isn't just about what we take from the land, but what we give back to it. We often underseed clover into our winter wheat crop to gain this benefit as well.

Where Water, Woodland & Wildlife Meet

Where Water, Woodland, and Wildlife Meet

The Lifeline of the Land: Fox Creek

Just behind the pollinator gardens runs Fox Creek, a vital artery in our local ecosystem. In the 1980s, a partnership with the Essex Regional Conservation Authority (ERCA) helped establish the reforested buffers you see today—natural "filters" that protect the waterway on its journey to Lake Erie.

For a deeper dive into this landscape, just down the road the ERCA-run John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area also borders Fox Creek and offers a closer look at the creek's wetland shoreline—along with one of the region's most engaging windows into 19th-century farm life. If you love the stories behind Ontario agriculture, it's well worth a visit.

These buffers do more than filter water—they're a busy wildlife corridor. Watch for Bald Eagles overhead, Wood Ducks using our nest boxes, and the frogs and turtles that call the creek home. You may also see herons and egrets—our "pterodactyls"—gliding by. In spring and early summer, carp and other fish move in to spawn, while deer, coyotes, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, and opossums travel this sheltered creek line.

Barn & Cliff Swallows: Our Summer Airshow

From late spring through summer, swallows put on an acrobatic show over our fields, gardens, and waterways—especially along Fox Creek. Two species you may see frequently around Bridgewood are the Barn Swallow and the Cliff Swallow: fast-flying insect-eaters that thrive where open farmland meets water and sheltered nesting surfaces.

Our older wooden barns are especially valuable because traditional, open farm buildings have become less common across Ontario. Barn Swallows build open cup-shaped nests from mud and grasses on beams and ledges inside barns and sheds, while Cliff Swallows create distinctive gourd-shaped mud nests in colonies under eaves, bridges, and other overhangs. Watch the creek edge and nearby puddles: you may see them gathering small mud pellets to carry back to their nest sites.

Are swallows endangered? It depends on the species. In Canada and Ontario, the Barn Swallow is listed as Special Concern due to long-term declines linked to factors such as reduced insect prey, harsher weather, and fewer suitable nesting sites. Cliff Swallows are not generally listed as endangered, but like many aerial insect-eaters, they benefit from healthy farm-and-water habitats.

• Look for low, swooping flight as they hunt mosquitoes, flies, and other insects.
• Mud-carrying birds skimming the creek edge are often collecting nest material.
• Please watch from a distance—nests are most sensitive during building and when chicks are present.

Breathe in the Presence of Nature

We invite you to step onto our trails and try Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-yoku. This Japanese practice is not a traditional hike, but rather the act of absorbing the forest atmosphere to receive mental and physical healing. By slowing down and being present among the trees, you can listen to the creek, notice the scent of pine, and watch the sunlight—or komorebi—dance through the canopy.

Why it Works:

• Natural Healing: Trees emit essential oils called phytoncides that improve immune function and lower blood pressure.
• Stress Reduction: Walking among trees decreases cortisol levels and helps reset the nervous system.
• Mental Clarity: The practice has been shown to increase vigor while decreasing feelings of anxiety, fatigue, and confusion.

How to Practice: To fully immerse yourself, find solitude and focus on all your senses. Stop to plant your feet firmly on the ground, breathe deeply, and observe the forest rhythm. Whether you sit quietly for twenty minutes or wander through our active fields and woodlots, escaping to nature serves as a natural antidote to a busy life. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you.

Let's start Forest Bathing – 8 Easy Steps.

Your Home on the 42nd Parallel

Thank you for taking the time to explore Bridgewood Farms. We hope that wandering through our pollinator gardens and learning about the legacy of this land has allowed you to truly "breathe in the presence of nature."

If you'd like to experience the farm at its most peaceful, we invite you to stay a little longer and make our home yours. Whether you are seeking the cozy comfort of a curated space or a night under the stars, we have a place for you:

Lingering at the Legacy

Staying with us allows you the time to truly sink into the rhythm of the farm.

• Sunrise & Song: Begin your morning with birdsong and a slow, meditative walk on our reforested trails.
• The Airshow: Catch the evening "summer airshow" as our resident swallows perform acrobatics over the fields and Fox Creek.
• Wellness: Take an extra day to practice Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), absorbing the healing phytoncides of the trees and watching the komorebi—the sunlight dancing through the canopy.

However you choose to visit, you are now part of the Bridgewood Legacy. We would love to welcome you back to linger by the creek, reset your nervous system, and enjoy the peace that only five generations of stewardship can provide.

Until then, travel safely.
~ The Bridgewood Farms Team