Nestled in the Qu’Appelle Valley is Lumsden’s Over the Hills Orchards and Winery, which grows various organic fruits and offers picnics, suppers, tours and wine-tasting activities.
Husband and wife team Dean and Sylvia Kreutzer left behind their careers in Regina in 2000 and purchased 16 hectares (40 acres) in hopes of breeding exotic fruits in Saskatchewan’s cooler climate and short growing season.
It was quite the transformation for Dean: from computer programmer to certified organic fruit grower. Many people questioned his decision, but never his enthusiasm. Meanwhile, 30 years of city life never prepared him for rural life — the learning curve was vertical.
Moreover, while Sylvia grew up on the farm, growing fruit was different than slopping pigs and herding cattle.
Dean took horticulture classes via correspondence through the University of Saskatchewan to acquire the basics of plant anatomy and fruit production, while he learned the art of fruit breeding in hopes of creating hardier varieties that could grow in this climate.
The couple travelled to many regions in North America to learn from growers who had accumulated years of knowledge. They also made many connections through the internet with growers and fruit breeders around the world.
The Kreutzers soon found that the challenge was to incorporate and adapt this knowledge to the challenges of Saskatchewan’s climate; in many cases, they were breaking new ground.
While the province is known for fruits such as saskatoons and cranberries, what the Kreutzers are growing — plums, peaches, figs, nectarines, grapes, pears, apricots and almonds — is usually unheard of here.
Today, Over the Hills is known for its specialty fruit spreads, preserves, toppings, and chocolates, and yes — tourists can even buy fruit trees from their orchards. It is also well-known for its selection of dry and semi-sweet fruit wines.
The company has won several awards and is also Saskatchewan’s first accredited “Economusée.” Originating in France, this highly regarded international network of artisanal businesses welcomes tourists to experience their unique, local products right where they’re produced.
During the summer, visitors can drive to the orchard for a glass of wine and a piece of pie. In recent years, the company began offering picnics in the orchard and a special chef supper series on weekend evenings.
With suppers, a different local chef will create a multi-course supper using ingredients mostly from area farms and the orchard. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the evening ending around 9:30 p.m. The supper costs $75 per person, while drinks are extra.
With picnics, visitors will receive a backpack containing bread, cheese, bison jerky, wine, wine glasses, a blanket, utensils, and napkins.
The one-hour activity costs $65 for the site or $100 for the deluxe gazebo. Adding more people to the group does not increase the cost unless more food/drinks are ordered. No outside food/drink is allowed.
Other activities include a Stay ‘n’ Play, a private wine-tasting event and an orchard tour.
The business’ season runs until Sunday, Oct. 15. To book a reservation, call 306-535-1278 or visit overthehillorchards.ca.
