The Hidden Realm: An Outdoor Escape Room at The Giving Place

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Step Into The Hidden Realm: An Outdoor Escape Room at The Giving Place

Looking for a unique and magical outdoor adventure? The Giving Place in Mount Albert invites you to experience The Hidden Realm: An Outdoor Escape Room! A one-of-a-kind quest nestled within our beautiful fields and gardens.

If you love escape rooms, puzzles, storytelling, and nature, this immersive experience is designed just for you.

Enter the Enchanted World of Fantasy

A great peril has befallen the gardens of The Giving Place. The Faeries are searching for brave souls to help them lift the curse. Are you the one they’ve been waiting for? Can you and your team complete the quest in time to restore peace to the land?

Step into The Hidden Realm, where spells, folklore, and faerie magic come alive through interactive storytelling and hands-on challenges.

What to Expect

🌿 An Escape Room-Style Outdoor Adventure
🕑 60-Minute Quest (Total 90-Minute Experience)
🎭 Immersive Gameplay with Live Actors
👫 Groups of 2–4 Players (Maximum 4 People per Group)
🔮 Recommended for Ages 12+

This isn’t your typical escape room, it’s a fantasy-filled journey through nature where puzzles, teamwork, and creativity guide you through a world of wonder.

Why Choose The Hidden Realm at The Giving Place?

  • A truly unique outdoor experience combining nature, imagination, and play.

  • Perfect for friends, families, and couples seeking a creative outing.

  • Supports the care of rescue animals and The Giving Garden Haven.

  • A chance to unplug and enjoy a meaningful, memorable adventure together.

Book Your Adventure Today!

Spots are limited for this magical summer experience. Don’t wait — gather your team, embrace the challenge, and step into The Hidden Realm.

Reserve Your Tickets!





Field and Brush: The Giving Place’s Landscape Artist of the Year ‘En Plein Air’ Competition

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Date: September 27, 2025
Location: The Giving Place – 19618 E Townline, Mount Albert, ON
Application Opens: June 21, 2025
Deadline: September 18, 2025
Registration Fee: $45 (includes entry and competition access)
Spectator Entry: $10 | People’s Choice Ballot: +$5

A Celebration of Art, Nature, and Giving

The Giving Place is thrilled to announce its first-ever Field and Brush – Landscape Artist of the Year “En Plein Air” Competition. Inspired by the beloved show Landscape Artist of the Year, this outdoor art experience brings together artists of all levels to celebrate creativity, community, and compassion—all while supporting a meaningful cause.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to The Giving Garden Haven, a local not for profit that donates 100% of its harvest to food banks, pantries, and shelters across the community. By participating, you're not just creating art—you’re growing hope.

Who Can Apply?

We’re inviting up to 100 artists to apply for this exciting community event.

To participate, you must:

  • Be 15 years of age or older (all artists must be able to work independently on their artwork)

  • Pay a $45 registration fee, which includes entrance to The Giving Place grounds

  • Provide all your own supplies (easel, chair, paint, brushes, etc.)

  • Be ready to create outdoors—this is a true “en plein air” experience

  • Any medium is welcome: paint, pastel, coloured pencil, mixed media, any size or

    shape

  • Artists may choose any location at The Giving Place to interpret creatively

Your completed work is yours to keep, but the memories and impact will last a lifetime.

What’s at Stake?

The winner will be named “The Giving Place Artist of the Year” and will receive:

  • A $200 cash prize

  • A prize package including donated gifts and experiences

  • Their winning piece featured at local galleries and businesses

  • Recognition and visibility within the community art scene

  • 2nd and 3rd place winners will also be selected

There will also be a People’s Choice Award, voted on by attending guests!

Event Day Schedule – September 27, 2025

  • 9:00–10:45 AM: Artist setup (participants only)

  • 11:00 AM: Clocks begin, artists start creating

  • 2:00 PM: Brushes down – artwork complete

  • 2:15 PM: Ballots collected for People’s Choice

  • 3:00 PM: Winners announced!

Throughout the day, guests can enjoy: Live music, local vendors, refreshments, watching talented artists at work across the beautiful property!

General Admission

Not competing but still want to be part of the magic?

  • $10 entry gets you full-day access to the farm

  • Add $5 to cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award

  • Wander the lavender fields, meet rescue animals, enjoy live music, and shop local

Word’s From the Heart

“I’ve been thinking about an event like this for years. I was inspired by Landscape Artist of the Year and wanted to create a local event to highlight the amazing artists in the area. I hope this becomes an annual celebration of creativity that brings people together and rekindles the love of art.”
— Colleen Worsley, Community Advocate & Co-Creator

Register Now – Spots Are Limited!

Applications open June 21, 2025, and close September 18, 2025 (or earlier if spots fill).

Let’s create, connect, and cultivate community—one brushstroke at a time.

The Birdhouse Mystery: A Whimsical Outdoor Adventure at The Giving Place

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The Birdhouse Mystery: A Whimsical Outdoor Adventure at The Giving Place

Looking for a unique outdoor experience near Toronto that combines fun, nature, and brain-teasing adventure? Welcome to The Birdhouse Mystery—a one-of-a-kind, puzzle-filled journey through wildflower fields and lavender-scented air at The Giving Place.

This isn’t just another walk in the park. It’s a hands-on outdoor escape game where you become the detective, uncover hidden clues, and solve nature-inspired mysteries... all surrounded by beauty, calm, and a few furry friends.

🧩 What is The Birdhouse Mystery?

The Birdhouse Mystery is an interactive outdoor puzzle adventure designed for curious minds and nature lovers alike.


Here’s what to expect:

🔍 Clues Hidden in Handcrafted Birdhouses
Each birdhouse holds a brain teaser, riddle, or clue—crafted to challenge your mind and spark your imagination.

🌿 A Nature-Based Mystery to Solve
The goal? Uncover a mystery inspired by the land itself, all while exploring our scenic farm filled with lavender blooms and native wildflowers.

🐰 Meet Our Rescue Animals
Take a break from clue-hunting to say hello to the friendly animals that call The Giving Place home.

🍦 Enjoy Lavender Goodies & Ice Cream
Complete your mission and reward yourself with sweet, farm-made treats including our signature lavender ice cream.

🌸 Why It’s the Perfect Day Out

Whether you’re looking for a creative date idea, a family outing, or a fun group activity, The Birdhouse Mystery is the perfect blend of challenge and relaxation.

  • Great for a date night

  • Fun for families and friends

  • Great for ages 6+

  • Ideal for groups of 2–6 people

  • No screens. Just nature, puzzles, and purpose.

📅 Open June through October
📍 Located in the beautiful countryside at The Giving Place near York Region / GTA area

💡 A Unique Date Idea That’s Not Dinner and a Movie

Tired of the usual date night options? The Birdhouse Mystery is an outdoor adventure date that’s creative, memorable, and just the right mix of silly and smart. Laugh, explore, solve puzzles, and make memories in a setting that’s far from ordinary.

🔍 Book Your Outdoor Adventure Today!

Spots are limited and The Birdhouse Mystery is already one of our most talked-about experiences.

Reserve my spot!

Ready to challenge your mind and soothe your soul?
Come for the puzzles. Stay for the beauty.
We can’t wait to welcome you to The Birdhouse Mystery at The Giving Place!

A Night of 1000 Candles: Illuminate Hope & Support Local Food Security

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A Night of 1000 Candles: Illuminate Hope & Support Local Food Security

Imagine a starlit field glowing with 1000 flickering candles—each one a symbol of nourishment, warmth, and hope. This summer, The Giving Place invites you to be part of a truly magical experience: A Night of 1000 Candles – Illuminate Hope Fundraiser.

Taking place at our peaceful Giving Garden Haven, this one-of-a-kind evening blends community, compassion, and candlelight to raise critical funds for local food security initiatives.

🌱 Why This Event Matters: Supporting Year-Round Food Access

Since 2019, The Giving Garden Haven has donated 100% of its fresh, locally grown produce to organizations serving those in need. These include:

  • Holland Landing Food Pantry

  • Keswick Fridge

  • Georgina Food Pantry

  • Second Chance Clothing Depot & Food Closet

  • Mount Albert United Church Food Pantry

But as community demand grows and seasonal harvests remain limited, the need for infrastructure upgrades is urgent. This year’s fundraiser aims to support:
✅ Solar power installation
✅ Greenhouse expansion for year-round growing
✅ Better water access
✅ Tools and equipment to scale our impact

Your support = more families fed, more often.

What to Expect: A Candlelit Evening of Beauty and Purpose

A Night of 1000 Candles is more than a fundraiser—it’s a heartwarming gathering filled with light, music, and community spirit.

🎶 Live acoustic music under the stars
🕯 Candlelit pathways to walk and reflect
🍽️ Elegant catering by a certified Blue Seal Chef
🎁 Silent auction of handcrafted illuminated centerpieces

Plus, each guest will have the opportunity to add a candle to the glowing path, spreading warmth and generosity across the evening.

Ways to Get Involved: Sponsor or Donate

Become a sponsor and shine a light in your community. Sponsorship comes with a variety of benefits including VIP tickets, marketing exposure, and candle dedications:

🕯️ Platinum Sponsor – $5000

  • Premier recognition across all platforms

  • Logo featured on-site and online

  • 100 dedicated candles + 8 VIP tickets

  • Custom centerpiece for silent auction

🕯️ Gold Sponsor – $2500

  • Prominent logo placement

  • 100 dedicated candles + 6 VIP tickets

  • Handcrafted centerpiece

🕯️ Silver Sponsor – $1000

  • Logo featured in select event materials

  • 50 dedicated candles + 4 VIP tickets

  • Silent auction centerpiece

🕯️ Sponsor – $500

  • Logo placement at event and online

  • 50 dedicated candles + 2 VIP tickets

  • Centerpiece for auction

🕯 Honor a Loved One: Sponsor a Candle

Can’t attend but still want to support?
You can purchase an Honorary Candle for just $25—lit in honour or memory of someone special. A simple, beautiful way to make a difference.

🎟 Get Your Tickets Now!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this truly meaningful night.
Reserve your tickets or become a sponsor today, and help illuminate the path to food security—one candle, one meal, one act of kindness at a time.

Lavender Plant Pre-Sales at The Giving Place, Mount Albert

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Spring is just around the corner, and The Giving Place in Mount Albert is excited to announce our lavender plant pre-sales! Located close to Toronto in the beautiful GTA, we’re your go-to destination for high-quality lavender plants.

Available Varieties: This season, we’re offering a diverse selection of lavender varieties to suit any garden enthusiast’s needs:

  • Folgate: Known for its deep violet-blue blooms and fragrant scent.

  • Royal Velvet (English): A customer favourite with rich, velvety purple flowers.

  • Melissa: Featuring pale pink to light lavender blooms.

  • Super Blue: Compact with vibrant blue-violet flowers.

  • Big Time Blue: Perfect for striking garden displays.

  • Phenomenal French: Highly resilient with silvery foliage and iconic fragrance.

Each lavender plant comes in a 4-inch pot and will be ready for pick-up during the May long weekend — just in time for spring planting.

Why Grow Lavender? Lavender is not only a beautiful addition to your garden but also a versatile and hardy plant. Its delightful fragrance, pollinator-friendly blooms, and calming properties make it a favourite among gardeners and wellness enthusiasts alike.

Pre-Order Now! Don’t miss your chance to secure these premium lavender plants. Quantities are limited, so pre-order today to ensure your garden is filled with the beauty and aroma of fresh lavender this season.

Visit The Giving Place in Mount Albert for more details and to place your pre-order. We look forward to helping you create your dream lavender garden!

The Benefits of Lavender

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The Ancient Healer

It’s more than a pretty Scent

Many people enjoy the pleasing fragrance of lavender and use it to treat a variety of conditions. 

We usually associate lavender with its fragrance and its colour, but the lavender flower and the oil derived from it have a long history in herbal medicine. Lavender is a multipurpose plant, used in many ways to promote good health and well-being.

Our lavender products have many potential benefits for you to discover

The name Lavender derives from the Latin root “lavare,” which literally means “to wash.” The earliest recorded use of lavender dates back to ancient Egypt. Later, lavender became a bath additive in many regions, including Persia, ancient Greece, and Rome. These cultures believed that lavender helped purify the body and mind.

Since ancient times, lavender has been used to treat many different ailments, including: 

Many people enjoy the pleasing fragrance of lavender and use it to treat a variety of conditions. 

We usually associate lavender with its fragrance and its colour, but the lavender flower and the oil derived from it have a long history in herbal medicine. Lavender is a multipurpose plant, used in many ways to promote good health and well-being.

Our lavender products have many potential benefits for you to discover

The name Lavender derives from the Latin root “lavare,” which literally means “to wash.” The earliest recorded use of lavender dates back to ancient Egypt. Later, lavender became a bath additive in many regions, including Persia, ancient Greece, and Rome. These cultures believed that lavender helped purify the body and mind.

Since ancient times, lavender has been used to treat many different ailments, including: 

  • mental health issues

  • anxiety

  • insomnia

  • depression

  • headaches

  • hair loss

  • nausea

  • acne

  • toothaches

  • skin irritations

  • cancer

Aromatherapy

Lavender is most commonly used in aromatherapy. The fragrance from the oils of the lavender plant is believed to help promote calmness and wellness as well as help to reduce stress, anxiety, and possibly even mild pain. Studies have found that topically applying lavender could reduce the severity of menstrual cramps.

Skin & Hair

When applied to the skin, lavender oils and body creams have shown positive results in helping with eczema, sunburns, acne, and diaper rash.

Lavender & You

Many people have enjoyed the pleasing fragrance of lavender and used it to treat a variety of conditions. People say its uses range from helping them calm down and get a good night’s sleep to managing sleeplessness, anxiety, and menstrual cramps.

Sleep Aid

Lavender has been recommended to treat insomnia or other sleep disorders for many years. Placing sachets of lavender flowers in their pillows helps some people fall asleep and get a better night’s rest. 

Lavender is also used by aromatherapists to treat headaches, nervousness or restlessness. Massage therapists apply lavender oil to the skin, to act as both a calming agent and a sleep aid. In Germany, lavender tea has been approved as a supplement to treat sleep disruptions, restlessness, and some stomach irritations.

Our Lavender dream pillows, or eye pillows are a lovely addition to any sleep routine.

Possible Cancer and Dementia Relief

According to the National Cancer Institute, aromatherapy can help patients manage the side effects of cancer treatment. Smell receptors send messages to the brain that can affect mood. Similarly, it may also help adults who suffer from dementia.

Lavender Coffee

we partnered with Elipda Cafe & roastery to create our own delicious blend of lavender Coffee, Available in our store!

Lavender coffee offers a calming, relaxing experience. The floral notes of lavender pair beautifully with the aromatics of coffee. Drinking lavender coffee can help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting tranquility and well-being. The antioxidants in lavender and coffee can help support overall health.

Gifts from the Heart Contest 2025

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Gifts from the Heart Contest!

The season of love quickly approaches and we want to start it with some Gifts from our hearts to yours. This year we will be giving away 15 (yes 15!) prizes!

Winners will be selected and announced by random draw on Valentine's Day (Friday Feb 14th 2025).

Ways to enter:

  1. Like our contest post or reel on Instagram or Facebook.  Follow our page on Instagram or Facebook. Tag a friend in the comments & tell them one reason you are grateful to have them in your life! Each additional tag is another entry!

  2. Purchase any product from now until Feb. 13th from The Giving Place online or store & you’ll be automatically entered! Every purchase counts as a new entry.

  3. Perform 3 acts of kindness & tell us about it! 

    • Do 1 random act of kindness

    • Do 1 kind thing just for yourself

    • Do 1 kind thing for a person you love!

    • Send us an email sharing your acts of kindness! Each act gives you a new entry to win!

Prizes:

1st Draw Prize: The VIP Package: includes High Tea for 2 at our farm, cut your own Lavender Bouquet, 10 free tickets to our Lavender Festival, and a beautiful Gift Basket filled with our natural artisanal products (valued over $500)

2nd Draw Prize: High Tea for 2 at The Giving Place!

3rd Draw Prize: A beautiful Gift Basket of our natural artisanal products (valued at $100)

4th Draw Prize: Wreath Making workshop for 2 valued at $200.00

PLUS we'll be drawing 10 winners to receive  2 free tickets to our Lavender Fest!

The deadline to enter is February 13th 2025!

We haven’t forgotten about the kids, we are also holding our… 

Kids Drawing From the Heart Contest! 

Kids, we invite you to draw or paint your very own Gratitude Tree! Email us a photo of your finished drawing and tell us one thing you are grateful for!

The Winner’s drawing will be posted on our socials and you’ll receive a Picnic at the Farm for 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) on the day of your choosing during our summer season.

The deadline to enter is February 13th 2025, so you better get drawing!

Use the icons below to find our social media posts!