Spirit Tree was created by Tom Wilson, a fourth-generation farmer, and his wife, Nicole Judge to create something enduring, sustainable, and deeply connected to their land. Together they embarked on a journey of learning at institutions like George Brown College and Le Cordon Bleu Chef School in Ottawa and Paris. They traveled to England to study traditional cider-making techniques, and to Cornell University in New York.
The Fraberts connection? Jackie knew Tom and Nicole from her 4-H days in Peel County. We attended a few learning opportunities together as we were embarking on opening our local food focused businesses around the same time. We catered our first farm wedding at Spirit Tree. (Fun fact: we also started our families at the same time we were starting our businesses – perhaps insanity is contagious!)
The name Spirit Tree is a nod to the deep-rooted traditions they were embracing. It’s a play on the word “spirit” as an alcoholic drink and a tribute to the ancient English tradition of “wassailing,” a ceremony of singing and toasting the apple trees to ensure a good harvest.
The dedication to local food extends far beyond their own products. Their on-farm shop and bistro features local ingredients. Their orchard management uses an Advanced Integrated Pest Management system, which minimizes the use of chemicals, and they work with Toronto Bee Rescue to manage a healthy beehive, ensuring natural pollination and a superior crop.
Spirit Tree hosts tours about the cider-making process and events like their annual Wassail, where they celebrate the traditions that inspired their name. They were named “Environmentalist of the Year” and received an “Agri-Food Innovation Excellence” award in 2010.
We proudly sell their sparkling non-alcoholic cider (and highly recommend their hard ciders) – a terrific treat for your Thanksgiving table!
