Hobbit hole landscaping project draws curious crowds in Saskatoon

It began as a landscaping project to deal with drainage issues, but almost like magic it has become a site that draws a curious crowd to a home in Saskatoon's City Park neighbourhood.

"We had a lot of leftover soil that was piled up," said Dr. Scott Harder, recalling that years-old landscaping project. "All of a sudden one day, hobbits moved in."

Now visitors come to greet the Tooks, the hobbits Harder says live in the little hole in his front yard. 

Lily and Raven Took are the alleged newcomer hobbits who've generated so much curiosity and excitement.

"I try to knock on the door to see if they'll answer and say hi," said one little boy.

The Took home is modest, built into the ground to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It's solid and welcoming, with a bright blue door. 

"It has been just delightful to see how many people have stopped by to comment, and just the laughs, the smiles, a lot of positive feedback," said Harder. 

A family of hobbits has recently taken up residence in a yard in Saskatoon

4 years ago

Duration 2:33

The Harder family lives here in Saskatoon. Their spring landscaping project in their City Park neighborhood resulted in some unexpected guests moving in.

A famous distant relative 

The Tooks, it seems, are shy and remain unseen. They do, however, seem to enjoy corresponding with visitors to their little home. There is a mailbox out front, and when curious humans take the time to write, the Hobbits politely and promptly answer.

Anne Marie Harder shared one of the letters she wrote, reading it aloud to CBC. 

"Dear Lily Took, thank you sooo much for answering my letter. When I checked your mailbox I was sooo happy! I have one question, how are you related to Pippin?"

Raven and Lily Took replied that they are distant relatives of the slightly more famous Pippin. Pippin is the close friend of Frodo Baggins, the main protagonist of The Lord of The Rings.