Tripping through Agritourism Farms
By Andrew Wilson
When talking about agritourism, one’s assumption is that the activity is agriculture-related, happens in a rural setting and tourists come around to take part in said activity or event. Although all these are true, a look into some distinct characteristics of agritourism farms would help in presenting clear offerings to the public or in attracting a particular clientele. Mainly, these are the working farms and non-working farms.
As one browses through brochures, keep in mind what manner of contact tourists can have – direct contact, indirect contact, and a passive one in agritourism. Find one that speaks to you, an offering you want to experience. This way you know what to expect and what you hope to gain from it.
Sweating in Fun (Working Farm)
By the term alone, working farm signifies the engagement in agricultural work. In fact, the whole cycle of agricultural production with working animals, planting of crops and harvesting that shall serve both domestic and commercial use. Direct contact means that you are in the thick of things – personally involved, say in harvesting corn, fruit picking or lamb-shearing; a physical exercise of normal workings in a farm. Rare is the tourist that would go all the way, say for a day or two; often the hands-on experience may be for only a few minutes; jumping to the next to cram as much activity in a short visit to agritourism farms.
You are in an agricultural farm complete with accommodations for tourists in a converted barn. You have a variety of choices on how to spend your days, be it watching food processing demonstration of favorites like jams and jellies, eating in the farms’ organic café or shopping in the cooperative-run market. This is classified as indirect contact in a working farm where tourist encounters is more on sampling the amenities and by-products of the farm.
Walking in Leisure (Working Farm in passive contact)
Some tourist may not go for active physical activity and may prefer just wandering around enjoying the scenery and fresh air. Tourism activities are accommodated in open spaces of a working farm like camping, team-building exercises, garden weddings and all other events. These bring in added income to farmers but do not interfere in the running of the farm. Tapping resources present in the farm showcases the good mix of tourism and agricultural endeavors.
Name as you will (Non-working farm)
It’s a farm but not a working one. How is that possible? What it suggests is that it can qualify for agritourism by having activities that brings farming to mind. Creating an ambiance of farming can be re-created in a non-farm setting, say a country farmhouse converted into a bed and breakfast facility or holding a farm-based activity like broom making in an abandoned warehouse. Not all is lost for landholdings of absentee farmers as it can be ideal for horseback riding, a bicycle run, or whatever is suitable for the area. The point is that agritourism need not be always be in working farms.
Whatever agritourism farms are chosen, what matters at the end is the enjoyment imparted by the agritourism trip coupled with the learning gained. This is particularly a wonderful introduction of children to the animal world and food production whose impact may one day show in their understanding and appreciation of the natural world. A slice of country life that one relishes to remember may not end there but may find its way to plans of having more of it. One never knows where the wind of interest will blow but having myriad of experiences lends one a better perspective of life and options of how to live it.
Some tourist may not go for active physical activity and may prefer just wandering around enjoying the scenery and fresh air. Tourism activities are accommodated in open spaces of a working farm like camping, team-building exercises, garden weddings and all other events.
