I believe there is a growing collective guilt, especially in the United States, about our era of abundance. The recent economic collapse has been a rather sour-tasting humble pie, but it also has caused many of us to question what we have been doing with our time and our money.
The term “luxury travel” has quickly become synonymous with something that banking executives or insurance companies have callously flaunted in the faces of the not so fortunate. The rise of Eco-tourism, on the other hand, has been an answer to a deeper quest for meaning — even in our travels. Although people still “need a vacation” as they work longer and longer hours, vacation is no longer being used exclusively for hedonistic escape.
Beyond the awareness of our place in the world that fuels the desire for Eco-tourism, Agritourism is a type of vacation that is increasing in popularity despite the admission that you will probably work like a dog, and use muscles that your life in a cubicle made you forget. No matter, people who have paid to work on farms, have attended workshops, and worked together to build infrastructure, report feeling energized by their contribution and are overjoyed by creating something while on vacation, instead of only consuming. As the Web site for Oklahoma Agritourism states, “Each year families take vacations for many reasons, including:”
* Family togetherness – 87%
* Get away from stress – 74%
* Rest and relaxation – 71%
* Excitement and new experiences – 50%
* Physical activity – 43%
Agritourism offers all of the above, and for the increasingly health-conscious traveler, the “physical activity” percentage is much higher.
The campus at UC Davis in California, U.S., conducts a “Small Farm Program.” They define Agritourism as “a commercial enterprise at a working farm, ranch, or agricultural plant conducted for the enjoyment of visitors that generates supplemental income for the owners.” This might include:
* Outdoor recreation (fishing, hunting, wildlife study, etc.)
* Educational experiences (cannery tours, cooking classes, or wine tasting)
* Entertainment (harvest festivals or barn dances)
* Hospitality services (farm stays, guided tours)
* On-farm direct sales (u-pick operations or roadside stands)
As the U.S. de-industrializes due to a number of factors, this could be recognized as a prime opportunity for vacationers and entrepreneurs alike to see the benefits of returning to a rural setting where people spend time outdoors, become educated about self-sufficiency, and fulfill the growing need to contribute to worthwhile human endeavors.
For a wide range of information about the benefits of Agritourism to the traveler (including places to stay), as well as some wonderful tips on starting your own Agritourism business, I found Agritourism World to be incredibly comprehensive.
sleepinthehay.com is a great new resource for USA farm stays, and I blog about farm stays and agritourism at farmstays.blogspot.com.
As you noted, the terms “agritourism” and “farm stay” can mean many different things, especially in different parts of the world. In Italy, for example “agriturismo” means a overnight accommodations on a farm, while in the USA, the term is used very loosely, to describe anything from a farm B&B to a corn maze. In parts of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, a farmstay can refer to a farmwork for lodging exchange, for example through WWOOF (http://www.wwoof.org/)
In the USA, most forms of agritourism don’t require any work at all from the guests with the exception of pick-your-own farms. Some, but not all, farm stays invite guests to participate in chores, but these are typically relatively lightweight chores like egg-gathering.
Thanks for the article!
Thank you for the comments and information Michelle. Great work you are doing. We will add you to our links.
Thanks very much. I really appreciate the work you are doing as well.