In this article, we discussed the meaning of agritourism, farm stays, we also outlined those things you should know before booking a farm stay.<\/p>\n
Definition <\/strong><\/p>\n Agritourism <\/strong>is a commercial enterprise that connects tourism with agricultural production and processing to educate and entertain visitors while generating income for the farm or farm. Farm stays are a type of agritourism that involves offering overnight hospitality to guests on a farm.<\/p>\n Agritourism can include a variety of activities, such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n Olive harvesting<\/p>\n Cheesemaking<\/p>\n Beekeeping<\/p>\n Visiting a farmers’ market<\/p>\n Drinking apple cider in an orchard<\/p>\n Foraging<\/p>\n Fruit picking<\/p>\n Agritourism can help reduce rural poverty by allowing farmers and agricultural workers to diversify their business. It can also bring into line with travelers’ desires to get back to nature, embrace the outdoors, and participate in hands-on activities.<\/p>\n A farm stay<\/strong> (or farm stay) is any type of accommodation on a working farm. Some farm stays may be interactive. Some are family-focused and offer children opportunities to feed animals, collect eggs and learn how a farm functions. Others do not allow children.<\/p>\n Farm stays can be described as agritourism (farmer opening their farm to tourists for any reason, including farm stands and u-pick), ecotourism (Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people), and geotourism (tourism that sustains or enhances it.<\/p>\n Things you should know before booking a farm stay<\/strong><\/p>\n Here are tips to prepare you for your farm adventure.<\/strong><\/p>\n Bring appropriate clothing and gear<\/strong><\/p>\n It is very important to bringing the right clothing and shoes. A pair of water resistant and windproof pants are a must. Know that your surroundings will be mostly rural, with lots of land and friendly animals that might want to greet you. Those same animals will eliminate in pastures, so designer shoes and heels are a no-no.<\/p>\n Bringing a raincoat is also a good idea in case the weather doesn\u2019t cooperate.<\/p>\n Ask your host about food and meal prep<\/strong><\/p>\n Depending on where you\u2019re staying, meals may be provided for guests or you might have to bring your own food. Check out a farm-to-table cookbook for inspiration so you can use any produce and products the farm has to offer guests.<\/p>\n Ask your hosts if there\u2019s a full kitchen where you can prepare your meals. Many farms have a garden where you can pick vegetables and ripe fruits to eat and enjoy. Some farms even offer fresh laid eggs to include in your breakfast.<\/p>\n What types of activities are available?<\/strong><\/p>\n Working farms are busy settings, and not places set up for entertainment. In other words, don\u2019t expect Disneyland and live shows. Most farmers will be actively tending to animals and chores. Before you book your stay, make sure to know the level of activity the farm allows guests. Depending on the type and size of the farm, some hosts might encourage visitors to be more involved while others might not. Because of the backdrop, there are usually many places to meander outdoors.<\/p>\n Follow safety precautions<\/strong><\/p>\n Your farm stay will include exposure to large and small machinery as well as all different types of animals. Whether you\u2019re traveling by yourself or with small children, learn and follow the rules and restrictions. For instance, on one of my trips to a farm, it was important to close and latch all the gates whenever I passed through a field because the animals could run away and get injured if they escaped.<\/p>\n