WHAT WE OFFER
Definition of Ag-Tourism
Agritourism or agrotourism, as it is defined most broadly, involves any agriculturally-based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. Agritourism has different definitions in different parts of the world and sometimes refers specifically to farm stays, as in Italy. Elsewhere, agritourism includes a wide variety of activities, including buying produce direct from a farm stand, navigating a corn maze, slopping hogs, picking fruit, feeding animals, or staying at a bed and breakfast (B&B) on a farm.
Agritourism is a form of niche tourism that is considered a growth industry in many parts of the world, including Australia, Canada, the United States, and the Philippines. Other terms associated with agritourism are “agritainment”, “value added products”, “farm direct marketing” and “sustainable agriculture”.
Agritourists can choose from a wide range of activities that include picking fruits and vegetables, riding horses, tasting honey, learning about wine and cheesemaking, or shopping in farm gift shops and farm stands for local and regional produce or hand-crafted gifts.
People have become more interested in how their food is produced. They want to meet farmers and processors and talk with them about what goes into food production. For many people who visit farms, especially children, the visit marks the first time they see the source of their food, be it a dairy cow, an ear of corn growing in a field, or an apple they can pick right off a tree. Farmers and ranchers use this interest to develop traffic at their farm or ranch, and interest in the quality of their products, as well as awareness of their products.
GARDEN BOXES
Foot Print Farms has created the Farm in a Box. A square-foot cypress container nestled producing plants, whether herbs or a trio of tomato, melon and bell pepper. Name your farm, she tells new box owners. One customer painted hers purple and dubbed it “Royalty Farms.”
The only tool needed is a spoon or a fork. Water it once a day, feed it once a week, “give it a little love and it will grow and produce food.” It’s portable, small enough for a stoop, table, balcony or back step. The farm buys the wood; We Will Go Ministries on Farish Street trains people and builds the boxes. That way, “we’re also helping job creation,” said Ayers-Elliott. Such partnerships are vital, and as cozy as the hearts decorating her studded, rhinestone belt. A common thread strengthens all.
That spoon or fork? Not just for eating the harvest. After the farm box has run its season, it stirs the soil for the next planting. “We hope with this small box, you’ll want another one. And another one,” building up to six or nine boxes and as many different types of vegetables, herbs or fruit such as strawberries or melons.
“It’s a turnkey,” she said, then teased, “better than a puppy.”
Buy as many as you want to grow your garden diversity!
FRESH VEGGIES
We grow all your favorite and then some exotic vegetables
- Zucchini
- Squash
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Collards
- Mustard Greens
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Hot and Mild Peppers
- Green Peppers
- Beets
- Turnips
- Callaloo
- kohlrabi
FRESH HERBS
We Have Grown
Basil
Cilantro
Dill
Parsley