photo courtesy of Liberty Hill Farm

A friend emailed this morning with the query: “Do you know of a farm where we can go for a vacation? We really want to experience life on the farm, but we’re not ready to get our own yet!”

Agritourism is a way that farmers are adding to their on-farm income. There are farms where one can stay for a week, pitch in with chores, work with animals, and truly learn the work of farming. There are other farms where you can simply hear the rooster crowing from the comfort of your bed – no milking, hauling, plowing, weeding, picking, or feeding necessary!

A few resources for finding a farm vacation: Agritourism World – Worldwide database of farms. Search by location, farm type, activity and more.

New York Times article about the trend: Down on the Farm With Your Sleeves Rolled Up

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) provides valuable business guidance to farmers interested in creating an agritourism experience on their farm. ATTRA is one of Farm Aid’s national partners for our Farm Resource Network – a web-based database of local and national farm groups.

**update** I just learned that my favorite shepherdess (a REAL one) offers farm stays on her Juniper Moon Farm near Charlottesville, VA. Susan founded the first fiber CSA in the country and her blog is absolutely irresistible.

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