TRENDS: Heritage turkey eggs may delight your customers, as a growing number of people are seeking edible eggs from unique birds. The very exotic such as emu and ostrich may be beyond your capacity, but consider eggs from heritage turkeys. Speckled turkey eggs are about one and a half times larger than chicken eggs.
At the Center for the Micro Eco-Farming Movement we’re working on a full-length how-to article on the topic. Stay tuned!
AGRITOURISM — TRENDS: The age-old farming advice to not become affectionate with animals meant for slaughter still holds true. But as rural revival and backyard chickens continue to grow in popularity, farmers are adapting and making informed choices as to when that rule can be broken.
Certain animals used for hand milking and egg-laying, for example, are purposely tamed for handling purposes, and even trained further to attract customers to the farm. This also builds respect for farming and the animals involved with awareness for the intelligence of some animals such as chickens who have bad reputations for being “dumb.” A trend for training chickens “tricks” (full report by clicking ‘training chickens’ link) has also evolved into a method allowing their owners to get them to come to the coop on demand, and to attract farm visitors with other entertaining antics. — www.microecofarming.com
AGRITOURISM – TRENDS: A vineyard in the Pacific Northwest takes wine tasters on snowshoeing tours through the snowy landscape in winter. It’s an easy skill to learn, and to pass on quickly to farm visitors. Investment would include a few pairs of snowshoes, free lessons from the snowshoe outlet if the skill is new to you, and an appointment with your attorney about liability insurance and/or waivers for guests to sign.
Near the same area, a rural landowner has obtained unwanted old train cars including a kaboose, gradually refurbished them, and now offers them as a unique bed and breakfast destination. Those who want to explore the idea of a rural bed and breakfast business don’t necessarily need restored Victorian country mansions to do so. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com
TRENDS – We are interviewing Amaltheia Dairy for AcresUSA and came across this video of one of the owners, Susan, describing their full circle farm and how they humanely handle surplus male goats. Enjoy. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com
TRENDS — In Belfast, Maine, bankers have created a fee-free CSA savings account similar to a Christmas Club savings account. Customers can add small regular or occasional amounts to the account anytime throughout the year to make it easier to build up to the full preseason upfront fee to pay their CSA farmer. It’s a great advantage for most CSA farmers to receive the full year’s fee well in advance of the coming season. — www.microecofarming.com
AGRITOURISM -TRENDS: Want to get immersed in learning sustainable farming, permaculture, and regenerative community? We’ve recently affiliated with Common Circle Education. With CCE you can learn sustainable farming and permaculture in multiple ways including workshops and bicycle tours across the country that stop at successful small-scale eco-farms and communities. Bicycle tours are suited for beginning and intermediate cyclists. Check out what they have to offer those interested in sustainable local farming and permaculture. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com
AGRITOURISM, MARKETING, TRENDS — Here’s a fun example of autumn agritourism marketing for your farm. The Anacortes Parks and Recreation department is holding a pumpkin carving pizza party for an $8.00 fee, and with registration, participants receive a voucher for a free pumpkin 15 pounds or less from Schuh Farms, a nearby farm that sells pumpkins, ornamental gourds, ornamental corn, and other seasonal products.
Studies show that many people who come for one pumpkin end up buying more once they see what’s available. And the city catalog that describes the farm and their partnership with it goes out to every resident of Anacortes, meaning the Schuh Farms name is promoted to a lot of people for free. Registration for the pumpkin carving workshop is limited, so the farm doesn’t have to be concerned with too many vouchers. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com.