Wildlife areas in Venezuela to be farmland

Global Post reports that Venezuela is converting wildlife areas that are popular ecotourist spots into farms.

Los Llanos — home to hundreds of birds and animal species — is shrinking. Over the past two years, President Hugo Chavez has ordered the nationalization of three of Venezuela’s largest ecotourism ranches: Hato Pinero, Hato El Cedral and Hato El Frio.

Authorities now plan to convert a small portion of their combined area — roughly 2,000 square kilometers — into farmland. Chavez announced the move as part of a sweeping government land reform that has, since 2005, aimed to boost food production and reduce reliance on imports.

Read the full story: Venezuela converts tourist destinations into farmland

Photo by Rachel Jones / Global Post

English pumpkin mural draws Halloween visitors

Reuters video reports on the West Essex, England "pumpkin house" mural created every year around Halloween by Tony Smith.

Watch the video below:

Get fresh produce at vending machine

Mother Nature Network reports on German farmers selling fresh produce via vending machine.

[Farm] Peter-und-Paul-Hof spawned the idea as a solution to a problem which faces many local farmers worldwide. After efforts to deliver milk directly to customers became too time-consuming and costly, they first tried to encourage customers to collect the milk from fridges on their farm, but of course that only shifted the burden onto the customers. Vending machines simply offered them the smartest middle ground solution to the problem.

Perhaps even more unusual, the company has chosen to place several of these upstart Regiomats alongside popular hiking trails in Switzerland.

Read the full story: Farmers using vending machines to sell produce

Photo from Regiomat

LA farmers market to celebrate 75th year

The Los Angeles Farmers Market celebrates its 75th year this month.

The iconic market at Third and Fairfax in L.A. will mark its birthday with a weeklong celebration in the middle of the month.

Events include a July 14 "Taste of Farmers Market," 5-9 p.m. (tickets are $20 or with drinks, $25); a July 15 karaoke contest on the West Patio stage; and a "Big Birthday Bash" party for the public July 16 beginning at 8 a.m., including free cupcakes and a huge cake shaped like the market's clock tower. Live music will be offered July 16-19, and programs for kids will be available July 18-19. Details: www.farmersmarketla.com.

Read the full story: Farmers Market in Los Angeles celebrates 75th year

A sustainable farm tour

The Washington Post reports on a sustainable farm tour in Virginia.

Polyface [Farm] has been widely praised by sustainable-farming advocates and foodies for its commitment to Earth- and animal-friendly practices, including rotational grass grazing, humane treatment of animals and local processing. With an annual average population of 6,500 laying hens (for eggs), 24,000 broilers (for meat), 1,000 head of cattle, 200 hogs, 500 turkeys and 250 rabbits, Polyface is classified as a commercial farm, but it's on the smaller side, defiantly spurning one-size-fits-all USDA regulations.

Read the full story: For locavores, a new breed of farm

Throw a 'roo on the barbie

Environmental News Network reports on the Australian study that shows eating kangaroo instead of beef and mutton is a more sustainable option.

Cattle and sheep farming degrades land, has contributed to native species extinction, and also emits large amounts of the greenhouse gas methane. Kangaroos, which historically have been eaten by humans for "around 60,000 years," emit acetate rather than methane.

"In economic modelling conducted by Wilson and Edwards, cattle and sheep for meat could be dramatically reduced in Australia's rangelands by 2020, with cattle dropping from 7.5 million to 500,000 and sheep from 38.7 million to 2.7 million.

The scientists conclude that this would allow for a net carbon saving of 16 megatonnes of GhG emissions by 2020, around 28 percent of Australia's agricultural emissions. "

Read the full story: Eat kangaroos to save climate?

Poland's organic farms blossom

The Christian Science Monitor reports on the flourishing organic farm business in Poland.

Organic farming works in Poland because farms have always been "small-scale" in addition to being "the only former Soviet satellite country to resist agricultural collectivization under communism."

There are now over 13,500 organic farms, up considerably from the 300 in 1996. And residents are big fans of the natural produce:

"'I’ve been buying organic vegetables, kasha, milk, and especially eggs for the past 15 years,' says Warsaw resident Anna Basiak. 'I don’t want to ruin my stomach.' Ms. Basiak made the switch to organic when sauerkraut of unknown provenance made her ill. Today, she shops in grocery stories that buy directly from farmers."

Read the full story: Poland's organic farms prove to be fruitful ventures

Pick-your-own New Mexican chilies

USA Today reports on the New Mexican farm where the attraction is pick-it-yourself chilies.

The farm owned by Joe Lujan (pictured right) has five varieties of chilies, that can be roasted and packed up on the premises.

"For some families in this part of the country, eating chili is a daily ritual. And Lujan has many customers who come religiously each year throughout the season to stock up."

Lujan started the "you-pick" business to save on labor costs and to let visitors enjoy and appreciate where fresh vegetables originate.

Read the full story: New Mexico farm lets visitors pick their own chilis

Uptick in agritourism, or haycations

The San Jose Mercury News reports on the growing trend of doing farm work for a vacation, agritourism.

Writer Leslie Harlib visited a farm in Marin County near the Bay Area, where she "reveled in the pastoral scene so timeless it's like being inside a Grant Wood painting."

"At Cow Track Ranch, owners Liz and Bruce Daniels love educating the folks who come to stay. 'Most people have no idea this kind of lifestyle still exists in Marin,' Liz Daniels says. 'If they're interested, we take them on a tour of our vegetable garden. I tell them about our production and where I sell my produce. They can find out about cattle ranching, and see the cattle up close.'"

Ecotravel News has previously reported on this trend in France, Peru, and closer to home agritourism.

Read the full story: Jump on agritourism wave and stay on a farm

Community-based tourism in Peru

USA Today reports on the growing trend of travelers to Peru getting away from tourist traps and living like local villagers.

Peru tourism has exploded in the past six years and more visitors are seeking out a unique cultural immersion that community-based tourism can provide.

"In the late 1990s, a group of enterprising [Vicos] villagers founded a community tourism project to promote sustainable tourism in the popular trekking area, while sharing their customs with travelers."

The back-to-basics approach also gives tourists hands-on experience tending the villagers' organic farms.

Read the full story: Tourists step off the beaten path to experience Peru's culture

Farm work as vacation

The New York Times reports on a growing niche vacation market of so-called agritourism. City folks who want to know where their food comes from can pay over $100 a night to be farm hands. Certain participating farms will deduct a small amount for each hour of "farming" performed.

Read the full story: Down on the farm with your sleeves rolled up