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

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

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

Organic farms offer back to basics vacation

The Christian Science Monitor reports on the quietly growing trend of volunteering on small organic farms in return for room and board.

The World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or WWOOF is a global organic farm network, where you can become a member for a small sign-up fee and have access to volunteer opportunities wherever you and the farm you choose sees fit.

CSM contributor Emily Badger shares her experience as a novice WWOOFer in the french countryside:

"I’ve never been particularly organic, and I had a vague sense that my best qualification for this job was that I like to do yoga, which is something organic people seem to like, too. The movement, though, doesn’t draw the bulk of its WWOOFers from farmers hoping to bring new organic techniques back to their own backyard polytunnels. Rather, the idea appeals to the adventurer, the wandering soul, the liberal who wants to do more than pay for carbon offsets. I felt a little of all that."

Read the full story: WWOOFing in Normandy