December 6, 2024
As snow blankets the Vermont landscape, the seed catalogs have begun to arrive, signaling the start of a new season. Locals and tourists alike are flocking to Christmas tree farms and booking sleigh rides, eagerly embracing the winter spirit. If you’re new to agritourism, you might be wondering what your options are for this season. Why not create cozy, festive experiences on your beautiful farm?
Take a moment to assess your farm's natural landscape—there may be more opportunities than you think. Do you have trails through your sugarbush? Are you located near the VAST or Catamount Trails? Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
Outdoor Activities:
- Snowshoeing or Nordic Skiing: Share your trails with visitors looking for a winter adventure.
- Sledding Hill: Clear a parking spot near your best sledding hill and invite guests to enjoy the fun.
- Fat Bike Trails: Groom some trails for fat biking, a popular winter activity.
- Backcountry Skiing: Mark out a ski trail on a hillside that’s too steep for other uses.
- Winter Break Camp: Offer a farm camp for kids to learn about farm chores during winter break.
- Farm Stays: Winterize the cabin on your back forty and offer cozy farm stays.
- Dairy Barn Tours: Give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at your dairy barn, with hands-on activities for kids.
Indoor Activities:
- Workshops: Host workshops on wreath making, seed saving, canning, or crafting baskets from local materials.
- Cooking Classes: Teach cooking classes using your farm’s products, from vegetables to meats and dairy.
- Holiday Sale: Open your farm store for a one-day Holiday Sale to showcase local products and handmade goods.
- Knitting Classes: Offer knitting workshops using local yarns and other fiber arts.
Key Considerations:
Whatever you decide to offer this winter, be sure to inform your insurance provider and post your Act 31 signs. And remember to charge for access to your land! You can sell season passes to your trails on your website or display signs with your Venmo info, encouraging donations. Your neighbors and the community will want to support their hardworking local farmers.
To maximize event income, don’t forget to offer your farm products for sale alongside seasonal beverages like hot cocoa and coffee. Use social media to heavily promote your events, making sure to connect with your audience frequently.
Winter is the perfect time to take stock of what you have to offer and start planning fun activities that will delight your community all season long.
Thank you for reading the Marketing & Agritourism Blog! I’m your host, Selina Rooney, Marketing & Agritourism Specialist at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. I am a farmer in Morristown, VT and have been expanding and experimenting with agritourism activities on our farm. Stay tuned every month for tips on marketing and incorporating agritourism practices on your farm and be sure to sign up for the Vermont Ag Bulletin so you never miss a post!