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Zen on the farm

Among the countless changes we have witnessed since the COVID pandemic, one major one is the increased concern for health and wellness. Agritourism venues have significantly benefitted in this aspect as they have been perceived by the general public as safer options by their very nature of being outdoors. This has resulted in many of our clients reporting surging attendance post-2020, often as much as doubling their revenues.

However, consumers' interest in healthy living went far beyond the frequent handwashing and taking of vitamins. The isolation imposed by the pandemic also gave rise to an increased interest in our emotional health and well-being. According to Google, the search frequency for the term "self-care" quadrupled between 2019 and 2024.

Agritourism venues can take advantage of this increased interest in holistic health and wellness by including wellness-focused activities in their programming. Here are a couple of ideas.

Yoga (with or without goats)

The experience of practicing yoga in the fresh air, feeling the earth beneath your feet, and listening to the sounds of nature adds depth to the practice that many would pay good money for. How about a Sunday morning sunrise yoga class hours before your typical agritourism customers arrive? Maybe finish with fresh produce or homemade baked goods from your farm.

Or you can opt for a slightly less relaxing but equally unique experience by adding in the cute factor of goats. The synergy of animals, nature, and yoga is a tough act to beat. And there are countless photo opportunities which make excellent advertising.

Don't do yoga, much less teach it? No problem. Reach out to local studios, and you will likely find a teacher happy to work with you. But if you choose to include goats in your yoga practice, make sure to buy some cheap yoga mats for your guests because the goats will be trying to eat them!

Other guided practices mix well with a farm environment: guided meditations, forest bathing, and sound healing (a type of meditation using chimes and gongs) are all very popular with the wellness crowd.

If all of this seems a bit too "New Age" for you, don't worry. The good news is that there are many more conventional activities, some you may already be offering, that promote health and well-being. Below are some activities that dovetail nicely with wellness-focused programming.

• Cooking classes with an emphasis on healthy, fresh foods.
• Medicinal herbs classes to identify herbs and their health benefits.
• Guided hikes - Take it slow with stops to appreciate the natural beauty or be more vigorous for a healthy workout.
• Farm dinners - What is better for your physical and mental health than a nutritious meal in the fresh air?
• For farms offering overnight stays, consider offering a retreat with several options. A sample itinerary could include:
• Morning yoga
• Afternoon class on cooking
• A guided hike at twilight
• Fresh local cuisine

Almost any farm activity can be considered a wellness experience. Our company has written several articles on the positive effects of nature on our health and well-being, especially in children. According to a study from Korea, just the act of visiting an agritourism site has a mood-elevating effect.

Whether you add new wellness-based programming to your agritourism business or just emphasize the healthful benefits of your current offerings, we hope you find some of these insights helpful.

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