Nova Scotia stretches 500 kilometres on a southwest-northeast axis from Cape Sable to Cape North, the shape of the province is often compared to that native delicacy, the lobster, with Cape Breton Island representing the outstretched claws, preparing to nip unsuspecting Newfoundland across the Cabot Strait.
The coastline of the uplands region is deeply indented, forming many good harbours, some of which are considered outstanding. Hundreds of islands dot the landscape along the entire Atlantic coast, most notably at St. Margarets Bay and Mahone Bay. Reefs and shoals abound, accounting for the many lighthouses erected along this coast. In many ways the Atlantic uplands coast epitomizes the North Atlantic coastline with its bare granite sheets plunging headlong into the raging surf to produce an awesome cataclysm between land and sea. When people think of Nova Scotia, they usually envisage the rocky granite shores of the uplands. Stop Thinking like a Farmer
Put the crops, the weather and your equipment out of your mind for a few minutes. Don’t linger to hear the latest radio reports on prices or the changes of the marketing board. Farming is a business but think about the tourists, the guests. They are looking for a new experience. They want to see how farmers live and grow their own food. Freshness and environmental issues are important to your visitor. Agri-tourism gives farmers an opportunity to offer accurate and current information to those individuals who are completely removed from agriculture. Some of those individuals may be children who benefit from educational experiences on farms.
“While our farm has always been open to host groups from OMAFRA and various associations, our school tour program began 5 years ago. Having been extensively involved in a number of Agriculture in the Classroom events and activities locally and provincially, I was aware of the interest that teachers, students and other groups had in being acquainted with a real working farm. We felt our operation offered numerous opportunities for children to be involved in an educational experience.
From the beginning, we designed a program that was educational in nature. As taxpayers and parents, we often questioned the validity of some of the field trips our children experienced. Therefore, we wanted our program give a true picture of the present agriculture and yet be a meaningful experience that hopefully might plant some seeds of understanding in the minds of our future citizens.
Being a real working farm, we continued to stress that the daily operations of the farm must happen. Animals must be fed and cared for, planting or harvesting cannot be interrupted. However, the safety of our visitors is vital. Precautions are taking to ensure a safe visit and experience”. Diane O’Shea, O’Shea Farms.
Analyze your strength and weaknesses to discover what your farm has to offer potential visitors. Do you own a portion of a Precambrian Forest or raise angora goats? Do you grow pumpkins? Have you thought about a pumpkin festival or Halloween events that would be successful in your area? It is vital that you take inventory of what your particular property and area have to offer guests. What you take for granted might be very exciting to your urban neighbors.
It is important to inform your visitors about what you have to offer on your property. While you take your guests on a tour of your property, explain modern farming concepts and how it affects their lives in the city.
“It’s tough to climb the ladder of success, especially if you’re trying to keep your nose to the grindstone, your shoulder to the wheel, your eye on the ball and your ear to the ground.” – Author Unknown