farm tour companies

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Well known within the UK as a provider of quality agricultural tours, we have extensive experience of providing agriculturally related travel services for travel organisations from around the world.

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"One Good Idea!" Is All It Takes

Trump tours has been welcoming farm groups to the us since 1999.

Our experience, responsiveness, and professionalism are the key ingredients to detailed and well organized tours, which result in your successful agriculture tour. Your customers will be satisfied because they are in good hands. Our tour directors and excellent drivers create a once in a lifetime experience for your clients. In the US, not only can you meet the top companies in agriculture like John Deere, CASE IH, and Monsanto, you can learn about high tech innovations and state of the art equipment and technologies revolutionizing farm management. For More Information: [email protected]

Sample Itineraries

• Farm Progress Show
• Corn & Soybean
• Rice Study Tour
• Wheat Study Tour
• Beef Cattle
• Dairy Cattle
• Swine Study Tour
• Vegetable Study Tour
• Fruit Study Tour

Top Reasons To Send Your Groups to the US

The US is a trendsetter with top research universities, world class agriculture companies, and top agriculture trade shows!

The US is one of the most progressive countries in the world. If people around the world think high-tech, they think USA. Farmers come here to learn.

The US is a safe country to travel in with efficient transportation, and is easy to get to and from.

Great quality, spacious hotels, welcoming people and peace of mind makes the US a great destination that is easy to sell!

Reasons To Work With Trump Tours

Working with Trump Tours is easy - knowledgeable staff, fast responses, and quick turnaround on proposals.

We organize agricultural tours in the entire US. Trump Tours is centrally located in the middle of the United States.

Trump Tours has an international team that can relate to the needs of international visitors. Your customers will be in good hands!

We organize excellent farm visits and make you look good!

Trump Tours has been welcoming farm groups to the US since 1999. Have your group’s tour organized by professional tour operators with agricultural expertise! OUTSTANDING AGRICULTURAL TOURS WORLDWIDE Agricultural tours, conferences, ag study tours, fact finding missions, technical programs, agritravel professionally organized worldwide. Trump Tours, based in the United States, is a creative and engaged company that focuses on the unique and specialized needs for Agricultural group tours.

Trump Tours is a US based company specializing in agricultural tours. We take pride in our personal service and customized itineraries. Established in 1999, we have 25 years of experience in providing quality study tours and educational focused tours worldwide. Trump Tours has no association to the Donald Trump Organization. Copyright 2023. Trump Tours Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Tour Our Farm

Whether you’re planning a family outing or a hands-on class field trip, Rosa Brothers Milk Company offers exciting farm tours that kids and grown-ups will enjoy!

BY RESERVATION ONLY Tours are seasonal (April through October).

$8 PER PERSON Free for children 2 years and under.

559-582-2209 10090 2nd Ave. Hanford, CA 93230 [email protected]

See for yourself

You can tour the dairy where the milk is produced. You can watch the milk going into the bottle at the creamery. You know exactly where every bottle comes from. Our milk is never “pooled” with other farms, requiring additional processing to make the milk uniform. Rest assured we do not use rBST (bovine growth hormone) to treat our cows. Our attention to detail on the farm and at the creamery results in a better-tasting, longer-lasting milk in your refrigerator. And we’re committed to producing only the highest quality products. That means only the best ingredients go into our products — like real cane sugar!

Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to the tour, what should we expect to see.

Our one of a kind Visitor’s Center, where you will be introduced to our family and the world of milk production. You will then take an adventure around the farm in our Moo-Mobile (tour bus) and see the sights and sounds of a working dairy farm. Upon return to the Visitor’s Center, you will be welcomed to the barnyard. Here, you will have the opportunity to view a live calf and complete a cow-milking contest using Rosie, our simulated cow. Before you depart, you will want to take photos with our barnyard props and sample our delicious dairy products!

What should we wear?

We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes for the tour.

How long is the Tour?

The tour is approximately 1 hour long.

Are there restrooms available?

Yes, we have portable bathrooms available that are handicap accessible.

Are there Souvenirs Available for Purchase?

Yes, our Visitor’s Center will be stocked with t-shirts, hats, and other farm related collectibles. However, milk and ice cream are not sold at the farm.

This peachy goodness is a dreamy taste of summer in a cup to be enjoyed year round. The folks at Rosa Brothers start with fresh sweet cream to craft their mouth-watering vanilla ice cream. Then, as it is freezing, just enough diced peaches are added to make every bite taste like peachy-sweet heaven.

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Peaches, Water, Contains 2% or less of: Rice Starch, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Ascorbic Acid, Guar Gum, Annatto Extract (Color), Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

Contains Milk.

Processed in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat and soy.

Single 12 Oz.

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Cornstarch, Caramel Color, Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan, Vanillin (An Artificial Flavor), Vitamin D3.

CONTAINS MILK

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Corn Starch, Carrageenan, Yellow 6, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Corn Starch, Carrageenan, FD&C Yellow 6, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Cornstarch, Carrageenan, Yellow 5, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Cornstarch, Carrageenan, FD&C, Yellow 5, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients: Whole milk, Cream.

INGREDIENTS: Cream, Skim Milk

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Cornstarch, Salt, Carrageenan, Vanilla, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients : Reduced Fat Milk, Nonfat Dry Milk, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients : Skim Milk, Nonfat Dry Milk, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients: Skim Milk, Nonfat Dry Milk, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.

Ingredients : HALF & HALF (MILK, CREAM), CANE SUGAR, NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR.

Ingredients : INGREDIENTS: HALF & HALF (MILK, CREAM), CANE SUGAR, HAZELNUT FLAVOR (SUGAR, WATER, SALT, CORN STARCH, NATURAL FLAVOR [CONTAINS HAZELNUTS]).

Ingredients : HALF & HALF (MILK, CREAM), CANE SUGAR, CARAMEL FLAVOR (WATER, SUGAR, CORN STARCH, NATURAL FLAVOR, CARAMEL COLOR, SALT), SALT.

Half Gallon

Ingredients : Whole Milk,  Vitamin D3.

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cream, Cane Sugar, Water, Egg Yolks, Natural Flavor, Nutmeg, Annatto (color), Citric Acid, Turmeric (color), Ginger, Guar Gum, Mono Diglycerides, Carrageenan

ALLERGENS: EGG, MILK

Ingredients:

Nonfat Milk, Cane Sugar, Water, Contains 2% or Less of: Rice Starch, Cinnamon, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Gellan Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.

Contains Milk

  Processed in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat and soy.

Nonfat Milk, Cane Sugar, Water, Contains 2% or less of: Rice Starch, Cinnamon, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Gellan Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.

Contains milk.  Processed in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat and soy.

Ingredients:  Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Contains 2% or less of Natural Flavors, Beet Powder (Color), Carrageenan, Beta Carotene (Color), Vitamin D3.

INGREDIENTS: HALF & HALF (MILK, CREAM), SUGAR, PUMPKIN BASE (SUGAR, PUMPKIN, WATER, ANNATTO [COLOR], CORN STARCH, CINNAMON, NATURAL FLAVOR, NUTMEG, GINGER, SALT, CLOVE), STABILIZER (GUAR GUM, MONO & DIGLYCERIDES, AND CARRAGEENAN, STANDARDIZED WITH DEXTROSE).

INGREDIENTS: HALF & HALF (MILK, CREAM), SUGAR, PEPPERMINT BASE (CANE SUGAR, WATER, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE [COLOR], NATURAL FLAVOR, PEPPERMINT OIL, GUAR GUM, SALT, CITRIC ACID), COCOA POWDER PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, STABILIZER (GUAR GUM, MONO & DIGLYCERIDES, AND CARRAGEENAN, STANDARDIZED WITH DEXTROSE).

Rich, fresh cream straight from the Rosa Brothers Milk Company cows, combined with smooth milk chocolate chips that melt away in your mouth. These chocolate chips are premium grade and your friends at Rosa Brothers add a plethora to each batch, so you’re never short on chocolate!

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Chocolate Flavored Chips (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

Allergens : Milk, Soy, Coconut

Your friends over at Rosa Brothers Milk Company promise this pint is chock-full of chocolate pleasure. Only fresh dairy milk and cream from our own farm is allowed in this chocolatey pint. Top quality cocoa and other supreme quality ingredients are added to make this chocolate treasure especially for you!

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkali, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Salt.

Allergens : Milk.

Filled with the finest cookie ice cream on Earth, this pint will bring happiness to anyone with a spoon. Starting with fresh sweet cream to make mouth-watering vanilla ice cream, then as it freezes, we add just enough top brand cookies to give every bite a magnificent cookie flavor. Finally, as it leaves the freezer, chunks of cookies are added to ensure hidden treasures, so get digging!

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Oreo Cookie (Enriched Flour [Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Sugar, Palm And/Or Canola Oil, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Baking Soda, Calcium Phosphate, Corn Starch, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Vanillin [An Artificial Flavor], Chocolate), Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

Allergens : Milk, Soy, Wheat

This Peppermint ‘N Chip Ice Cream is the perfect combination of ingredients that were just mint to be together! First, the Rosa Brothers blend fresh cream from their own cows to craft their artisan, all-natural ice cream. Then, sweet peppermint bits and delectable chocolate chips are sprinkled throughout to create a rich and frosty peppermint treat. So embrace your holiday cheer, and enjoy the chilly little things!

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Anhydrous Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Peppermint Flakes (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Radish [color], Coconut Oil, Peppermint Oil), Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Dextrose.

Allergens : Milk, Soy.

Enjoy some holiday cheer with the creamy combination of eggs and spices that we include in our famous Egg Nog, but in a flavorful super premium ice cream. This holiday favorite is sure to be a reason for cheer!

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Water, Egg Yolks, Contains 2% or Less of: Natural Flavor, Nutmeg, Annatto (color), Citric Acid, Turmeric (color), Ginger, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

Allergens : Milk, Eggs

As the mornings become brisk, the leaves begin falling and things slow a bit, everyone begins to reflect on the spring and summer gone by. We at Rosa Brothers begin churning super premium ice cream with rich pumpkin flavor and just the right amount of spice to compliment it to perfection. Combine these festive ingredients with rich fresh cream from Rosa Brothers’ farm and you have something special!

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Pumpkin, Water, Annatto (color), Corn Starch, Spices, Natural Flavors, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

This cool refreshing dream is comprised of a creamy, crisp mint and decadent chocolate to provide an awakening to the senses like no other. We make sure that every spoonful from this pint has the perfect amount of chocolate to melt in your mouth.

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Water, Natural Flavor, Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

We created a mind-blowing flavor sensation when we combined fresh, sweet cream, local California almonds, tropical coconut flakes, and sweet milk chocolate chips. All gently blended together to make you beg for another scoop!

Ingredients : Milk, Cream, Sugar, Chocolate Flavored Chips (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Milk Fat, Soy, Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Almonds,Coconut Flakes (Coconut, Sugar, Water, Propylene Glycol, Salt, Sodium Metabifulfite [Preservative]), Contains 2% or Less of: Natural Flavor, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Dexrose

Allergens : Almond, Coconut, Milk, Soy

This super premium pistachio ice cream is a smooth, creamy, and flavorful experience. Only real California Pistachios are allowed in this pint sized prize. This natural beauty needs no artificial green coloring to make it beautiful.

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Pistachios, Contains 2% or less of: Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Dextrose

Allergens : Milk, Pistachios

Orange cream, our most nostalgic ice cream offered. Inspired by the orange sherbet bars with vanilla in the middle you had as kid on hot summer days. Well, we have taken those flavors and made an ice cream flavor that will take you back to the good ol’ days and delight ice cream lovers of any age.

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Dextrose, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Yellow 6.

Allergens : Milk

This pint of joe combines our rich, creamy ice cream base, high quality roasted coffee, and milk chocolate chips to sweeten the pot. The result is a pure ice cream experience leaving coffee lovers begging for more.

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Milk Fat, Soy Lechithin, Natural Flavor), Coffee, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

This pint is simply full of passion. Our cows are passionate about producing the freshest and richest local ice cream around. They have teamed up with thousands of local bees that are passionate about making great-tasting honey and pollinating local almond trees. These local almond trees are passionate about providing the finest nuts in the world. Add it all up and you have an exquisite nut n’ honey ice cream that is loaded with passion.

Ingredients : Milk, Cream, Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Pure California Honey Almonds: Almonds, Vegetable Oil (Canola, Safflower, and/or Sunflower)

Allergens : Milk, Almonds

Rosa Brothers Milk Company prides itself on producing the creamiest, freshest banana ice cream in the world. Only fresh bananas are allowed creating an off white color to this pint and we never add artificial coloring to our super premium ice creams!

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Banana, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Natural Banana Flavor.

With the dense, rich Rosa Brothers super premium chocolate ice cream as the foundation, and real California almonds broken down into crunchy bits, blended together with real marshmallows, you’re sure to be delighted with the creamy, crunchy, and spongy textures in our Rocky Road.

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Almonds, Marshmallows (Corn Syrup, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Dextrose, Water, Gelatin, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate), Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkali, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Salt.

We present sweet, refined caramel blended with just the right amount of salt. This marriage between ingredients is sure to give you that sweet flavor that makes you long for another scoop.

Ingredients :  Cream, Milk, Organic Rice Syrup, Sugar, Water, Nonfat Dry Milk, Contains 2% or less of: Butter (Cream, Salt), Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Sodium Citrate, Soy Lecithin, Pectin, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

Allergens : Milk, Soy

This strawberry bliss is a combination of fresh cream straight from our own Rosa Brothers Milk Company cows, real strawberries, and sugar. The beautiful blush color you see in this pint is all natural — no artificial red coloring whatsoever.

Ingredients : Cream, Milk, Sugar, Strawberries, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Natural Flavors.

Some say this is the most delicious pint of ice cream you will ever hold. Fresh milk from the Rosa Brothers Milk Company cows goes into our deliciously sweet and creamy hand-made super premium ice cream. Good luck finding another ice cream on the planet made with such pride and attention to detail as this decadent creation from your friends over at Rosa Brothers.

Ingredients : Milk, Cream, Sugar, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

What you are holding in your hand is pure decadence. The folks at Rosa Brothers start with fresh sweet cream to craft their super-premium ice cream. Loads of rich chocolate chip cookie dough chunks are then folded in as the ice cream freezes. Lastly, the pièce de résistance… chocolate flakes are sprinkled throughout to create the perfectly sweet ice cream duo of Cookie Dough ’N Chip.

Ingredients : Cream, Whole Milk, Sugar, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Palm Oil, Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Water, Powdered Sugar [Sugar, Corn Starch], Molasses, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Baking Soda), Milk Chocolate Flakes (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Anhydrous Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Stabilizer (Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan).

Contains : Coconut, Milk, Soy, Wheat.

Ingredients : Whole Milk, Cane Sugar, Dextrose, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan, Caramel Color, Vitamin D3.

INGREDIENTS: Whole Milk, Lactase, Vitamin D3

CONTAINS MILK Processed in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat and soy.

Hog Island Oyster Farm

[email protected]

Classic Farm Tours: Thursdays + Saturdays at 9:30 am Whole Hog Tours: Tuesdays at 11:00 am

Available by reservation only, up to 30 days in advance.

Delve a little deeper with a tour experience at our farm. We offer different tour options depending on how deep into learning you want to go!

Option 1: whole hog experience.

• Immerse yourself in oyster farming with a tour, tasting, and master class in shucking. Explore our farm and learn how oysters are grown and farmed, the marine environment, and how we use sustainable aquaculture techniques to raise our shellfish. Learn to shuck oysters like a pro, take a deep dive into oyster tasting, and enjoy a light chef’s tasting at our outdoor cafe, The Boat Oyster Bar.
• These tours last aprx. 3 hours and include the tour, shucking master class, our favorite shucking tools to take home, oyster tasting, and a light tasting menu with a selection of oysters, raw and bbq’d, and a chef’s choice local cheese board at The Boat Oyster Bar. Beverages available for additional purchase.
• Whole Hog tours are available by reservation only on Tuesdays at 11 AM . ALL TOURS ARE BOOKABLE UP TO 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
• Cost: $180 per person (includes a 20% gratuity for your tour staff), children under 12 are $50 each.

Book Whole Hog Experience

Option 2: THE CLASSIC FARM TOUR

• Visit our farm in Marshall for our Classic Farm Tour and learn all about oysters, how we farm them, the marine environment in which they grow, and how to shuck and taste an oyster. After your tour is done, we encourage you to join us for lunch at The Boat Oyster Bar or down the road at our restaurant Tony’s Seafood . Reservations are required for the Boat and recommended at Tony’s!
• Classic Farm Tours are available by reservation only on Thursdays and Saturdays at 9:30 AM . ALL TOURS ARE BOOKABLE UP TO 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
• These tours last aprx. and hour and 15 mins and do not include lunch.
• Cost: $48 (includes a 20% gratuity for your tour staff), children under 12 are free (with a paying adult.)

Book Classic Farm Tour

EDUCATIONAL TOURS

• Hog Island places huge value on education and hands-on learning. If you would like to bring a school group or non-profit out to our farm, we would love to host you! Click here to fill out an inquiry about an educational tour and someone from our team will get back to you soon.

CORPORATE & PRIVATE EVENTS

• Hosting a work outing or a corporate event? We have options for private tours as well, that include all of the perks of The Whole Hog experience for your team. Please contact events@hogislandoysters for more information and pricing.

Our farm tours are located in Marshall, CA at our farm on Tomales Bay. Please note, farm tours are land-based. We do not offer boat tours.

20215 Shoreline Hwy, Marshall, CA 94940 [email protected]

Restaurants

Hog Newsletter

Hog Island® and Hog Island Oyster Co.® are registered trademarks of Hog Island Oyster Company.

FOR ARTISANS

      FOR TOUR SITES           FOR ARTISANS         RESOURCES

JOIN US FOR THE 2024 TOUR!

CHECK EACH COUNTY PAGE FOR TOUR LISTINGS

The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is a free , self-guided tour of farms and markets that feature local artisans at every stop! During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to see first-hand where their food comes from, watch artists in action and purchase their works, enjoy the melodies of local musicians, and learn more about rural life. The tour is the largest free farm and art tour in the nation with over 85,000 visitors participating since 2012.

2024 TOUR SCHEDULE

Saturday 9am-4pm    |    Sunday 9am-4pm

McCormick County

Abbeville County

Aiken County

Lancaster County

Sumter County

Bamberg County

Colleton County

Newberry County

Pickens County

Allendale County

Clarendon County

Kershaw County

Barnwell County

Berkeley County

Richland County

York County

Fairfield County

Lexington County

Chester County

Laurens County

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR?

To keep the tour free to the public, the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is funded through grants and other sponsorships. As a sponsor, you will be able to share your organization with tour participants while supporting area farmers and artisans.

HOW TO ENJOY THE TOUR

• Pick a weekend (or several) and plan your tour by exploring the 'Participating Counties' menu item to see what farms, markets and artisans will be featured in each county. With many counties to discover and spread over multiple weekends, there is sure to be something for everyone!
• Choose tour sites to visit , being aware that you might not be able to see everything in one day.
• Load up your car with your friends and family and begin your tour! You can start at any tour site and remember there is no admission! Bring a cooler and pick up some fresh veggies, let your kids enjoy a hay-ride and barnyard animals, watch artists in action, and enjoy a day in the country!
• Visit our Ag + Art Tour check-in table at every tour stop to sign-in. You will need to sign-in at each tour site you visit. Don't forget to use #agandarttour in all of your social media check-ins!
• Stay in touch and support local! Use this tour as your year-long guide to find locally grown food and handmade items throughout South Carolina.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH US #agandarttour

Thank you to our sponsors!

Slide title

Our Participating Counties:  Abbeville County , Aiken County , Allendale County , Bamberg County , Barnwell County , Berkeley County , Chester County , Clarendon County , Colleton County , Fairfield County , Kershaw County , Lancaster County , Laurens County , Lexington County , McCormick County , Newberry County , Pickens County , Richland County , Sumter County and York County .

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

SC Ag + Art Tour,

Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service.  All Rights Reserved.

Site design by Strong Bird Designs, LLC.

Tour Our Farm

"Lowcountry Oyster Farm Experience" Tour with May River Excursions

May River Excursions offers a rare opportunity for you to get up close and personal with May River Oyster Company's farm.

This 1.5 hour tour takes you on a trip down the majestic May River where you will learn about the ecosystem of the salt water marsh where the oyster plays a central role. You will experience the sites of the May River Oyster Company farm where thousands of oysters are being raised in an off bottom farming operation.

Oysters are at the heart of South Carolina Lowcountry’s history as a food source, livelihood and most importantly protection of our waterways. Through this adventure, you can engulf yourself in the sites and sounds of the life of an oyster man and enjoy a boat ride full of memorable moments, Call 843-304-2878 to make reservations or more information. 

Check out May River Excursions website for more info.

Enchanting Escapes in Northern Ireland’s Beauty!

A fter Travel Classics Ireland, we wandered on the Wild Atlantic Way and then went to explore Northern Ireland’s enchanting escapes-from Royal Residences to Enchanted Forests, Unveiling the Gems of Lough Erne Resort, Armagh Cider Company, Ballinteggart Farm, and More!

Welcome to the enchanting beauty of Northern Ireland, a land that beckons with its rich history, lush landscapes, and captivating experiences. In this mesmerizing realm, where past and present seamlessly intertwine, you will discover a tapestry of delights that span from majestic royal residences like Hillsborough Castle & Gardens to the charming allure of Armagh Cider Company and the serene charm of Ballinteggart Farm. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey as we explore the wonders of Lough Erne Resort, the majestic Slieve Donard Hotel, and the mystical Bike Mourne trails of Tollymore Forest Park. From the legendary realms of Game of Thrones to the iconic Guinness Storehouse Tour in Dublin and the stylish charm of The Grafton and The Davenport, Northern Ireland awaits with an abundance of enchanting escapes. Join us as we venture into this magical world where history, nature, and culture intertwine to create an experience like no other.

Where to STAY? Lough Erne Resort, Ireland

Lough Erne Resort is an awe-inspiring property nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. With its luxurious accommodations, world-class golf courses, and tranquil spa, it offers an unforgettable escape. Boasting stunning lake views, exceptional dining options, and impeccable service, it’s the perfect haven for discerning travelers. Additionally, younger guests can embark on a magical adventure through the resort’s captivating enchanted forest walk. This immersive experience combines the beauty of nature with whimsical sculptures and interactive elements, creating a truly enchanting experience for kids. From exploring the wooded areas to discovering hidden surprises, Lough Erne Resort ensures that guests of all ages create lifelong memories in this extraordinary setting.

I enjoyed my stay Lough Erne Resort with stunning lake views and the enchanted forest walk. Amy and I stayed in a 2 bedroom tower which we LOVED! AND!! we saw baby sheep near the golf course.

Dining at Lough Erne Resort is a culinary journey that delights the senses. The resort offers a range of exceptional dining options, each providing a unique and unforgettable experience. From fine dining at the award-winning Catalina Restaurant, where guests can savor innovative and exquisite dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients, to the cozy and relaxed atmosphere of The Blaney Bar, serving up delicious pub-style fare, there is something to satisfy every palate. With impeccable service, breathtaking views, and a commitment to culinary excellence, dinner at Lough Erne Resort is a true gastronomic delight.

My morning stroll at Lough Erne

These photos are from my morning walk across Reeds Bridge before breakfast. I also loved our walk around the water! Thank you to the entire team and my group for a wonderful time!! I felt like a story book princess like Rapunzel in my second story bedroom in the turret tower!! Thank you!!

We experienced the serene beauty of Erne’s waterways on our all-electric slow boat tour , Island Discovery. Glide through the picturesque landscapes, enjoying the peaceful ambiance while minimizing your carbon footprint. Discover hidden gems and unwind as our eco-friendly water taxi offers a unique, sustainable way to explore Erne’s enchanting surroundings. We loved seeing the sights, the swans and tasting the specialty cocktails!

Armagh Cider Company and Ballinteggart Farm Ireland

Welcome to Ballinteggart Farm , a haven of apple enchantment. Stroll through the picturesque orchards, where vibrant apple trees bear the fruits of nature’s labor. I loved being at Armagh Cider Company!! I love APPLES! Taste the juicy apples straight from the branches, savoring their crispness and sweetness. We also ate delightful apple tarts lovingly crafted from the freshest harvest made with Armagh Bramley Apples PGI. Ballinteggart Stud is well-known for breeding Irish horses and ponies! They also have sparkling waters in many flavors and make Honeyhill Rosettes! You can stroll through the Heritage Trees which are registered with the Woodland Trust. WE LOVED OUR VISIT and cannot wait until Philip and Helen have a B&B so we can stay overnight! The Troughtons have been growing apples in Co Armagh for 5 generations since 1898. They produce an amazing 34 apple varieties from the 80-acre ancient plantation. My favorite dessert of the entire trip was the apple pie made from their apples!

Northern Ireland’s royal residence: Hillsborough Castle & Gardens

Explore Northern Ireland’s royal residence , Hillsborough Castle, where worlds and minds meet. Relax in 100 acres of picturesque gardens, explore the State Rooms still used today. Embark on a captivating tour of Royal Hillsborough Castle and its exquisite gardens. Marvel at the vibrant floral displays, tranquil lakes, and enchanting woodlands. Knowledgeable guides will reveal the castle’s fascinating history and incredible artwork. Explore hidden corners and meandering pathways, immersing yourself in the castle’s rich tapestry of stories. Discover the harmonious blend of nature and heritage that makes Royal Hillsborough Castle’s gardens truly extraordinary.

Where to STAY? Slieve Donard Hotel, Ireland

Discover the rich history and unforgettable experience of Slieve Donard Hotel . Since 1898, this iconic destination has welcomed discerning travelers seeking timeless elegance. Set against the majestic Mourne Mountains, it offers luxurious accommodations, breathtaking views, and a tranquil ambiance. Immerse yourself in its grandeur, relax in the spa, and explore the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Slieve Donard Hotel is a place where history and comfort intertwine, creating a truly remarkable retreat. AND! Step behind the scenes of The Seven Kingdoms at the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour Package includes overnight accommodation at Slieve Donard!

Enchanted Exploring with Bike Mourne: Tollymore Forest Park, Game of Thrones and Bloody Bridge

Thank you to Bike Mourne ! I had the most beautiful day in County Down, Northern Ireland. Some of my group went by e-bike while I had a walking and photo tour. I loved the rock sculpture, walking trails and coastal beauty near Bloody Bridge which gets its name from the Irish Rebellion of 1641. I took photos at Barbican Gate in the enchanting Tollymore Forest Park, at the foot of the majestic Mourne Mountains. It has been featured in movies and TV shows like “Game of Thrones.” The picturesque landscapes and biking and walking trails take you by the park’s ancient trees, bridges, and cascading waterfalls.

I loved taking photos at Barbican Gate in the enchanting Tollymore Forest Park, at the foot of the majestic Mourne Mountains. It has been featured in movies and TV shows like “Game of Thrones.” The picturesque landscapes and biking and walking trails take you by the park’s ancient trees, bridges, and cascading waterfalls. Thank you to Team Bike Mourne!

While hula hooping my way through the enchanting landscapes of Ireland, I added a playful twist to my adventures from Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland to Dublin. From twirling amidst the stunning mountains of Slieve Donard to dancing along the vibrant streets of Dublin, hula hooping infused my journey with joy and rhythm, creating unforgettable memories in both natural and urban settings.

On May 1, 2023, we celebrated Percy French’s 169th birthday at Slieve Donard’s Percy French restaurant which was one of my most favorite lunches! Amy and I hula hooped as a tribute to the renowned Irish songwriter and painter. and there is a Game of Thrones DOOR!

The Guinness Storehouse Tour in Dublin, Ireland

The Guinness Storehouse tour is a captivating journey through the rich history of Ireland’s most famous #beer. From the brewing process to iconic advertising campaigns, visitors immerse themselves in the brand’s legacy. The panoramic Gravity Bar offers breathtaking views of Dublin while enjoying a perfectly poured pint.

Where to stay in DUBLIN? The Grafton

The Grafton Dublin is a unique and memorable hotel in the heart of Dublin’s city center. Housed in a historic building on Grafton Street, it offers stylish accommodation with modern amenities. Centrally located near Trinity College and Dublin Castle. I recommend it for comfort, convenience, and charm.

Dublin’s Dazzling Delights: Unveiling the City’s Charms and Cultural Gems!

Where to STAY in Dublin? The Davenport

Davenport Hotel Dublin : Timeless Elegance in the Heart of the City. Immerse yourself in the rich history and impeccable service of this luxurious gem. Stylish accommodations, delectable dining, and easy access to Dublin’s iconic attractions await, making the Davenport Hotel the epitome of hospitality.

Exploring Dublin’s Enchanting Bookstores. At Hodges Figgis , Ireland’s oldest bookshop serving Dublin and the wider world since 1768, I found two of my favorite authors— Lisa Barr and Elizabeth Gilbert! Books help us understand ourselves. Immerse yourself in a timeless tale and discover a treasure.

Saba Dublin : Embark on a Flavorful Journey to Thailand, Right in the Heart of Dublin. Indulge in Authentic Thai Cuisine, Where Vibrant Flavors, Fresh Ingredients, and Exquisite Culinary Craftsmanship Await. The FOOD is EXCELLENT and the signs made me LAUGH! I loved it all so much I forgot to take PHOTOS of the dishes. I have to go back!

What an absolutely remarkable and awe-inspiring journey in Ireland! From the heart-pounding adventures of skeet shooting and falconry to exploring the captivating landscapes of the North, this trip had so many highlights especially my travel partners! As I board my AerLingus flight home, I am filled with immense gratitude for the opportunity to attend the Travel Classics Magazine conference and learn so much. I LOVED seeing more of Ireland and my return to Ashford Castle.

See all my posts about Ireland and my videos:

Thank you to Ashford Castle, Travel Classics Ireland and Tourism Ireland for my amazing adventures!

Enjoy more of my travels in Ireland

• Travel Classics Ireland 2023 Conference at Ashford Castle
• Unforgettable Ashford Castle for the Travel Classics Ireland Conference 2023
• Wild Atlantic Way Adventures
• Northern Ireland
• Interview with Nina Ruggiero , Travel and Leisure Digital Editoral Director
• Interview with Ambassador Bryne Nason
• Travel Classics Ireland 2017
• Dublin Adventures 2015
• VIDEOS : from 2023 Conference and tour, from 2017 Travel Classics Conference and and my St. Patrick’s Day adventures in Dublin 2015

Read more of my Adventures in Ireland in my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty !

The post Enchanting Escapes in Northern Ireland’s Beauty! appeared first on We Said Go Travel .

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Oxmoor Bourbon Co. Launches Tour & Tasting Experience at Kentucky’s Historic 18th Century Oxmoor Farm

• Posted on May 18, 2024
• By Distillery Trail

Oxmoor Farm is Louisville , Kentucky’s oldest continuously working farm. Oxmoor Farm began as a 1000+ acre farm in 1787 and has been home to five generations of the Bullitt family. In addition to the historic farm, it is also now home to Oxmoor Bourbon Company , a new brand of Kentucky bourbon sourced from various Kentucky distilleries and then blended and bottled under the palette of General Manager Rosser Lomax.

Today, Oxmoor Farm sits on 79.32 acres on a preservation easement with Kentucky Heritage Council which is the part of the property that the historic structures are located. In addition, there are 260 undeveloped acres around the preservation easement, most of which is still farmland where corn, soybean and wheat are cultivated.

Beginning in June 2024 the 227-year-old property will open its doors to a new chapter in bourbon history. Oxmoor Bourbon Co. will begin offering a first-of-its-kind Bourbon-focused historical tour and tasting experience that honors the Bullitt family’s incomparable influence on America’s only native spirit, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

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Oxmoor Bourbon Co. tastings will take place in the 60’ by 28’ library that is home to some 10,000 books. One of the largest private collections in the U.S. When touring, you’ll soon discover this is a truly magical room. As Stacey Yates CMO of Louisville Tourism put it in the video below, “I can’t imagine a more beautiful place… this is gorgeous… I feel like Belle in Beauty and the Beast when visiting here.”

Oxmoor Farm was approved for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. When visiting the estate, guests are greeted with a driveway lined with ancient locust trees. The property includes an 18th century log cabin that dates back to the earliest Bullitt ancestors who are also buried on the property. The entire mansion is covered by a slate roof.

5 Generations of Bullitt Family Legacy

“The family and team behind Oxmoor is passionate about sharing the legacy of Oxmoor Farm with visitors from across the globe,” said Nora “Tooey” Leake Cameron, a descendent of the Bullitt family. “I’m thrilled to see the continuation of my family’s legacy and excited to honor the rich history of Bourbon and the Bullitt passion for welcoming guests to our home to enjoy our native spirit.”

Oxmoor Farm has long been renowned for its historical estate tours and is now proud to offer a unique new experience that explores the Bullitt family’s significant role in Bourbon history. Tours of Oxmoor Farm are paired with a unique Bourbon tasting experience unlike any other in Kentucky. Guests will see the original section of the family home, built in 1791, and then journey through the various additions made over the years, concluding in the final section, completed in 1928, which features the family’s incredible 10,000 book library.

Along the way, guests will enjoy a multitude of sensory experiences, including a sampling of a historically specific specialty cocktails that the family would’ve served their honored guests throughout the years.

“It has been an honor to cultivate and preserve the history of Oxmoor Farm and I’m so excited to share what we’ve learned with our guests,” said Shirley Harmon, Curator and Historian at Oxmoor Farm.

“For years, we’ve taken pride in our historical tours, demonstrating the significance of the history that sits quietly in Louisville’s own backyard. This unique new experience is not a brand-focused Bourbon or distillery tour like you’ll find elsewhere in Kentucky, this is a walk through the history of Bourbon and the events that made the spirit what it is today.”

The fourth generation of the Bullitt family famously produced Oxmoor Kentucky Whiskey, one of the last Kentucky Bourbons made legally in the United States before Prohibition took effect in 1920. It was crafted from a select batch of fine-aged stock barrels for the family’s private collection. This spirit is meant to be shared, as the family had traditionally done with their Private Stock releases for so many years, offering a rare opportunity to take a sip of history and honor the legacy of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Oxmoor Farm.

“Bourbon is a pillar of Kentucky culture, and we owe much of it to the work of one family of legal scholars over nearly three centuries of history.” said Tim Knittel, Adjunct Professor of Bourbon Studies at Midway University.

“We’ve dedicated so much thoughtful time and energy to reviving this amazing product and to honoring Oxmoor Farm’s unique place in the history of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. With it, we’re confident that Bourbon lovers, history buffs, and tourists alike can step into the past, enjoy a fine Kentucky Bourbon, and get a sense for what life was like at the birth of Kentucky’s signature industry.”

Defining and Defending Bourbon

The U.S. has been fine tuning the definition for bourbon and whiskey nearly as long as the country has existing. In the late 19th century and the early 20th century, Bullitt family legal scholars helped craft many of the foundational pieces that define Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This includes their work in the formation of the Kentucky Distillers Association (1880), the Distillers & Cattle Feeders (1887) which would later become the Kentucky Distilleries & Warehousing Co. (1895) and finally the Kentucky Whiskey Interest (1899) plus the adoption of the Bottled-in-Bond Act (1897), the Pure Food & Drug Act (1906), and the Taft Decision (1909).

Related Stories What is Whisky? The Taft Decision of 1909 What is Bottled in Bond? Bottled in Bond Act Signed Into Law March 3, 1897 – The Law Explained by Fred & Bernie [Video] How Whiskey Labels Earn Their Eagle Scout Badges [Infographic] Bourbon: More American Than Apple Pie, Tobacco Spit & Rattlesnake Heads [Infographic]

Bourbon Release, Tastings and Tours Begin June 2024

Oxmoor Bourbon Company invites guests to enjoy a piece of that history at Oxmoor Farm with tours beginning in June 2024. After the tour and tasting guests my purchase bottles of Oxmoor Bourbon Company’s Private Stock Whiskey releases.

This latest Oxmoor Bourbon Release was sourced from two different distilleries. Lomax didn’t share the distillery names but did say it was a blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskies from Owensboro, Kentucky and Frankfort, Kentucky. This Vol. 3, First Edition, non-chill filtered, small batch barrel strength bourbon is bottled at 119 proof (59.5% ABV). It is only available at Oxmoor Farms after tours with a suggested retail price of $55.00. Additional purchase options are expected to be added at a later date.

Bullitt v. Bulleit – If you are a bourbon fan you may be wondering about this somewhat familiar name in American whiskey. Is the Oxmoor Farm Bullitt family related to Bulleit Frontier Whiskey? No. The Bullitt family and Bullet Frontier Whiskey are spelled different and are two completely different families.

Learn more about Oxmoor Bourbon Company . View all Louisville Distilleries . View all  Kentucky Distilleries . View all  U.S. Distilleries .

How and When Did ‘Oxmoor Farm’ Get its Name?

The Bullitt family named the estate back in 1787 about the time the property was purchased. According to Samuel W. Thomas’ 1989 paper, Oxmoor: The Bullitt House in Jefferson County, Kentucky , “When Alexander Scott Bullitt made his initial purchase of 1,200 acres adjoining A’Sturgus Station in 1787, according to the deed, it was already “commonly called and known by the name of Oxmoor.” In literary history, Oxmoor is the “fine, large, whinny, undrained, unimproved common, belonging to the Shandy-estate,” described by Laurence Sterne in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759-1767).”

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This Cannabis Farm Tour Shows First-Hand What Makes Jamaican Weed so Special

I t’s easy to find quality cannabis in Jamaica. That said, it’s also easy to be duped into buying subpar weed from one of the many hawkers targeting tourists in resort towns. Yet what connoisseurs and the general cannabis curious public can trust on first sight is a brand that opens the door to tourists and locals alike to see where it’s all grown.

Cannabis, despite the strong cultural ties, is not legal in Jamaica. There’s a medical cannabis system in Jamaica, however, and possession of small amounts was decriminalized in 2015.

On a recent trip to the island, I walked through Ocho Rios and met some entrepreneurial business owners with a side hustle of selling Jamaica’s most famous crop. Some were transparent about their product, others left the details a little hazy. All were more than happy to talk at length about Jamaican cannabis beyond the stereotypes. The next day, I took an even deeper dive into Jamaica’s cannabis culture by getting out to the countryside with Jacana to see a working cannabis farm.

Photo: Jacana

Jacana started in 2018. There are Jacana dispensaries in Ocho Rios, Kingston, and New Kingston, as well as more than 70 distribution partners that sell Jacana products. The brand exports medical cannabis to Europe, and in the United States, the CBD-based Jacana Wellness brand is available in parts of the country.

“We wanted to make a space where people can come in here and know that they can find something specific they’re looking for,” Jack Smith, who cofounded Jacana with his wife Alexandra Chong, said as we walked through the Ocho Rios dispensary. “But also a space for the curious to feel comfortable just walking in and learning more about what they want.”

Jacana’s Ocho Rios dispensary. Photo: Jacana

Chong grew up in Ocho Rios, and the couple put a strong emphasis on making Jacana a Jamaican company through and through. The Ocho Rios shop has reclaimed bricks from Kingston. On the packaging, “Product of Jamaica” sits right under the Jacana brand name.

Jacana cofounder Alexandra Chong. Photo: Jacana

“Internationally, there’s a race for who is going to become a cannabis destination,” Smith said. “One of the reasons why my wife and I started Jacana is because with the world opening up to cannabis, it would be a travesty if Jamaica got left behind. There’s Cali weed and Moroccan hash — we’re making sure that Jamaica has a spot on the international podium.”

That starts at home with letting tourists experience and learn about the country’s cannabis first-hand. The dispensaries are welcoming, and Jacana has limited-run partnerships for products with other local businesses, like Pure Chocolate Company next door to Jacana’s Ocho Rios location. On 4/20, Jacana held a cannabis festival in the center of the Island Village shopping area.

The best way to get a feel for what makes cannabis on the island so special, however, is to go out to Jacana’s farm.

Outdoor cannabis farming takes center stage

The driving force behind Jacana is the farm itself, and it’s open to visitors for local-led tours that go as deep on the plant as people are looking to go.

The $80 premium tour walks through the full cannabis life cycle highlighted on various areas of the farm, followed by a lunch, spliff rolling experience, and tour of Jacana’s dispensary in Ocho Rios. The $120 exclusive tour adds in a section on Jacana’s cannabis lab and manufacturing facility, while private tours (price on request) make for a more intimate exclusive tour experience.

The tours are about five hours long when accounting for transportation to and from the farm, with pick up and drop offs at and around Ocho Rios accommodations. It’s intimate with a maximum of 10 people on each tour, and everyone must be 18 years or older.

The 100-acre farm is in the mountains of St. Ann Parish, nestled in a wider 2,000 acre property. Jacana’s farm sits on what was once an organic farm, and it’s certified organic to this day. Chong met with three generations of the family who owns the wider property to pitch them on dedicating part of their farm to cannabis. It worked, and Jacana now has a 100 year lease on the 100 acres.

Cannabis grows on only a small part of the property. A nursery and a 10,000-square-foot processing facility that can handle everything from flower to extracts are on-site. The welcome center with a small shop is attached to a covered patio. There’s also a food and herb garden that’s tapped for worker meals and the tour lunch.

“We have our own testing facility, so we know what’s in it and what’s not” — Jack Smith

On the drive to the farm along a bumpy rural road, Smith wistfully talked about the importance of place. Terroir — a French word mostly used for wine that broadly means the environmental and cultural factors that make a certain region’s products unique — is near and dear to Jacana as a Jamaica-first brand.

Indoor cannabis is going to be similar no matter where it’s grown. Indoor cannabis from Jamaica won’t be all that different than that from one of the many legal areas of the United States where indoor cannabis is grown. There’s a time and a place for indoor cannabis, but presumably connoisseurs traveling to Jamaica wouldn’t want what they could get elsewhere, just like people who travel for food wouldn’t want to eat at an American fast food chain for every meal while they travel.

The debate over whether indoor or outdoor grown cannabis is superior is never ending. The science behind the differences is lacking, and strict cannabis laws have kept away most serious research. Ask a regular consumer, however, and there’s typically a preference. For some, the more dense flower and heavily controlled buds from indoor grows is preferred. Others, including myself, prefer things more natural. That’s where one can get a better sense of why location matters. Again, replicable, high-quality studies are lacking for any type of scientific proof. Yet it seems intuitive that conditions unique to a certain place produce location-specific cannabis.

Smith believes it’s not hard to imagine cannabis sold in a way similar to wine in the future, where ganja gets a Jamaican designation in the way that Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France. But for Jamaica’s product to stand out from the masses of indoor cannabis, it first must lean into the natural and cultural aspects that Jamaica provides. That means leaning into sun-grown plants on outdoor farms — and being transparent for those who want to see it themselves.

Experiencing a Jamaica cannabis farm with Jacana

The tours are customized to the level of knowledge the guests have, and tours can get as deep or as surface level as needed. Either way, it’s an experience you can’t easily find elsewhere.

A middle aged couple from North Carolina joined me on my tour. They were staying at a Sandals resort in Jamaica and had booked the tour through the resort as soon as they started planning their vacation.

Our guide, Khalil, started us at a small plot near the welcome center. Jacana is regulated and licensed by the government. As such, you can’t touch the plants that make it to dispensary shelves. At the entry plot, guests can walk among the plants, touch them, pick a leaf, and take all the pictures they want.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

Before we reached the main cannabis farm, we passed the vegetable and herb garden. Khalil walked us through rows of mint, rosemary, okra, papaya, Scotch bonnet peppers, and other plants. There are also medicinal herbs used in traditional Jamaican cooking and remedies like leaf of life, guinea hen weed, sour sop, and ram goat dashalong.

Then came the cannabis. What guests see on the farm tour depends on what’s growing at the time and what stage the plants are at. It takes about four months, depending on the strain, to go from young plant to harvest. Jacana has the space and capacity to do a harvest every two weeks and start new plants every two weeks. Other than a few internationally known strains that are always in high demand, Jacana grows an ever-changing set of plants that thrive in the Jamaican climate.

Khalil took us through the section for international distribution before reaching Jacana’s mother plants (those kept in a stage of life where clones can be cut to continue the same genetic line). A safe room nearby is used to protect these mother plants during hurricanes and inclement weather. An area for young plants still getting their roots leads to adolescents being acclimated under a greenhouse tarp. Next to one of the labs, a few rows of experimental varieties grow in a straight line.

Jacana’s commitment to sustainability touches every part of the tour. As an organic certified farm, natural methods of pest control replace harmful pesticides. Sunflowers at the entrance to the flowering area keep pollinators preoccupied, for example, and water comes from the nearby White River. Coconut husks naturally filter the soil and help prevent root rot.

“Outdoor, the plant gets to be itself,” Khalil said while pointing to two plots, each with a different strain, that have plants of the same age that have different visible characteristics. “Indoor, the focus is on THC potency.”

The walking works up an appetite. At the conclusion, there’s a farm-to-table lunch (either vegan or with meat) that uses ingredients from the Jacana garden. Curry chickpeas, rice and peas, barbecue chicken, and salad were on the menu when I visited.

After lunch, we moved one table over where Jacana-branded rolling trays, wrapping papers, a grinder, a lighter, and, of course, cannabis were set up at each seat. It’s the part of the tour my companions were most looking forward to. It’s not often one gets to roll and smoke with a local expert while sitting in the middle of a cannabis farm, after all.

Here, we had our spliff rolling class. The word spliff started in Jamaica and has been misconstrued internationally as a mix of cannabis and tobacco, Khalil explained. In Jamaica, it’s the primary consumption method: a long wrapping paper that’s filled with cannabis and rolled into a cone shape with no filter and, importantly, no tobacco.

Khalil walked us through each step. Anyone familiar with rolling a joint knows the basics, but it’s best to not get ahead of yourself if you’re new to rolling a traditional Jamaican spliff.

“We like things fresh in Jamaica,” Khalil said when I noted that the flower is much less dry than what I’m used to back home in Colorado. The terpenes are strong with a grassy, floral, citrus aroma as I popped open the grinder filled with newly ground cannabis. Khalil showed how to fill the wrapping paper and arrange it just right to create the classic cone. Shaped, sealed, and twisted at the top, the spliff is quickly ready. Each person smoked their own as we talked with Khalil about life, politics, and cannabis before walking back to the tour provider cars to head back to our respective hotels.

How to see Jacana’s farm for yourself

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Garden tours, plants sales and more ways to spend time among flowers

Visit Maine's botanical gardens or get a sneak peek of what your neighbors are growing in their back yards.

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One of the loveliest ways to ease yourself fully out of the post-winter blahs and into springtime is to quit being a wallflower and instead surround yourself with living, blooming plants.

From botanical gardens to plant sales and garden tours, it’s time to make like the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” and while away the hours, conferring with flowers.

The waterfall at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. Photo by Tory Paxson, Courtesy of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

TOTALLY BOTANICAL

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay is open for the season, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maine Days are May 31 to June 2, when anyone with a Maine driver’s license or state ID gets in for free. Ditto for dads/father figures on Father’s Day (June 16). Advance registration is required. With more than 300 acres of gardens and natural spaces, including a waterfall, there will be plenty to see, smell and bask in the scenery.

Here are more things to do in Boothbay

A tour group walks on the boardwalk at Viles Arboretum in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Viles Arboretum is a botanical garden in Augusta with 6 miles of trails and more than 20 botanical collections. It’s open daily from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. There are 224 acres with all sorts of flora and fauna to discover. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the visitor center is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Viles Arboretum offers medicinal plant walks, and although the May 18 session is full, you can still register for the June 15 and Sept. 14 events, lead by herbalist, homeopath and flower essence practitioner Debra Bluth. Tickets are $25. Advertisement

The Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve has four areas to explore on its property in Northeast Harbor: the Asticou Azelea Garden (dawn to dusk daily), the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden (noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from July 9 to Sept. 8, reservations required), Thuya Garden (dawn to dusk daily, June 15 to Oct. 14) and Little Long Pond Natural Lands (hiking trails and carriage roads open dawn to dusk daily). On June 26, at the Wildflowers of Little Long Pond event, participants can wander around the garden’s fields and forest, spotting wildflowers along the way while practicing how to identify them.

Joyce Saltman, right, and Beth Anisbeck embrace a tree for 60 seconds during a tree hugging event sponsored by Portland Parks and Recreation, at Deering Oaks Park last year. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

TOURS AND MORE

2nd Annual Tree Hugging 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Deering Oaks Park, Portland. portlandmaine.gov The tree hugging is a family-friendly community gathering to celebrate Portland’s many trees. Park ranger Liz Collado will lead a sensory awakening and forest bathing session. Along with tree hugging, there will be a storytime, and you can touch a forestry truck and meet naturalist Noah Querido and Portland city arborist Mark Reiland. Just down the road, you’ll find Fessenden Park, on the corner of Brighton and Deering Avenues. The tulips have arrived, and it’s worth a visit to see them.

McLaughlin Garden Lilac Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 24. McLaughlin Garden and Homestead, 97 Main St., South Paris, $5. mclaughlingardens.org You’ll find more than 125 varieties of lilacs at the McLaughlin Garden Lilac Festival. Explore on your own or take a guided tour led by a horticulturist. There will also be family-friendly activities, and you can shop for native and unusual plants.

4th annual Woodfords Community Garden Tour 1-4 p.m. June 8. Woodfords Corner Community in Back Cove, Deering Highlands, Oakdale and Deering Center, $20 suggested donation. woodfordscorner.org Presented by Friends of Woodfords Corner, this self-guided tour features at least 10 gardens. As you make your way down the list, you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised by all of the hidden havens bursting with flowers, plants and impressive yardscaping elements.

Peony Society of Maine 23rd annual Garden Tour 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8 and 15. Both tours start at 1348 Ohio St., Bangor, $5 donation. peonysocietyofmaine.net You’ll visit multiple gardens in Bangor, Winterport, Ripley and St. Albans, and your senses will be filled with countless peonies. A peony plant will be raffled off at the end of each tour. Advertisement

Hidden Gardens of Historic Bath 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22. Sagadahoc Preservation Inc., 880 Washington St., Bath, $40. sagadahocpreservation.org The Hidden Gardens of Historic Bath house and garden tour features several homes in North Bath. Every stop on the tour will be a treat for your senses and may motivate you to make some of your own magic when you get back home.

Garden Conservancy Open Garden Days 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 29. Beckett Castle Rose Garden, Singles Road, Cape Elizabeth, $10. gardenconservancy.org You’ll see plenty of roses as well as ocean views at Beckett Castle, which sits right on the water, with views of five lighthouses. The castle was built in 1871, and its rose garden features more than 70 varieties of heirloom roses. A 50-foot stone tower doubles as the rose arbor entrance to the castle.

PICK A PLANT SALE

Tate House Museum’s Annual Plant and Herb Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18. Tate House Museum, 1267 Westbrook St., Portland, 207-774-6177.  tatehouse.org The wide selection includes perennials divided from the museum’s 18th century reproduction garden. Visitors can also make their own “seed bombs” and get a sneak peak at a new installation by artist Ashley Page from 10 a.m. to noon.

Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland Spring Plant S ale 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 18, Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, 217 Landing Road, Westbrook, 207-854-9771.  arlgp.org   Perennials, house plants and more will be on sale, and plants that don’t have specific pricing are “name your own fee.” Anyone interested in donating plants or pots to the sale should send a message to [email protected] .

Taking Root Plant Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1, Tom Settlemire Community Garden, Maurice Drive, Brunswick, 207-729-7694.  btlt.org This annual sale is organized by the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. Proceeds benefit the Common Good Garden, which provides food and gardening education for the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. Master gardeners will be on hand to help shoppers choose their best options.

Scarborough Land Trust Native Plant Sale and Spring Festival 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1, Broadturn Farm, 388 Broadturn Road, Scarborough, 207-289-1199.  scarboroughlandtrust.org Visitors will find native plants, food vendors, local artisans, guided nature walks and activities for kids. To preorder plants, visit the Scarborough Land Trust website.

Maine Audubon Society Native Plants Sale and Festival 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 8, Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, 207-781-2330.  maineaudubon.org More than 75 species of native wildflowers, shrubs and tree seedlings will be available, along with workshops, info tables and experts.

Staff writer Megan Gray contributed to this report.

Related Headlines

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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