Trinitas agritourism golf at odds with Calaveras County

Michael and Michelle Nemee own the Trintas Golf course, in Valley Springs, California – the course built in “stealth mode”, and at the centre of a conflict with Calaveras County Planning Commission’s zoning bylaws, reports Dana Nichols, staff writer with RecordNet.com. Trintas also has a Nature & Wildlife Preserve, and an Olive Oil & Orchard Tour.
Though County rejected an application to rezone, the owners vow to keep the course in operation."We are going to continue operating our lawful agritourism operation that we've been taxed on since 2005 by the county of Calaveras," Nemee said, reports Nichols.
Issues in this dispute involve: Trinitas, Calaveras County, a group called “Keep It Rural”, the “Williamson Act”, the California Department of Conservation, and the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Centre.

San Pedro, Uruguay, transforms into Agritourist destination

The entire small farming town of San Pedro, near the city of Colonia del Sacramento (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in western Uruguay, has transformed itself and turned to Agro-ecoTourism as a new source of livelihood, reports Luis Alberto Carro with IPS News.

This was once an area of prosperous dairy farms and small-scale agriculture. It fell onto hard times after the country's severe financial crisis in 2002 and in neighbouring Argentina a year earlier. Residents of San Pedro decided to fight their misfortune. They created the Rural Tourism Group (Grutur), made up of members such as "Vivero Yatay - a nursery and park of native plants - the Parque Brisas del Plata campground, the 'Los Tres Botones' farm, where visitors can have a ride on a horse or in a cart and eat typical rural meals out under the blue sky, and the Tourn Museum, which includes antique tools and farm machinery manufactured by the Tourns, a family of Italian immigrants." Many took courses in English, computers, basket-weaving and herb-growing, and also from doctors and psychologists. Further they have trademarked local products under "Las Sanpedrinas".

Also linked to the group are operators of dairy farms that grow organic produce, horseback riding, cabin rentals in the countryside and museums. Grutur holds rural fairs or festivals to showcase attractions and products.

Uruguay's tourism industry is a billion dollar a year industry, according to Carro. It provides "50,000 direct jobs and more than 120,000 indirect jobs, based on an economically sustainable model that is respectful of the environment and local culture. Tourism attracts mostly Urugaynans and Argentinians. About 10% of visitors are from outside these countries.

"Eighty Rural Tourist destinations are registered with Uruguay's Tourism Ministry. Also part of Rural Tourism destinations in Urugauay are wineries, guest ranches, rural bed-and-breakfasts, and even an old quarry. The Ministry is preparing a tourism development plan for 2009-2020 that will include the country's 19 provinces and Rural Tourism -- designed to benefit local residents.

Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California publication

The University of California Small Farm Program lists resources available to those who wish to start an agritourism operation. One of its publications is the 160-page 2005-title "Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California". This is a workbook for farmers and ranchers. It was the culmination of a brainstorming session held between farmers, ranchers, university researchers, tourism officials and community support groups.
Topics include:

• Evaluating resources for tourism
• Creating a business plan
• Examining legal constraints
• Risk management
• Developing a marketing plan
• Farm visits for children
• Planning a tourism workshop
• Resources