The Oregon Country Trails is "a grassroots organization of rugged, rural, ranchers, farmers, and recreation specialists who have opened their back porches, meadows, and crafts to the public". It's a rural revitalization program.

Over 250 rural businesses, entrepreneurs, tours and adventures make up the Oregon Country Trails, Oregon's only branded country trails. Currently there are 15 trails, such as: Slow Food Good Earth, Covered Bridge Country Trail, and Pioneer Country Trail. Trails can be added by application to the Oregon Country Trails organization from at least 10 people willing to work together and showcase their area and experiences in a positive way. They call this "Trail in a Box".

Trail events include, for example, the Stillpoint Farm Women's Festival 2010, a festival of  music, healing arts, creative arts, ceremony, workshops, food and produce. Their poster states that the festival is a benefit to 13 ingenious grandmothers.

Unique Agritourism Approach: Look, But Don't Buy

20 football-sized fields of tulips are grown annually for the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, but not for sale, writes Wendy Owen of the Oregonian. Woodburn farmer, Ross Iverson, and family grow them for visitors to admire and photograph. They also grow another 30 acres for harvest and sale. They've been growing tulips since 1974. Over 100,000 visitors are expected each year with traffic sometimes backing up for over 12km to enter their farm. Their tulip farm is also rented for weddings, company picnics and meetings, family reunions and other special events. This year is special. It's the 25th anniversary of the Tulip Fest.

The International Ecotourism Society now 20 years old

 

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) now celebrates its 20th year. TIES "promotes responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people".
TIES' global Ecotourism Explorer map geographically links us to various ecotourism resources: travellers, students, professionals, lodging facilities, tour operators, affiliated businesses.colleges and universities, institutions, and non-government organizations. A search, for example, of Canadian members with connection to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), displayed the Great Bear Nature Tours in Port Hardy, British Columbia.
TIES joins 500 businesses, professionals and community members at ESTC (Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference) 2010 from 8-10Sep2010 in Portland Oregon. The conference is hosted by Travel Portland and Travel Oregon, and will provide opportunities to share the latest trends in ecotourism and sustainable tourism.