The complex has been offering a unique opportunity to Guyanese and visitors to tour a diversified, multi-enterprise farm and observe several day to day activities such as cows being milk, cattle grazing and compost and silage making. A guided tour of the farm has been well received by all visitors. The SSCF has been engaged in rudimentary agritourism type activities from as early as the 1980s.
The Agritourism Component
The Agritourism Enterprise of the SSCF will include the following components:
- Introduction to Farm Experience
- Introduction to Rotational Grazing
- Milking Demonstration
- Milk Processing
- Innovative Practices
- Sheltered/Greenhouse Vegetable Production
- Poultry Production
- Demonstration Garden
- Butterfly Garden – Future Project
- Baby Animal Petting Area – Future Project
- End of Formal Tour
Visitors will be welcomed in “Welcome Center”. Topics to be dealt with will include: the history of the farm including founders and their story; affiliation with the secondary school; original intent of farm; vision for the future; what visitors will experience on the tour; reinforcement of main points of tour (sustainable agriculture, innovations, minimal use of inorganic inputs, agriculture in schools, farm diversification); and viewing of short DVD of the Complex.
Visitors will walk with a guide to pastures. The story of rotational grazing will be told around the following topics: conventional grazing and its impacts; reason for changing to rotational grazing; benefits of rotational grazing; number of cows per hectare compared to conventional grazing patterns; soil health; animal health; fencing; electric fencing; the cattle walk; and breed types of cows on the farm and how they have been bred to thrive in the climatic and soil conditions.
This story will be told around the following topics: how milking was once done by hand; the benefits of a milking machine; milk room; weighing of milk; record keeping; the concept of yield - per cow, time of year, freshening cow, etc.; orderliness of dairy animals to be milked; visitors could experience hand milking (for an additional fee).
Viewing the process of cheese, yogurt, flavored milk making etc. Telling the story of how the product is made, the ingredients, the need for cleanliness, the standards to be followed, storage, and marketing / consumption. Tasting of products at this time will give visitors a chance to relax, taste the products, and chat among themselves and ask questions of the guide.
Viewing and telling the story of composting; vermiculture; biogas production; renewable energy (solar) technology; the home wind turbine as an alternative; explanation of how each of these systems works and how some contribute to soil health and fertility, reducing the need to buy fertilizer and energy.
The story of sheltered / greenhouse farming will be introduced to visitors. Items for discussion will include: different growing methods such as hydroponics, trellised/tied-up, intensive beds, organic opportunities; benefits: high yields in small space, controlled environment, continuous harvesting of some crops; costs and returns; suitability of activity to children, senior citizens and the entire family.
The story of poultry - from egg to table will be told. Discussion areas will include: breeds of poultry; from egg to chick to adult; feeding schedule, types of feed etc.; husbandry and management of flock; yield of dressed birds; use of chicken manure for composting etc; importance of enterprise in total farm revenue
Discuss the use of the compost and how it improves soil fertility and thus yields and plant health. Show different types of herbs, vegetables
The SSCF proposes to construct a 6,000 sq. ft Butterfly Garden and a 900sq. ft Laboratory. The total investment would also include the establishment of a Host Plant Area and the acquisition of butterflies and technical expertise.
This is anticipated to be one of the highlights of the experience. The idea of conservation of biodiversity and how butterflies live in landscapes rich in biodiversity as well as how butterflies grow from caterpillar to butterfly via metamorphosis will be discussed. For an additional fee, visitors will be invited to walk through the butterfly garden and enjoy the lush environment.
The SSCF will construct a 25ft x 25ft Petting Area to allow visitors to interact with baby animals on the farm. Hand milking of our specially selected tame dairy cows would be an option open to visitors.
This is envisaged to be a highlight of tour for children. The animal petting area will be a specially enclosed area with shade for small animals that would include a calves, lambs, rabbits etc for children and others to touch and pet. These animals would be kept very clean and will be tamed from birth through bucket / bottle feeding and frequent handling.
The tour will formally end in the Gift Shop. The tour will be wrapped up by highlighting the key elements and by reinforcing the main messages. Any final set of questions from visitors will be answered. The tour guide will then suggest that visitors try some of the samples of Guyanese and St. Stanislaus specialty products and will encourage shopping for gifts of specialty products displayed in the gift shop.