A farm stay (or farmstay) is any type of accommodation on a working farm. Some farm stays may be interactive. Some are family-focused, offering children opportunities to feed animals, collect eggs and learn how a farm functions. Others don't allow children and instead offer a peaceful retreat for adults. For the accommodations, guests normally pay rates similar to area bed & breakfasts or vacation rentals, although pricing varies considerably. The term "farm stay" can also describe a work exchange agreement, where the guest works a set number of hours per week in exchange for free or affordable accommodation.
Possible farm stay accommodations include
Farm stays can be described as agritourism (a farmer opening his/her farm to tourists for any reason, including farm stands and u-pick[1]), ecotourism (Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people[2]), and geotourism (tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents[3]).
Farm stays have been a growing trend in Europe at least since the 1980s [4], particularly in Italy, where they are called agriturismo. Farm stays are now growing in popularity in other parts of the world as well, especially Australia, Asia, and North America. Reasons for this increasing popularity include farmers' desire for more diverse and dependable income streams and consumers' desire for to reconnect with rural heritage and the food supply.[5].