The Agri-Tourist, My Journey Back to Agriculture

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This conversation brings us back to New Zealand and to a much bigger, global perspective of agritourism. In this episode, I reconnect with Marijke Dunselman of Agritourism New Zealand, who many of you may remember from Episode 14. This is very much a catch-up conversation—an opportunity to revisit her work, see how things have evolved, and hear what’s happening now both in New Zealand and across the broader agritourism landscape.

What I appreciate about this conversation is how real it is about what it actually takes to build agritourism into something meaningful. This isn’t just about adding a farm stay or listing something on Airbnb—it’s about building a business, understanding your customer, pricing your experience, and navigating everything from marketing to health and safety. Marijke shares what she’s seeing on the ground, what farmers are asking for, and where the real opportunities—and challenges—exist today.

As you listen, I invite you to think about agritourism a little differently—not just as an experience, but as a strategy. A way for farms to diversify, stay viable, and create something that connects people back to the land in a very real way. Because at the end of the day, that connection—that understanding—is what continues to drive this industry forward.

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Today’s conversation takes us to the heart of Tuscany, where history, agriculture, and innovation all intersect in the most beautiful and meaningful way. I’m joined by Cesare Majnoni of Fattoria Majnoni Guicciardini, a family estate rooted in generations of farming tradition, yet deeply focused on the future of how we grow and experience food. Sitting between Florence and Siena, with views of San Gimignano, this is a place where you can literally feel the layers of history beneath your feet—and in the soil itself.

In this episode, we go beyond wine and olive oil to talk about what’s really happening in agriculture today. Cesare shares his family’s journey from conventional farming to organic and regenerative practices, and what that transition actually looks like—the risks, the setbacks, and ultimately, the rewards. We dig into the importance of soil health, the unintended consequences of modern farming, and why what’s happening underground is just as important as what ends up on your plate or in your glass.

We also explore the role of agritourism in reconnecting people to their food, their farmers, and the land itself. This is a conversation about slowing down, asking better questions, and understanding the true story behind what we consume. It’s thoughtful, it’s eye-opening, and it might just change the way you think about farming, food, and the choices you make every day.

Fattoria Majnoni Guicciardini

San Gimignano

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When I sat down to talk with Janice Wright of Rooted in NC, I knew it was going to be a fun conversation — anyone who shows up to farms in rhinestone boots is clearly not afraid to stand out. And honestly, those glittery boots are more than just a fashion statement. They’re symbolic of exactly who she is: bold, authentic, grounded in agriculture, but bringing her full personality into spaces that don’t always expect it. She’s proof that you can walk through mud and still sparkle.

Janice didn’t grow up in agriculture, which makes her perspective especially powerful. She learned it from the outside in — asking the questions, sitting in the rooms, listening to farmers who are often too humble to tell their own stories. And that outsider-turned-advocate lens is exactly what so many farms need. Because the average customer isn’t speaking “soil science” — they’re speaking curiosity, connection, and community.

What really stayed with me is something she hears all the time: “I became a farmer, not a marketer.” And I understand that deeply. But Janice reminds us that marketing doesn’t mean becoming an influencer — it means becoming visible. It means showing up, telling your story, and inviting people in. Just like her boots, it doesn’t have to be stiff or polished — it can be real, a little sparkly, and completely you. And sometimes that authenticity is the very thing that draws people through the gate.

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When I first interviewed Lisa Chase back in 2024 and episode 5 of the podcast, agritourism felt like an emerging conversation. Fast forward to today — over 90 episodes later — and it’s clear this isn’t just a niche sector. It’s a movement. Reconnecting with Lisa gave me the opportunity to step back and really reflect on how much has evolved — not just globally, but in how we’re all thinking about food, farms, and community.

What struck me most in our conversation is how agritourism continues to serve as a bridge — between urban and rural, between consumer and producer, between policy and practice. At a time when the world feels turbulent and disconnected, farms are becoming places of grounding. They’re spaces where education, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and wellness intersect in very real, tangible ways.

Lisa’s work with the Global Agritourism Network reminds me that this isn’t just happening in Vermont or the United States — it’s happening in over 100 countries around the world. And yet, the core remains the same: people want connection. They want to understand where their food comes from. They want experiences that feel authentic. This conversation reaffirmed for me why this podcast matters — and why agritourism is one of the most powerful sectors shaping the future of food and travel today.

Global Agritourism Network

Lisa Chase, UVM 

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When I sat down to talk with Michelle Johnson from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, I expected to learn more about seeds. What I didn’t expect was to walk away thinking about joy, legacy, and the future of food in an entirely different way. What started nearly three decades ago as 17-year-old Jere Gettle's handmade seed catalog has grown into a global movement — but at its heart, it still feels deeply personal. That sincerity came through in every part of our conversation.

What struck me most was how intentional they are about preserving not just varieties, but stories. Heirloom seeds aren’t just plants — they’re living history, stewarded by families and communities for generations. In a world increasingly dominated by scale and speed, Baker Creek’s work feels like a reminder that biodiversity, flavor, and cultural heritage still matter. And that protecting them can actually be joyful.

This conversation also challenged me to think about agritourism and storytelling differently. The festivals, the vibrant social media, the theatrical imagery — it’s not marketing for the sake of attention. It’s an invitation. An invitation to reconnect with food, with soil, and with the simple but powerful act of growing something yourself. I’m excited for you to hear this episode, because it’s about more than seeds — it’s about possibility.

Baker Creek Heirlooom Seeds  

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Baker Creek Youtube 

Seed Savers Exchange

National Heirloom Exhibition

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This podcast started as my journey back to agriculture—and now, I’m actually living it.

Over the past few years, I’ve been searching, learning, and having conversations with incredible people across this industry, trying to understand where I fit. And now, I’ve made the decision to step in—to take on a role at a farm, to move, and to fully immerse myself in this next chapter.

I met Pattie Baker through this podcast, and one of her mantras is to, “trust the journey.” That’s exactly what this next series is about. Pattie is joining me to help guide these conversations as everything unfolds in real time—the decisions, the challenges, the uncertainty, and all the moments in between as I learn to trust where this path is taking me.

This is the part of the journey where it gets real, where I continue asking questions, and start living out the answer in real life—and I’m bringing you along for the journey! 

Nourse Farm

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When I first interviewed Kara and Matt from Rutter's Ranch in Episode 62, we talked about veteran farmers strengthening America’s food system. But in this follow-up conversation with Kara, what struck me most wasn’t just the growth of their programs — it was the depth of purpose behind everything they’re building. From Matt receiving the American Farm Bureau Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to launching a statewide Farms of the Brave Ag & Art Tour over Memorial Day weekend, their work continues to evolve in ways that feel both strategic and deeply personal.

What really stayed with me was Kara’s reminder that “food security is national security” — and that for many veterans, agriculture is simply the next chapter of service. This isn’t about stepping away from serving their country; it’s about serving in a new way — through land stewardship, rural entrepreneurship, and community connection. Whether it’s Farmer Boot Camp, the new business plan accelerator, or reviving care farming programs to address veteran isolation, everything they do is rooted in relationships.

This conversation reinforced something I believe wholeheartedly: farms are more than production spaces. They’re places of healing, leadership, and renewal. And when veterans lead that work, it adds an entirely different layer of meaning. I’m excited for you to hear this update — because what’s happening at Rutter's Ranch isn’t just growth. It’s momentum with purpose.

Rutter's Ranch

Farms of the Brave

Ag & Art Tour

Click here to read about this interview with Kara Rutter

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When I think about my conversation with Susan and Nicole Asendorf of Hoshyla Farms, what stays with me most isn’t just the lavender — it’s the decision. The moment when selling the land felt easier… and they chose not to. On Long Island, once farmland is gone, it’s gone. Hearing Nicole say, “Once you sell something, you cannot get it back,” carried a weight that anyone connected to agriculture truly understands. This wasn’t just a business pivot. It was a stand for legacy.

What moved me even more was the dynamic of three women and an 84-year-old grandfather working side by side to reinvent their family farm. There was honesty in the conversation — about fear, about learning curves, about irrigation powered by generators and watering plants from the back of a tractor. It wasn’t polished. It was real. And that’s what preserving farmland actually looks like.

This episode reminded me that agritourism isn’t just about events or aesthetics — it’s about connection. Connection to land, to family, to community. Hoshyla Farms isn’t just growing lavender; they’re cultivating continuity. And in a region where blacktop spreads faster than crops, that matters more than ever.

Hoshyla Farms
2026 Lavendar Festival
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When I first interviewed Giany Guedjo, the Executive Director of Carolina Human Reinvestment, in Episode 43, we talked about faith, food security, and the early days of building a community garden rooted in purpose. In this catch-up conversation, I found something different — not just survival, but momentum. He joined me from his greenhouse on a cold morning, surrounded by vibrant greens and reblooming orchids rescued from grocery store discard piles. That image felt symbolic. What he’s building is about second chances — for land, for food, for families.

Since we last spoke, his organization raised $96,000 at a farm-to-table fundraiser and paid off their $350,000 mortgage. But what struck me most wasn’t the financial milestone — it was his clarity. “My goal is not to end up selling from the garden,” he told me. “My hope is to keep feeding the ones that need it the most.” They’re serving nearly 200 families every two weeks, expanding school gardens, and now dreaming about a community hub with a teaching kitchen and space for nonprofits to gather.

There’s one line that stayed with me: “The kids will show up no matter what.” That’s leadership. That’s responsibility. This isn’t just a garden anymore — it’s infrastructure for community health. And as you listen to this episode, I hope you hear not just a story of growth, but a blueprint for what’s possible when agriculture is rooted in mission, dignity, and long-term vision.

Carolina Human Reinvestment

Episode 43: Giany's Leap of Faith & Focus on Growing Food Impacts South Carolina Children

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Some conversations feel especially heartfelt because they highlight not just a business, but a person stepping fully into who they’re meant to be. That’s exactly how I felt talking with Amanda Portis, the heart behind Assunta’s Food Truck at Nourse Farm. Amanda’s journey back to her hometown and into food entrepreneurship is such a beautiful example of how passion, timing, and a little courage can come together in powerful ways.

What really moved me in this conversation is the why behind Assunta’s. Named after her great-grandmother, the food truck is rooted in family, tradition, and the belief that food is a love language. From casual comfort food at the window to her long-table farm dinners under the string lights, Amanda isn’t just cooking — she’s creating space for connection, conversation, and community.

This episode is about taking a leap, honoring where you come from, and building something that brings people together around the table. Amanda’s story is a reminder that sometimes the path forward isn’t perfectly planned — it unfolds when you say yes to an opportunity that feels just right.

Assunta's Food Truck
Nourse Farm

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.  

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