5 minute read
Farm Fresh Living
Agritourism is a labor of love for those in the Hocking Hills area
Story by ABBY MILLER | Photos by CARRIE LEGG
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On Sam Carr Road in Laurelville, there’s a recently installed sign that’s proven to make some vehicles slow down to get a better look.
A Bigfoot silhouette stands, carrying a small, pale sign, emblazoned with the website address “HOCKINGHILLSCBD.COM.”
Hocking Hills CBD is the newest business venture from Eric and Brenda Schmidt, owners of Laurel Springs Farm, which is just a few turns away from the eye-catching sign.
The Schmidts got into CBD products as a way to manage Brenda’s arthritis pain. Business is booming more and more as visitors of Laurel Springs Farm learn of the Schmidts’ company and subsequently purchase products. The couple dreams of soon opening a greenhouse on their 72-acre farm, allowing them to grow their own hemp onsite and further expand Hocking Hills CBD.
“I would probably find that fun,” Eric says with a smile.
And just as the Schmidts’ business ventures are expanding, so is the emphasis on agritourism across Appalachia.
In The Hocking Hills, Agritourism Blossoms
Simply put, agritourism is any relationship between tourism and the agricultural community, Karen Raymore, executive director of the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, says. That relationship can include anything from petting zoos to farms like Laurel Springs and much more.
“I think what we have in Southeast Ohio is this very authentic Appalachian culture, and so much of that is grounded in agriculture,” Raymore says.
At Laurel Springs Farm, Eric and Brenda strive to offer a relaxing, private experience to all who visit. As of February, the property has one cabin available for rental: I think what we have in Southeast Ohio is this very authentic Appalachian culture, and so much of that is grounded in agriculture.” - Karen Raymore, executive director of Hocking Hills Tourism Association
ABOVE | What’s farm living without a few cows? BELOW | Bigfoot advertises the newest business venture from Eric and Brenda Schmidt, owners of Laurel Springs Farm.
BOTH PAGES | Snapshots of the Cabin on the Hill at Laurel Springs Farm. The Cabin on the Hill. The cabin stands two stories tall — one stone, the other the original wooden cabin frame built by a young Amish couple. On the inside, old tools from the farm’s two barns hang on the walls, and large, red leaves dot the paper floor.
Renters of the cabin can find additional living space upstairs, complete with a balcony overlooking the property. During the warmer months, guests can relax on a large wooden swing and watch the sun dip below the hills lined with trees.
“It’s just beautiful,” Brenda says. “You just watch it all summer long.”
Laurel Springs Farm also offers multiple opportunities for guests to get out of their cabin and engage in farm living. The farm boasts a large blueberry field, where guests can pick their own berries during blueberry season. The expansive acres also have chestnut trees, elderberries and a pond for fishing. In the past, the Schmidts have planted other crops, such as raspberries, on the property.
The definition of agritourism, however, isn’t just limited to farms like the Schmidts’. Raymore says agritourism is all about giving tourists an experience, and she believes the popularity of farm-to-table restaurants offering unique experiences will continue to be in demand in Appalachia.
“Really, that’s a great example of merging agriculture and tourism … where you create this experience,” Raymore says. “And by virtue of the product that’s being served, it brings the agricultural community into it.”
Other forms of agritourism, such as wineries and distilleries using local ingredients grown on-site, also hold a large presence within the Hocking Hills.
In Logan, land that has been in the Davidson family
since 1960 is now home to Hocking Hills Winery. Here, the Davidsons grow their own hybrid varieties of grapes, which are crossbreeds between vinifera and native grapes.
Blaine Davidson, CEO of Hocking Hills Winery, says the Davidson land was originally used for his grandparents’ cattle farm. No one in the family wanted to continue to raise cattle, but the desire to keep the land’s agricultural roots was evident.
“The vineyard idea just really kind of sparked an interest,” Davidson says. “It was something unique that I didn’t think anybody else was doing around here, and we were the first in Hocking County that I know of anyways.”
Davidson says the original plan was to grow grapes and have the land operate as a vineyard. However, upon realizing how much work went into maintaining about 4 1/2 acres of grapes and how much of a tourist draw the Hocking Hills are, the vineyard evolved into Hocking Hills Winery in 2015.
Davidson says the winery prides itself on its customer service. It offers a large outdoor patio with fire pits, charcuterie boards as well as the option to bring in outside food, live music and an enclosed patio for the cooler months.
“From the minute you get a step onto the property, it’s kind of like Disneyland: we want you to be happy, smiley and have a great experience,” Davidson says.
For both the Schmidts and Davidson, the ability to offer a one-of-a-kind, meaningful experience in the region is paramount to what they do.
“I’ve been a farmer since I was a kid. I like creating food for people. Once you do that, it’s something that’s hard to explain to people,” Eric says. “But it’s part of the sustainability of Earth and life. It’s sort of cool to be a part of that food chain.” FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.laurelspringsfarm.com www.hockinghillswinery.com
