Wednesday, September 11, 2013

"CULTIVATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE" with Kalite Farm Eco-Agritourism.......


KALITE FARM ECO-AGRITOURISM, PRESERVE HAITIAN CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT:
The benefits of Eco-Agritourism is a safe way for rural communities to preserve their distinctive cultural and natural heritage. Kalite Farm will support the efforts of all the small businesses and individuals working on action programs to preserve Haitian heritage, we will formed a network of farmers, artisan, historians, agronomist and many other residents to collaborate on a range of dynamic educational programs than can help sustain communities, encourage expansion of agriculture and provide an extraordinary visitor experience
Introduction
Kalite Farm is blessed with a fascinating history spanning from the Arawak tribe to the modern day, natural beauty, history and healthy food choices, both wild and cultivated. There is much to discover and enjoy. There is also much to protect. Beyond the seaside Farm/B&B are people preserving their heritage (sustainable farmers, artisan bread bakers, chair makers, beekeepers, and many others). They are maintaining what most of us have lost touch with – a connection between themselves, their community and nature. Their knowledge of sustainable living practices is beneficial to the global community. Many people around the world are  “return to the land,” while many people in rural Haiti have never left the land. But modern society beckons and rural communities are abandoned or developed.
Methods
Kalite Farm will introduces visitors to residents who maintains their small family much like their ancestors, using sustainable methods of living. Local food from the community sources and wild plants are used in cooking and natural medicine, which we discover during hikes in the countryside and cooking demonstrations.
Both residents and visitors benefit from community-based preservation programs. Careful consideration and strong alliances are required to sustain these concept. Residents are investing their time and money to share valuable knowledge. Our B&B offer visitors a rare opportunity to discover the heart of Haiti and obtain information that can enrich their lives.
The majority of tourism planners support generic services, such as large beach resorts and continental food. Most operations are of little benefit to local communities in terms of providing financial stability or protecting Haiti’s cultural and natural heritage. More than 70% of Haitian’s residents are still involved in small scale agriculture – primarily sugar cane, cashew, mango, orange, rice, cocoa, coffee, sweet potato and a variety of other vegetable on a part-time basis. Both industries compete for increasingly scarce natural resources, commonly referred to as “the war on water.” Kalite Farm promotes the benefits of educational travel via the window of traditional food and artisanal ways.

Implementing Responsible Travel in the Case of Eco-Agritourism
The fact that a destination has excellent cuisine and nature reserves does not mean that communities are able to open up the area to visitors. Before residents invite visitors to their villages and farms, they need to consider how they will present and sustain their programs and protect their communities.
Since most of us are not farmers, we don’t know what to expect from an agritourism experience. Agritourism is meant to support farmers, their communities and also helps to protect our environment.
REMEMBER: The time local devote to sharing their knowledge with us is a rare privilege.
Responsible travel covers a lot of ground today. The bottom line is that people are actively working to support and protect the communities in which they live, work or visit. Responsible travel is part of the solution to a growing number of global issues relating to social inequality, exploitation, cultural preservation, food safety and environmental protection. Many people say they prefer “real” or “ethical” travel experiences, yet they are unaware that local communities must justly benefit from the services they provide.
Promoting Responsible Travel
As with all market trends, travel providers offering alternative forms of tourism in an unethical manner is damaging to authentic travel experience. As long as the majority of media and travel agencies send the message that “cheap travel deals are the way of the world,” people will not be aware of the true cost of travel, including the environmental and social impact that travel has on communities or the true cost of safe food. The majority of travel agencies are not yet trained in ethical-travel practices.
 Mass media rarely covers small-scale programs because there is no apparent benefit to them. Discount deals cut in mega travel cannot be cut in rural communities. Most media outlets expect free food and lodging, consultancy and entertainment. Small-scale practitioners cannot afford this form of advertising, nor are they certain to benefit from it, as the coverage is rarely specific to their work and could be subjective.
The first step to launch a small-scale program is from the ground up in collaboration with advocacy groups and public agencies, if possible. Responsible travel is not a trend; it is a necessity.
Conclusion
Responsible travel, in the case of Eco-Agritourism, provides a wide range of benefits to communities and visitors. It provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs and travelers to be active participants in sustainable-development programs. Responsible travel can help preserve our world’s sanctuaries and even reverse some damage caused by unsustainable development. It can build meaningful careers for future generations and protect the very reason why people visit countries like Haiti– to discover her significant cultural legacy and natural beauty.