The Farm-Spa Becomes a Responsible Vacation Trend

Responsible vacation goers can now opt for more than an eco-spa, because farm-spas have entered the running. What, exactly, is a farm-spa?  Well, it might not be an official term, yet, but  "hyper-local spas" on farms have been popping up all over the world. The farm-to-table movement has moved to the massage-table.

Hay Barn Spa, Gloucestershire, UK

Journalist Alice Fishburn describes the Hay Barn Spa offers rural charm "a sense of utter luxury", (with cows right outside the treatment room). Bamford flock insulates the sustainable wood walls, and local trees heat the floor of this responsible vacation heaven. Thanks to their Farmshop next door, there are plenty of local, organic eats. If you're interested in education: yoga, animal rearing, rural crafts, cooking, meditation, and farming courses are offered.

Masseria Torre Coccaro, Puglia, Italy

Masseria Torre Coccaro is a luxurious responsible vacation option: a five star hotel in a renovated farmhouse, located on a large estate overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Unfiltered olive oil is hand picked, cold pressed and served fresh. Herbs, vegetables, grapes, prickly pears, wild capers and many varieties of figs are grown. Puglia is know as "the garden of Italy", producing a large percentage (possibly around 75%) of all the fruits and vegetables in Italy. The restaurants in the hotel use local food (as in backyard local), and collaborate with farms in the town, the nearby fishing village Savelletri and a network of people brings them wild goods, like cardoncelli mushrooms, snails, myrtle and wood berries. The spa is cut into an old atmospheric rock within limestone caves, and materials such as wood, rice paper and flagstone are incorporated into the design. Treatments use local herbs and fruits. A sample: Torre Coccaro hair treatment using fresh-pressed olive oil and wild capers.

Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee

Blackberry Farm continues to cultivate the land to preserve the natural beauty of the area and produce fresh, delicious food. Guests can participate in the farm team activities, and eat the fruits of labor. Their sheep are protected by llama, miniature donkeys and sheep dogs. Soiled hay from the sheep and horses nurtures the garden. Blackberry Farms grows many vegetables (including the southern specialty, collard greens), fruits and nuts, and truffles (if they're lucky). And, for guests who want to relax on their responsible vacation: there's the Farmhouse Spa, offering treatments using local blackberries, and yoga classes. For anyone who isn't interested in farming or the spa: other activities include biking, hiking, hunting, and fox hunting.

photo credit: Bronayur