Slo Food Nation: Slovenian Tourist Farms

Farm tourism has always been popular amongst a certain type of traveler. But these days, with Michelle Obama planting an organic vegetable garden and the Slow Food movement gathering mainstream momentum, seeking out local, seasonal fare—even while on vacation—is becoming a priority for many food-obsessed travelers.

Staying on a working farm, whether it’s an agriturismo in Italy or a Bauernhofurlaub in Germany is an authentic (not to mention affordable) way of seeing a country: you meet the locals, stay in pristine undiscovered settings, and sample regional culinary specialties. It’s an experience guaranteed to satisfy the curious—and omnivorous—locavore.

Farm tourism is going strong in Slovenia, one of my favorite countries. Read my story about Slovenian kmetije from this weekend's Sunday New York Times. Here are a few photos from our trip to the Škerlj farm last summer to whet your appetite:

Homemade pasta with zucchini, zucchini blossoms, pancetta, and parmesan at the Škerlj farm

The pool at the Škerlj kmetija, where I spent a good deal of time reading MFK Fisher and gazing out at the Karst landscape

A typical room at the Škerlj farm