Valuable Farm, Pyeongtaek Strawberry Farm

Nestled away on a small rice road in Pyeongtaek is a greenhouse that is home to Valuable Farm. The farm uses hydroponic methods to grow sweet, perfect strawberries. Robert, the owner and operator, shared that his family has been in the agriculture business for generations, but his vision is in the growing agricultural tourism industry. He wants to bring visitors in to learn about sustainable practices, hydroponics, and improve greenhouse growing year round to increase healthy food production. Valuable Farm is dedicated to the future of farming and agritourism by being part of Korea’s 4-H organization. Robert wants other young farmers like him to learn practices that are not only profitable, but good for our environment. 

Trina Walley and her family visited Valuable Farm with us. As soon as you walk into Valuable Farm, you could smell the sweet fragrance of strawberries and see bees pollinating flowers. Robert gave an amazing educational lecture to explain the life cycle of strawberries and the science behind hydroponic growing. He teaches children and adults the proper way of picking strawberries demonstrating hand motions, sharing that this practice doesn’t hurt the plant and encourages more growth.

Trina shared that this experience, and others like it, are important to their family because it brings the farm experience to her children. As homeschoolers, each experience is an educational adventure with hands-on learning in a way most cannot do at home. Our children bonded over finding the most vibrant and ripe strawberries, taking many pictures, and also discussing how to use the strawberries once we left! The end of the tour came with strawberry and cola slushies and snacks. Kids can also play with ride on toys and a fun ball pit, all provided by the farm with your admission and strawberry purchase. Give Valuable Farm a visit! Reservations can be made on Naver, or by calling Robert who is dedicated to giving your family the best experience. Robert’s agritourism model is looking to grow into blueberry picking too in 2025. 

Agricultural tourism is the future of sustainability. You can’t protect and respect the earth when you don’t experience it first hand! When traveling, consider agricultural tourism opportunities and add them to your itinerary!

Eunseong Farm, Yesan Apple Winery and Farm

Who doesn’t love fresh apples, wine, and soju! Eunseong Farm, Yesan’s premier apple farm and winery, is the prime example of agricultural tourism in Korea! The business model of growing and producing a product to sell in a specific growing season is no longer the only way to help agricultural based businesses thrive. Their farm not only utilizes their own grown produce, they also purchase from other local farmers in Yesan, supporting their entire local economy and allowing for more opportunities for the public!

An aspect of farming that many farms find to be a struggle is maintaining a revenue source outside of the growing season. Many farmers rotate crops based on the seasons to avoid the financial burdens. 

At Eunseong Farm, they are experts in developing new ways to create revenue and agritourism is how they do it! At their farm you can visit at any time, taking tours, purchasing wine and apple snacks, and enjoying their cafe. This guarantees a stream of income long after apple season is over, keeps the public entertained, and increases tourism for the entire community too! Constantly creating new ways to engage with customers shows the ingenuity of this business and shows how agritourism is evolving with community needs. Eunseong Farm has gone as far as partnering with military installation travel departments to plan coordinated tours for military families nearly near round. This has allowed soldiers and airmen with limited transportation options to enjoy Eunseong Farm too. 

Chusa Apple Wine was awarded the 2023 Korea Liquor Award Grand Prize!

The experience options on the farm are vast: apple picking, apple jam making, apple pie making, winery and distillery tours, wine, brandy, and soju tasting. Maybe stay the weekend in their lodging accommodations that can house up to four people at a time. The farm also has a cute cafe to rest and enjoy yourself with a latte or even fresh pressed apple juice at any time! Seeing the distillery and learning how the farm adapted technology from Canada was informative and an interesting behind the scene look into wine making. After the tour, having an expertly paired wine tasting really makes you feel a part of the process and of course was my favorite part of the experience! The sweet and fruity Chusa Apple Wine paired perfectly with the rich gouda and salty pretzels provided. The gold flakes in the wine make you feel fancy when drinking it too! My friend really loves their blueberry wine as she enjoys wine with a dryer tartness. The farm is open all year round but make sure to visit in autumn too! You don’t want to miss the apple festivals in Yesan! 

Bee, Plenty, Pyeongtaek Honey and Beekeeping

Bees are central to agriculture. Without bees, the world as we know it wouldn’t exist. Beekeeper Yoo Hae-Ra at Bee, Plenty not only raises bees, but she runs an immersive Honeybee Experience Program! Honeybee ecology education is intentionally taught to visitors. Upon arrival you can adorn yourself in a beekeeper suit, learn about bees, their importance to our food production, learn about health benefits of honey and pollen, investigate hives and frames filled with honey comb, enjoy the bees, and even create products using beeswax. The eco-friendly products range from beeswax crayons, honey soaps, honey bars, honey candles, honey perfume, and diffusers fit for every season. 

“Bee, Plenty is extremely family friendly! The experience we had during the Honeybee Experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we will forever cherish. Watching our three year old enjoy the sounds of the bees and listening to the owner explain everything she knows about bees with such wonder was a gift.”  ~ Humphreys Family.

Many find this business on Instagram, but like many agritourism businesses, word of mouth is a driving force! More and more families and organizations such as Girl Scouts and friend groups find Bee, Plenty to be a fun experience full of knowledge. There are few places in South Korea where you can observe hives while in protective clothing and watch bees work, build their hive, and witness queen bees laying eggs! Bee, Plenty’s business platform allows for customized tours considering size and ages of participants, making this a truly custom experience. When you leave Bee, Plenty, you will appreciate bees and see the importance of protecting the species, all thanks to a business with an agritourism model who shares their love of bees with the world! 

Bear Foot Gardens, Hwaseong Culinary Community Garden 

Bear Foot Gardens in Hwaseong is owned and operated by Chef Ryan Phillips. This organic farm is in their eighth year of operation and is driven by a community of volunteers. These volunteers help in so many ways including mixing and bagging soil to planting, tending, and harvesting produce. Volunteers are rewarded by enjoying a handcrafted culinary meal crafted by Chef Ryan with fresh, local ingredients to fit the occasion! As an American culinary professor in Suwon, Chef Ryan realized South Korea needed the infusion of flavors of Mexico and Brazil. These were the flavors he longed for after living in Central and South America and wanted to share with his students who would influence the culinary scene.

While teaching, he realized so many crucial ingredients were too expensive or just non-existent at the time. He wrestled with ideas and how to obtain the needed fresh herbs and produce to use in the classroom without breaking the bank. Chef Ryan and his class decided to create their first college community garden out of a sense of necessity and authentic cooking. Through challenges of summers with students not on campus, Chef Ryan learned that the best community garden is the one close to home! 

“I am a true Farmer Chef. The flavors… When you love the food you grow, everything tastes better. It’s magical”  ~ Chef Ryan Phillips 

After a few years growing his own roof-top garden, Bear Foot Gardens would be born. The plot of land in Hwaseong would be the place of growth and community connectedness. The pandemic halted in person culinary classes in Suwon and allowed Chef Ryan the opportunity to be in his garden full time. He decided that farming was his passion. His organic farm is fueled by people getting involved through social media and volunteering with a community spirit. Bear Foot Gardens aims to make each visit to the garden accessible to the volunteer. Chef Ryan personally takes into account one’s background knowledge of farming, their age, and their strengths then pairs them with a specific task to complete on the farm. Each volunteer work day has a goal that is crucial to the farm and the season. 

By working together, the Bear Foot Gardens grow! 

Bear Foot Gardens also employs an agritourism business model through their paid admission events like dinner nights, Pepper Fest, Pumpkin Family Farm Days, and Seafood Parties! These events offer families a time to experience the farm, farming, and the results of hard work while sustaining production through revenue. Chef Ryan also offers audiences around the world an opportunity to interact with his culinary genius! Through Arirang Radio, Arirang Radio's YouTube channel, and his own social media, you too can learn how to create amazing food with great flavors! If you are wanting to create accessible Korean food as a foreigner, definitely check out his channel. An appreciation for organic, locally grown food is the heart of agritourism and Bear Foot Gardens is making that concept a reality in South Korea!  

Why Agricultural Tourism? 

Agricultural tourism affords expats and those from Korea a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about farming, to participate in Korean practices and customs unique to the peninsula, but also the ability to interact with a culture of community support. It helps the local economy in a more sustainable way with less of a carbon footprint. Agricultural tourism goes beyond “shopping local”. For businesses with an agritourism business model, owners and operators have an ability to take a task and craft it into a noteworthy experience. Their passion for their product and craft shine through and get you interested and inspired while learning a little more than what you came with. These experiences are available all over the peninsula, you just have to look! 

A love of sharing and teaching others about our planet and its resources is what drives agritourism in South Korea.

Information

Valuable Farm, Pyeongtaek Strawberry Farm

Naver: Gachi Inneun Farm, https://naver.me/G87OhHBI

Eunseong Farm, Yesan Apple Winery and Farm

Naver: Eunseong Farm, https://naver.me/x0zjXHgH

Bee, Plenty, Pyeongtaek Honey and Beekeeping

Instagram: ontaek2023 

Bear Foot Gardens, Hwaseong Culinary Community Garden 

Facebook: Bear Foot Gardens 

Instagram: ryan_wesley_phillips

YouTube: Arirang TV, [1DAY 1KOREA : K-FOOD] with Chef Ryan Series

Youtube Podcast: Arirang Radio K-Pop 

About the Author

Jetta Allen is Co-Editor of United on the RoK, a writer, and photographer. She loves nature, travel, and culture, but most of all, making memories with her family.