Down on the farm: Farm tourism - yes, it's a real thing

The great migration from rural to urban living in the past century brings a nostalgia for farm life, which is met, in part, by agritourism. With the internet, organizations such as FarmStayUS, Hipcamp, and others can draw people from all over. Hosting strangers for a few days can be a cash stream boosting a working farmer’s livelihood.

But certain ambitious organizations use farm visits to knit relationships that last. Renewing the Countryside (RTC), a Minnesota nonprofit, pursues the mission of “connecting people interested in sustainable rural development.” Based in the town of Hammond, nort...