Ohio Agritourism Destinations Offer Unique Activities for Visitors
In partnership with: Ohio Department of Agriculture
When you think “Ohio agritourism,” corn mazes or U-pick apples may spring to mind. However, many Ohio destinations offer a broader selection of unique events and activities like Groovy Plants Ranch, Fibonacci Brewing Company, and Bokes Creek Winery.
Groovy Plants Ranch
A vintage Volkswagen Beetle planted with succulents sets the hippy vibe at Groovy Plants Ranch (GPR) in Marengo. Co-owner Liz Hughes calls GPR a destination center for gardeners of every skill level.
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“We carry annuals, herbs, veggies, perennials, and other merchandise, plus unusual or harder-to-find plants in almost every category,” Liz says. “We also have a lot of fun things to see, from a VW bus to a life-size unicorn.”
Liz’s husband Jared started the business when he was 19 with easy-to-grow succulents. His talent has expanded considerably to plant breeding and developing Begonia “Canary Wings,” a patented plant distributed nationwide. A former art educator, Liz teaches GPR classes and workshops for children and adults.
“People who have never been to our place will come just for the classes,” Liz says.
GPR also hosts plant release parties, art shows, vendor markets, and other special events as part of their Ohio agritourism offerings.
“We hook people with crazy things on-site and the fun activities,” Liz says. “But the thing that gets people back is that we have great plants, take great care of them, and focus on customer success with knowledgeable staff. If people are successful at gardening, they will enjoy it more.”
Fibonacci Brewing Company
The country’s only urban farm brewery calls Cincinnati home. Fibonacci majority owner Betty Bollas and her husband, Bob, craft beer from ingredients they grow themselves, forage nearby, or purchase from local farms near Mount Healthy.
“Growing for ourselves and buying from local growers has always been our priority,” Betty says. “It just made sense to do the same thing with our beer.”
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While producing tasty products, Fibonacci Brewing Company is a nanobrewery, which is smaller than a microbrewery.
“You won’t find our beer in your regular grocery store or at the gas station,” Betty says. “You have to come on-site to drink it. We aim to stay small and get to know the people who drink our beer.”
Community outreach and programming have always been a Fibonacci guiding principle. They also boast a farmers market offering SNAP and Produce Perks and participate in the Aunt Flow program and the Read in Color program in conjunction with a Little Free Library.
Their monthly Fib Farm classes have covered topics ranging from making kombucha to highlighting permaculture. The property’s farmhouse has even been rehabbed into an Airbnb. The urban farm includes chickens, goats, and honeybees.
“Everyone wants to see the goats, and the chickens provide a lot of entertainment and a little stress relief,” Betty says.
Bokes Creek Winery
Wild berries and fruits growing on their Union County property inspired Mike and Diane Frasca to make fruit-based wines made mostly of estate-grown grapes. The Frascas also grow pears and source other fruits locally.
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“It’s all about Ohio agritourism here,” says Mike Frasca, owner of Bokes Creek Winery. “We grow it, crush it, and make it all right here.”
Vineyard visitors can observe itasca, marquette, frontenac gris, and other varieties. These Minnesota-bred hybrids do well in Central Ohio, but Frasca says the downside is that no one has heard of them.
“That education is part of the experience when people visit,” Frasca says.
Another talking point for visitors is Bokes Creek Winery’s award-winning Shwine®.
“It’s moonshine and wine,” Frasca says. “We made up the name, and Diane registered it. As soon as you explain it’s made of moonshine, people want to try it.”
Those deep conversations with visitors have surprised Frasca.
“Customers want to be treated as friends, not as customers,” Frasca says. “They are always asking questions on our tours. We walk through the vineyard with them or to the production building to explain how we do things, which is what I’d want to see if I was visiting a winery.”