Unusual Farms from Around the World
A farm is traditionally associated with growing plants, mushrooms, and raising poultry, goats, cows, or sheep. It is hard for us to imagine anything more exotic on a farm than a turkey or a horse.
But human imagination does not stop there. Unique genetically modified animals, the most dangerous predators on the planet gathered in one place, amazing coffee plantations where elephants stroll leisurely – each of the farms presented in this review is unique and particularly attractive to curious tourists.
Australia, Snake Farm
In Southeast Asia and Australia, there are rare and quite dangerous farms that focus exclusively on the breeding and reproduction of snakes. They breed both harmless and quite dangerous pythons and cobras. The main sources of income are meat, skin, and venom. Considering all these components, snakes are a more expensive commodity than even gold. Snake breeding is a rather profitable business; products made from snake skin are hugely popular worldwide, and snake venom has long been actively used in medicine, with its price being very high. Additionally, you can buy a pet from a snake farm.
The snake ranch in Australia features 15 species of snakes, a significant portion of which are pythons.
Farm Growing the World's Hottest Pepper, South Carolina, USA
In South Carolina, USA, there is a farm that grows the hottest pepper on the planet – the Carolina Reaper. This plant was created by crossing the Naga Jolokia (an Indian variety of chili pepper) and Habanero. The fact that this pepper is the hottest was determined by measuring its heat on the Scoville scale. The Scoville technique is outdated, and the heat of the pepper is now determined by chemical analysis, measuring the amount of the alkaloid capsaicin. However, the scale that displays the results and the unit of measurement for pepper heat still bears the name Scoville.
In comparison, the Jalapeño pepper has 5,000 units, while the heat of the Carolina Reaper can reach up to 2.2 million units on the Scoville scale in some cases. The Carolina Reaper, declared the hottest pepper in November 2013, surpassed its closest competitor by 200,000 units. Like other close relatives from Trinidad, it has a bumpy surface and a scorpion-like tail.
American farmer Ed Currie has dedicated his life to cultivating hot peppers. Currently, in Chester County, he has several dozen acres planted with Carolina Reaper. He makes sauces and seasonings for lovers of heat.
Australia, Crocodile Farm
For those who have dreamed of observing the most dangerous predators on the planet up close at least once in their lives, a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Farm is a must – the best place to get acquainted with crocodiles and experience the wild nature of the tropics of North Queensland, Australia. The farm is something between a traditional nursery and an amusement park.
Despite the fact that Hartley’s Farm is a commercial enterprise engaged in the sale of crocodiles, it is open for tours. Travelers who decide to visit the farm should prepare for a long walk; the total length of the walkways and bridges on the farm is 2,100 meters. A boat cruise on Hartley’s lagoon will allow you to see crocodiles in their natural habitat, while a tour of the crocodile farm will educate you about the conservation of these reptiles.
Spider Goat Farm, USA
A whole herd of goats with spider genes lives in Utah. The farm is part of a large research center at the University of Utah that focuses on animal husbandry and genetics.
The silk thread of the golden orb-weaver spider is a valuable material. It combines strength and elasticity, stretches for kilometers, and does not break. However, it is very difficult to keep the spiders that produce this thread. They cannot be bred in large groups because they eat each other. Therefore, a solution was devised – researchers introduced the golden orb-weaver spider gene into a goat embryo. As a result, the animal can produce more silk thread than the spider, and there is no cannibalism. One liter of milk from such a goat contains enough silk to stretch it over 16 kilometers. At the farm, scientists process the milk from the spider-gene goats and then extract the silk, which is used to create materials such as fishing lines, bulletproof vests, surgical threads, and parachutes.
However, all attempts by scientists to create a spider breeding farm have so far ended in failure. The insects cannot tolerate each other's company, and if gathered in a confined space, they begin to fight for territory, females, and food, ultimately killing each other.
Black Ivory Coffee Farm, Thailand
The exclusive Black Ivory coffee is well known to many fans of the aromatic drink, with a 450-gram package costing $500–600, but not everyone knows where and how it is produced.
The main secret of this exclusive coffee lies in its unconventional production method; after harvesting, the coffee beans are not cleaned in the traditional way but are fed to elephants. The actual cleaning occurs in the stomach and intestines of the huge animals, and then they are expelled from the body. It is only after this that the most interesting stage of production begins – special farm staff carefully cleans the elephant dung and extracts the cleaned coffee beans – a priceless raw material for producing Black Ivory coffee.
This coffee variety is valued for having almost no traditional bitterness, possessing unique flavor properties and aroma. The coffee is expensive for a simple reason – to obtain 1 kg of finished beans, 33–35 kg of coffee beans must be fed to the elephants.
Cactus Farm, Israel
The "Orli" cactus farm spans over 100 hectares of cactus plantations, where each cactus is watered individually using a drip irrigation system. The farm grows special varieties of prickly pear cactus, a product of exclusive Israeli breeding, without the use of pesticides. The farm features cacti of several colors: red, yellow, orange, purple, and light green (the newest variety).
The fruits and stems of sabra cacti are known to help combat obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
Sabras bear fruit year-round. It turns out that not only the fruits but also the stems of the cacti can be consumed. At the "Orli" farm, you can chew on the stems, which were previously only eaten by camels. The branches of the cactus are these fleshy flat oval green pads, while the leaves are the spines.
Fruit harvesting is done with a special machine that moves between the rows. A person uses a special grabber and a long knife to cut ripe fruits. The work is not the most pleasant, but it is not particularly difficult either. We were shown the workshop and conveyor where the harvested fruits go. On this conveyor, small spines and dust are washed off under a stream of water. The cleaned fruits are sorted by weight and packaged. The product is sent to markets in Israel and Europe. Besides Israel, sabras are also grown in Spain and some Latin American countries. They are undemanding and easily adapt to a desert climate.
Walking along the cactus plantations, seeing what the farm lives on, tasting honey, jam, shakshuka, cactus sauce, and participating in a cactus culinary workshop is interesting, educational, delicious, and fun!
Leech Farms
Leeches were first used for treatment in the 17th century. Since then, traditional medicine has advanced significantly due to numerous scientific discoveries, but doctors still continue to use leeches for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. In many parts of the world, doctors continue to practice leech therapy (hirudotherapy).
The International Medical Leech Center near Moscow has been breeding leeches for almost 80 years, producing over 3 million of these creatures annually. Founded in 1937, this biofarm was initially a repository for specimens caught in the wild. The nursery still collects wild leeches and breeds them with their own to prevent inbreeding, which makes leeches less active and effective.
In the British city of Swansea, there is also a farm that produces leeches. The relevance of these farms is easy to assess by the annual income level of the farm, which amounts to about 1 million pounds sterling. The clients of the Swansea farm include wellness centers and hospitals from various countries in Europe, and the farm supplies them with about 60,000 leeches annually.
Bears and Tigers Farm "Xengsen", China
The most forbidden farm. The "Xengsen" farm in China can confidently be called Greenpeace's main enemy. The farm has been breeding bears and tigers for many years. But not to increase their populations, attract tourists, or sell animals to zoos. "Xengsen" sells its charges to restaurants. Yes, the meat of tigers and bears, although banned in many places and has become the source of numerous scandals, always finds a customer.
Over the years, the "Xengsen" farm has significantly changed its operational tactics. It has been transformed into a beautiful amusement park, where interesting entertainment events and shows are held daily for guests. At the same time, the farm has not lost its original purpose; some animals are still sent for slaughter. However, while fresh tiger meat could previously be purchased by anyone, today it engages exclusively in targeted deliveries of the delicacy, the volumes of which are strictly controlled.
Swiftlet Farm, Malaysia
In Georgetown, there is a swiftlet farm. They are bred not for meat or eggs, but for… nests. Swiftlet nests are a unique delicacy that expensive restaurants buy for true gourmets at $3,000–4,000 per kilogram. This special delicacy is hugely popular in Malaysia and China.
Nests are created exclusively with saliva. This dessert, which may sound a bit strange to our ears and tongues, has an incredible taste and benefits. That is why entire farms are created in Asian countries for breeding these birds.
In China, swiftlet nests have been considered sacred food for many centuries, and several centuries ago, only the chosen few could enjoy them. The harvesting of this unique delicacy has been done naturally for hundreds of years, with the harvest having to be conducted in the most dangerous rocky areas and caves that the birds choose for nesting.
With the advent of modern farms, the swiftlet breeding business has become one of the most profitable and promising sectors of agriculture. "Bird's nests" are referred to as "white gold" among gourmets.
Pearl Farm, Thailand
In Phuket, there are several farms cultivating pearls. Phuket Pearl Factory is one of the largest companies in Thailand, successfully growing pearls for 30 years. The main focus of the company is the cultivation of perfectly round pearls. The pearl farm itself is located in the Andaman Sea, 30 km from Phuket.
Pearl oysters are packed in baskets or nets, which are hung vertically at a depth of about 6 meters. Every two weeks, the oysters are brought up from the sea for "spa treatments" – they are washed with salt water, and parasites such as sponges and sea ducks that cling to the oysters are removed to ensure the oysters receive maximum nutrients. In such conditions, oysters grow for 2 years before they are ready for pearl production.
The value and cost of pearls are determined by their quality, which depends on size, shape, color, luster, and surface quality. The most valuable is golden pearl, followed by white/silver, then yellow and cream.
Moose Forestry Farm, Russia
In Europe, there are only two farms that engage in the professional breeding of moose, and one of them is located in Russia. The company in the Kostroma region is the only producer of moose milk in the entire country. Of course, it is less popular than standard cow's milk, but it significantly surpasses it in beneficial qualities.
Only here in Russia can you try moose milk, which strengthens the immune system, heals stomach ulcers in 95% of cases, and helps with a dozen other ailments. It is believed that moose have a diet consisting of up to 320 types of herbs.
The farm opened in 1963, when there were only two calves. Now the number of moose has reached 40. The farm is located in the Krasnoselsky district of the Kostroma region and welcomes tourists year-round.
Cricket Farms
Apparently, Americans and Belarusians have set themselves the goal of breeding the most unusual insects in the world.
In Georgia, there is a farm for breeding... crickets. The main purpose of breeding is to supply crickets to fishermen who use them as bait, but you can also buy insects for home use at the farm. In addition to crickets, Armstrong's farm also breeds other types of feed, including worms, but it is particularly noted for breeding common house crickets. Anyone interested can visit the farm to see the colorful insects that annoy rural residents at night.
In Belarus, the owners grow crickets for sale, which are then used to produce flour and fitness bars in the USA and Western Europe. The room where the insects are raised maintains a constant temperature of around 30 degrees. The crickets are fed a special mixture, and the time it takes for the insects to grow and be harvested is two months. Farmers sell a kilogram of their insects for $50. Each month, the farm harvests 300 kg of frozen crickets. Currently, the product is primarily exported to Moscow, but plans are in place to enter the markets of Asia and Western Europe.