Educational Concerns For Hunger Organization
ECHO
Testimonials

What others are saying about ECHO's Global Farm Tour:

"I am writing on behalf of the Faith United Circle of Friends to thank you and the staff for such a wonderful trip last week. Your volunteer Joanne Tenore was so knowledgeable and so interesting and it was a pleasure for our ladies... to hear about all the different types of vegetation and fruits etc. which you grow. We wanted her to know just how very much we had enjoyed the tour and how much we had learned, thanks to her !! Great outing - THANK YOU !!"

--Dorothy Mair, Fort Myers

"My family just touted ECHO; it's an amazing place"

--Beth Ann Seaman, Pennsylvania
ECHO's Global Farm Tour

A unique attraction for Lee County, ECHO’s Global Farm Tour is a fascinating 90-minute tour of the most creative working farm you have ever experienced. You will find demonstrations, plants, and techniques useful to farmers and urban gardeners in developing countries. Experience six settings of the Global Farm and taste leaves and berries while you explore rain-forest habitats, visit farm animals, stop at a simulated Haitian school, witness urban gardening techniques that allow gardens on rooftops and learn all about ECHO's mission of helping the poor help themselves. 


Appropriate technologies demonstrated at ECHO include biogas (turning cow manure into gas for cooking and lighting): a sawdust cooker; a simple solar food dryer; and more.  Tropical sheep, goats, turken chickens, ducks, tilapia, and rabbits are integrated into the farm. If that is not enough to entice you, ECHO has one of the largest collections of tropical food plants in Florida.

Come see ECHO in action!

Tour Schedule:

April to October: one guided tour at 10 a.m. Tues., Fri., and Sat. 

November to March:  tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tue.-Fri. Saturday 10 a.m. only. 

Allow 2 hours minimum.  Sorry, self-guided tours not available.

Cost:

Adults $8.00

Children 6-12 $5.00

Children under 6 FREE


Discounts are available for seniors, military, AAA members and overseas workers.


Hours:

ECHO's Tropical Fruit Nursery, Global Bookstore and gift shop are open Monday through Friday. 9-5; Saturday 9-4; Closed Sundays and holidays. 

The Tropical Fruit Nursery and Global Bookstore and gift shop sell fruit trees and the same seeds ECHO distributes to impoverished tropical farmers in 180 countries.

 

More Information

Directions

16 comments
Author: Peggy Bradley - 10/27/2009
I will be bringing a group from my church to tour the farm at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov 6. Do I need to make any special arrangements for this. We will be a group of 10-12 folks.....Thanks PB
Author: Danielle Flood - 10/27/2009
Hi Peggy! Yes, we request that groups of 10 or more make a reservation. The benefit is that by doing so, you receive the group rate of $5 per person. Please call Paula at 239.567.3315 Thanks! I hope you enjoy your tour! -Danielle Flood
Author: Danielle Flood - 11/09/2009
Hi Dan! We love hosting Home School Co-ops. A private tour can be scheduled for your group by calling Paula (number 239.567.3315. She's on vacation this week, but if you leave her a message, she'll call you back to schedule a tour.
Author: Danielle Flood - 11/17/2009
Sorry, Ive, I usually check comments on Friday, but I did not this week. Yes we do have the guided tour on Saturdays at 10 am. You are absolutely allowed to take pictures, and you can ask a few questions of your guide during the tour, but please keep more in-depth questions for a discussion after the tour is over.
Author: Danielle Flood - 12/02/2009
HI Sandra! ECHO Christmas Hours ECHO will be open as usual on the 23rd with tours at 10am and 2pm and closed on the 24th and 25th, but open for our 10am public tour on the 26th. I hope you and your guests are available to come visit then!
Author: Connie Marthaler - 12/08/2009
Hi I have just heard about you and will possibly be trying to come and see you this winter I am in WI i am very intrested in learning all I can to help my farmers I work with in Aquin, Haiti. Do you ever go to Haiti? I would love to take you to my farmers.My husband will come to FL with me he is a veterinarian. Wants to learn from you. Bless you for what you do
Author: Stephanie Campbell - 12/14/2009
Our upper elementary after school program for at-risk kids will be creating a garden and studying gardening lessons this winter/spring and we would like to bring the children for a tour in April. We would like two tours of 30 children each. The kids are off school the week of March 29 - April 5. Can we schedule two tours that week? Which days would be best?
Author: ash simpson - 01/17/2010
You are featured on Day of Discovery. I have always had the greatest respect for soil and have always used natural means to grow crops, etc. However, in noting your devotion to soil, may you eternally have to tread barefoot on wire cage mesh, as do your rabbits. Too bad they aren't plants; they would receive kinder treatment.
Author: Monica Shieh - 01/27/2010
Inquiring about information for tours for our local cubscout group. Do you ever do tours at different times? Specifically Mondays at 6pm is when we meet. Would that be a possibility? Thanks, Monica
Author: Anonymous - 01/28/2010
You mentioned a senior and AAA discount. What is the price?
Author: Danielle Flood - 02/05/2010
Hi Monica, We definitely do group tours at separate times, but 6 pm would be too late because it gets dark shortly after. Please Contact Paula Strahl to see if another time would work for your group. Senior price and AAA Member price is $5.
Author: Bryan Jones - 03/02/2010
Can you confirm if you will run tours on Friday, April 2nd?
Author: Danielle Flood - 03/04/2010
Bryan, I'm sorry, ECHO will be closed on April 2nd in observance of Good Friday.
Author: Marilyn Chassagne - 03/24/2010
I have a group going on a short term mission trip to South Africa this September. One the the activities the group will be involved in is teaching the locals to grow gardens in an effort to have them help themselves with food. Would a tour be adequate to teach the missionaries techniques we can bring to South Africa?

[Editor's Note: Hi Marilyn! ECHO's Global Farm Tours are focused on giving the public an overview of ECHO's ministry around the world with an emphasis on some of the techniques that could be used to assist others. That being said, one 90-minute tour would not be enough to train your people to train those in South Africa. Please look into our guided Self Study Program (http://www.echonet.org/content/studyprogram) or Introduction to Tropical Agriculture workshop (http://www.echonet.org/content/coursesAndWorkshops) for more hands-on training that we can offer you. Thanks!]
Author: Mary Jo Golley - 07/12/2010
My two sisters and I visited the Nursery and Farm on 7/10/10. We were elated to see such innovations towards self sustenance. ECHO provided me with hope for the future of man and earth and the partnership we should be seeking to sustain our planet and its inhabitants.
Author: Anonymous - 08/16/2010
Suggestion; Print your various hours on every piece of info on website...Thanks
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