Too cute to be true!

The farmer is proud about his latest addition in the family

90" Eco Seconds - #2 Mdina & Rabat : Vine and wine experience

        Amoureux de nature et de gastronomie, venez vivre une expérience hors du commun dans la campagne maltaise autour de la fabrication du vin. En voici un aperçu en images.

Découvrez Mdina l'ancienne capitale de l'île, qui vous offre un incroyable voyage dans le temps grâce à son architecture traditionnelle, ses étroites ruelles et l'impressionnante cathédrale Saint Paul. Depuis ses remparts, profitez d'un panorama exceptionnel sur Malte.

Notre expérience se poursuit non loin de là au milieu des vignes de Rabat où vous recevrez l'accueil chaleureux d'un agriculteur local qui prendra le soin de vous faire visiter sa ferme entretenue depuis des générations. Vous déambulerez au coeur de l'exploitation et notre guide expert vous expliquera tous les secrets de l'activité viticole. Dans ce cadre idyllique vous aurez le privilège de déguster les nombreux produits locaux et notamment vous succomberez au savoureux vin fruité produit à base du raisin issu d’un terroir baigné de soleil.

                                        

Enfin, à proximité, rejoignez le village de Dingli et ses falaises escarpées qui surplombent la splendide Méditerranée. Promenez-vous sur les landes et découvrez une nature préservée dans laquelle cohabitent une faune et une flore unique.

Emotions garanties pour cette expérience insolite !

Si vous souhaitez recevoir plus de renseignements sur nos excursions, n'hésitez pas à visiter notre site internet Merillecotours.com ou écrivez nous à notre adresse internet à info@merillecotours.com 

Retrouvez-nous sur Facebook et sur Twitter.

An Apple a Day

Hey Merill fans,

A proud young farmer happy about his ripening apples

After Thursday's local TV episode of "Ilsien in-Nisa" featuring Merill Eco Tours, we are very happy with all the positive comments received by email and on our Facebook fan page. This gave us fuel to keep working hard to bring about the best agri and eco experiences for locals and tourists all year round.

The grey and windy weekend in Malta did not discourage people from going out to enjoy the countryside.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit some fields in Mosta where John Gauci, is cultivating some delicious fruits and vegetables. Onions, courgettes, olives and pomegranates are grown with great care, making sure good farming practices are followed.

John, is a 19 year-old young farmer who is still pursuing his studies. The fields he's taking care of are located in an area where rural structures with impressive architecture are found. Unfortunately most of these are crumbling down and are in need restoration urgently. Urban sprawl and the continuous struggle with the Planning Authority are the major set backs of farmers in the area. 

Nonetheless, John is not discouraged and with a lot of hard work and continuous encouragement from his family, he keeps on doing his best to improve the land. During the visit he showed me around and at one point in time he directed our attention towards a small tree sheltered by reeds. It was the indigenous apple tree variety of Malta known as Ta' Belludja. It reminded me of a University assignment I prepared some years back which dealt about this particular tree. I remember my disappointment when at the time I discovered how much little literature was available on the subject. The picture above shows John and the apples, ripening nicely in time for the summer months ahead.

I was really fascinated about the history behind this variety. Will keep you all posted about the ripening apples. Rest assured that I will be one of the first to taste them :)

Jeanette

An annual event not to be missed!

You can't miss this event! This is the third time round that an open weekend is being set up. 

Though I am not as physically present as I used to be at MCAST Agribusiness, I am still very attached to lecturing, being with a dynamic team of lecturers and students. This will be a good opportunity for me to come and say hello :)

This is an event for all the Maltese people and foreigners living in Malta who want to learn about the great job these students are doing. 

See you there.

Jeanette

Ilsien in-Nisa goes Eco

Hello Merill Fans,

Hope you're all doing great! We're as busy as bees and looking forward for the summer season to begin. Here are a few words and pics about yesterday's programme of "Ilsien in-Nisa" which was aired on One TV.  By popular demand the station will air it once again tomorrow morning, Saturday 19th May at 8.45am.

"Ilsien in-Nisa" is a fresh programme presented by four dynanic well known personalities. Clare Agius is the leader who ignited the idea and takes care of the production. The other ladies are full of charm and energy bringing about interesting topics every week.

This week the programme featured Ecotourism in Malta. As Merill Eco Tours we took the ladies out for day  in the heart of the Maltese countryside. I met Moira Delia, Claire Agius Ordway, Pauline Agius and Valerie Borg in Mgarr early in the morning. First we went to pick some delicious strawberries for which Mgarr is famous for, and then went to meet a family of farmers who manage a beautiful olive grove. There we all had some tea and coffee with traditional Biskuttini tar-Rahal, which is literally translates to Village Biscuits. After touring around the olive grove where free range chickens are reared, we tasted some local delicacies such as extra virgin olive oil, sun dried tomatoes and pickles onions. It was great enjoying a beautiful day with all the four ladies, and the family who hosted us.  

The programme highlighted the Principles of Ecotourism, and how Merill Eco Tours started off in January 2011 by creating a network of farmers to bring about a wave of fresh experiences to locals and tourists. The concept behind all this is to create awareness about agriculture in Malta and to draw towards the rural community a new source of income. 

I would like to say a big thank you for this opportunity to the production team of "Ilsien in-Nisa" and One TV.  

Stay tuned :)

Jeanette 

Fresh fruits and veg and many other goodies

The banana tree made a hit!

Claire Agius Ordway followed by the rest

I was honoured to be with four such lovely ladies

Photos by Steve Gauci

For more information about the whole range of experiences we offer, one can visit the Merill Eco Tours website. We organise experiences upon request for small and medium sized groups. Feel free to email us on info@merillecotours.com or call us on 21/27411388.

Good Vines and Wines in Malta

Hello Merill fans,

Hello!

Hope you're all doing great! Just a short update about our activities in Malta. The weather is perfect...sunny and warm in the morning and cool in the evening. Vines have now greened the valleys and hills of the Maltese countryside. We're keeping our farmers busy with agri experiences right now. Visiting Valletta and Mdina is a must if you come to Malta, and so are our experiences which take place just a few kilometers away from these well known cultural sites. In just a a matter of hours we accompany our guests at the best locations of our island. 

Our network of hard-working farmers, enables us to choose the perfect venue, be it a secluded olive grove or a vineyard with stunning views in the heart of a rural area. Here are some photos for all of you to enjoy!

Should you need more info about our alternative experiences, visit our website and send us an email on info@merillecotours.com.

Saħħa!

Jeanette

Vines have now turned the landscape in Malta green

A boy's toy!

One last strawberry... et voila!

Ready!

Wie Merill Lokale Produkte, arbeiten wir mit den lokalen Bauern, um Erfahrungen zu Einheimischen und Touristen bieten, sowie vertreibt eine breite Palette von Produkten während der Besuche auf Bauernhöfen. Unser Sortiment umfasst Olivenöl, Wein, getrockneten Tomaten, Meersalz, Zwiebeln Gewürzgurken und Honig.

Vines, Wines and Stunning views in Malta

Vines look splendid at this time of the year!

Preparing the local products display

Ready to be tasted!

Seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables

Spring weather is a blessing after a rainy winter. We're as busy as bees preparing for experiences to take place in the next few weeks. Tasting of delicious local products and relaxing in farm setups, is an excellent treat whether you're a local or a foreigner who is luck enough to be in Malta. Extra virgin olive oil, honey and strawberries all make tasting sessions uniquely Mediterranean. Strawberry picking activities are also in full swing and we're now very eager to hold the first sea salt harvesting sessions of the season in June.

If you're thinking of organising a stress-free eco experience, give us a call on 00356 79411388 or email on info@merillecotours.com

For more details please visit our website!

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Wie Merill Lokale Produkte, arbeiten wir mit den lokalen Bauern, um Erfahrungen zu Einheimischen und Touristen bieten, sowie vertreibt eine breite Palette von Produkten während der Besuche auf Bauernhöfen. Unser Sortiment umfasst Olivenöl, Wein, getrockneten Tomaten, Meersalz, Zwiebeln Gewürzgurken und Honig.

German Agriculturalists Training in Malta

Display of agricultural products from Malta

Anzeige von landwirtschaftlichen Erzeugnissen aus Malta

Explanation about the location

Erklärung über den Standort

Visiting small fields where Mediterranean fruit trees are grown

Visiting kleine Felder, auf denen mediterrane Obstbäume angebaut werden