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.

90" Eco Seconds - #1 Mġarr: Malta's agricultural hub

What's your view about this first clip we're posting? Would you like to experience these locations?

We took these shots in Mgarr...a truly rich biodiversity hot spot. It is the village with the largest population of full time arable farmers. Many still work their land with the assistance of sons of daughters, and very often their spouses too. Things are not always plain sailing for farmers. They go through many adverse situations including drought periods, marketing challenges and work load. 

The reason why we are shooting these short clips is to raise awareness about the beauty of rural areas in Malta. I speak to many people who find it hard to understand that Malta has a lot of potential in eco and agri-tourism. Meeting real farmers and harvesting/tasting their produce is an experience that many enjoy. The fresh air of the countryside and scenic beauty give visitors a sense of space and relaxation. We are doing our best to include many hidden spots around the islands during our eco tours, surprising our guests with Malta's hidden assets. 

Our "Olive Themed Tour" and the "Malta Vine and Wine Experience" have brought about a new dimension of ecotourism in Malta. These tours are not just eco because we call them so. Real farmers are benefiting from these tours financially. They feel that their land and hard work is being appreciated. Without financial benefits, one cannot expect eco initiatives to last for a long time. We go out of our way to help farmers reach their goals and together create goods and services that make us proud to be Maltese. 

For more information about the principles we practice visit our website www.merillecotours.com