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Floating cows? Basil in bubbles? These strange occurrences can be found on some of the most peculiar farms around the globe. Some of these places are so outlandish that they're either the first of their kind or highly experimental. From a farm where the Moon holds the reins to one where running for your life is part of the routine, here are 10 times farming ventured into the bizarre.
10. Crops Grown Inside Balloons
A few years back, scuba diving enthusiast Sergio Gamberini had a moment of inspiration during a vacation. Why not cultivate crops beneath the ocean's surface? After all, the sea offers many plant-friendly conditions ideal for farming.
Upon returning to his native Italy, Gamberini set up underwater "greenhouses" off the coast of Noli. These weren’t your standard glass structures—these were large, empty balloons submerged 19.6 feet (6 meters) underwater, filled with an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Once in place, Gamberini began cultivating strawberries, beans, lettuce, and basil.
The biospheres created ideal conditions for plant growth. They kept the temperature consistent, maintained the right level of humidity, and ensured proper carbon dioxide levels. Because of this, the plants thrived.
However, nature didn’t always cooperate. On several occasions, violent seas wiped out the crops. Despite this, some believe that the rapid growth of plants inside the biospheres could provide a solution to food shortages in regions with poor agricultural land.
9. A Desert Farm That Uses Saltwater
Growing vegetables in the desert using seawater seems like a terrible idea. Unless, of course, you're Sundrop Farms in Australia. This unique farm came to life in 2014 when researchers set out to create a sustainable farming solution that didn’t rely on dwindling resources like soil, fresh water, or heavy electricity consumption from the grid.
As the world’s first of its kind, this enormous greenhouse was constructed in the South Australian desert. Crops are grown in coconut husks, absorbing sunlight and seawater. While this may sound damaging, a desalination process onsite transforms seawater into fresh water that's safe for the plants. The crops are also nourished with nutrients and sustainably sourced carbon dioxide. Solar panels generate most of the power, while a backup system linked to the grid ensures the plants’ health.
As a result, Sundrop Farms produces up to 18,739 tons (17,000 metric tonnes) of tomatoes annually.
8. A Floating Farm on the Sea
Sundrop Farms isn’t the only groundbreaking project emerging from Australia. In another effort to tackle the depletion of natural resources, the University of South Australia has pioneered a floating farm where broccoli, lettuce, and pak choi are cultivated on the sea.
The farm consists of two key components. The lower section features an innovative system that uses solar power and the sun’s heat to evaporate seawater into freshwater. The purified water is then moved to the upper deck, which resembles a greenhouse. Here, vertical crops are automatically irrigated without human intervention. In fact, the entire floating farm is fully automated and relies solely on the sun and sea to produce clean water and grow food.
Researchers aim to scale up these sea farms in the future. With the global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, such farms could provide solutions to the growing food and water shortages in the years to come.
7. Growing Algae Above Highways
Imagine cruising down a highway and driving beneath a farm suspended in a tube. You might think that the carbon dioxide rising from a busy road would be detrimental to any crops nearby. However, there's one plant that thrives on this toxic gas—algae.
In 2014, Dutch and French designers came up with a creative solution to an ongoing issue. Since algae absorb carbon dioxide and release large amounts of oxygen, placing them above a highway could help reduce pollution in a natural way.
And that’s exactly what they did on a highway overpass in Switzerland. The setup featured a viaduct where algae were cultivated in tubes, while solar panels, filters, and pumps kept everything operating efficiently.
Beyond absorbing harmful gases, a fully-grown algae crop can be harvested to produce a range of products, from nutritional supplements to cosmetics, medications, and even biodiesel.
6. A Farm Where Cows Are in Charge
On typical dairy farms, the farm manager dictates when cows eat, rest, and get milked. While this structure is efficient, some experts argue that neglecting the cows' natural preferences can harm their health, potentially impacting both the quality and quantity of milk.
In response, the University of Connecticut decided to let a herd of 100 cows follow their instincts at the Kellogg Dairy Center. The cows had the freedom to decide when to rest, where to go, when to take a break, and when to enter an automated milking machine that operated without any human help.
This automated milking system is equipped with advanced technology to identify each cow and collect data on their behavior, milk composition, and production. Video cameras around the farm and sensors inside the cows provide valuable insights into their movements, eating habits, and overall daily routines.
Researchers hope that this experiment will uncover the factors that lead to happier, healthier cows and enhanced milk production, offering a beneficial outcome for everyone involved.
5. A Farm Covered in Snow
Each year, Sunshine Village Ski Resort in Alberta, Canada, attracts skiers and snowboarders eager to carve across its pristine snow-covered slopes. But few are aware that the resort doubles as a farm—of sorts.
While most ski resorts create their own snow to open earlier in the season, Sunshine Village stands out. Instead of relying on snow machines, they harvest natural snow—a method that requires no electricity, minimal water, or large equipment like other resorts. All they need is a fence. A very long fence.
Along the resort’s highest terrains, winding through the Canadian Rockies, snow fences stretch for around 15 miles (24 kilometers). These fences are strategically placed to capture snow blown by the wind, which accumulates in large drifts against them. Resort staff then distribute the snow across the slopes.
While a few other ski resorts have adopted this technique, Sunshine Village was the first to pioneer it, and they are likely still the largest “snow farm” in the world today.
4. Cows That Float
In 2012, during Hurricane Sandy’s devastation of New York City, a Dutch engineer named Peter van Wingerden was in the city witnessing the disaster. What left the biggest impact on him was how flooding halted the delivery of food to those in need.
Long before his visit to New York, van Wingerden had been exploring ways to produce vegetables, eggs, and milk close to urban centers to improve food security. While he had a rough idea of a floating farm, it was the aftermath of Sandy that motivated him to turn this concept into reality. After seven years of planning and an investment of $2.9 million, he succeeded.
The two-story floating platform houses 35 dairy cows, grazing areas, and robots that clean up after them. The structure now floats in Rotterdam’s bustling Merwehaven Harbor, and the milk is already being sold to retailers. If the project proves successful, additional floating farms will be built, expanding to include vegetable and egg production, making urban farming more sustainable.
3. A Herd of Dangerous Cows
Most cattle farms are home to dairy cows, gentle creatures with woolly ears and calm temperaments. But on one farm in Devon, England, the cows were anything but tame. These animals didn’t include the usual dairy breeds like Fresian or Jersey—they were Heck cattle.
Heck cattle are the result of an attempt to bring back an extinct, highly aggressive species—the auroch. These wild cattle had enormous horns, large bodies, and quick tempers. Their fierce resistance to domestication led to their demise in the early 1600s, as people eventually resorted to hunting them.
In the 1930s, German scientists set out to revive the auroch. Brothers Heinz and Lutz Heck, zoologists, selectively bred domestic cattle until they created the breed now known as Heck cattle. They began their work in Weimar Germany, with full backing from the Nazi Party. Their vision included herds of wild cattle roaming the plains of Eastern Europe, a land largely cleared of non-Germans.
The Heck cattle do resemble their wild ancestors, but they also inherit the same deadly temperament. Derek Gow learned this firsthand when he imported 13 Heck cattle from Germany to his Devon farm. Although dedicated to preserving the breed, he was forced to cull seven of them due to their repeated attempts to harm anyone in sight.
2. A Legendary and Rare Tea
In the Indian Himalayas, the Makaibari tea estate is perched on the slopes. As Darjeeling’s oldest tea estate and the world’s first biodynamic tea farm, its harvest season isn’t guided by nature’s usual cues. Between March and October, pickers wait for a night with a clear sky, a full moon, and high ocean tides. They also follow the rhythms of the planets to find the perfect time.
On this chosen night, a unique and ceremonial event unfolds. Men drum while women dance and offer prayers for good fortune and protection (the area is home to wild leopards). As the moon reaches its brightest point, just after 8 p.m., workers race against time to finish the harvest before midnight. Since sunlight is thought to spoil the flavor, the tea leaves must be processed before dawn.
Though it may seem mystical, the tea produced, called Silver Tips Imperial, is in high demand. During a planetary alignment in 2014, it sold for $1,850 per kilogram (2.2 pounds).
1. Golden Dog Farm
Golden Dog Farm, located in Jefferson, Vermont, produces maple syrup, honey, fruits, and grapes. The farm also offers Happy Hour for visitors, but it’s not the cider that attracts people—it’s the golden retrievers. A beautiful group of golden retrievers, collectively known as a 'happy,' is the main reason people come, making it a delightful stop for animal lovers.
At Golden Dog Farm, dog enthusiasts can reserve an hour to be surrounded by up to 12 lovable dogs, showered with affection. The farm's owners never anticipated that their venture would become a viral sensation, but once dog owners began sharing their experiences online, bookings began to sell out fast. The dogs, meanwhile, have no complaints—they get to play with balls, cuddle with visitors, and strike poses for photos all day long.
For some visitors, the experience is an emotional one. Many come to the farm after losing a pet or from places where dogs are not allowed. Golden Dog Farm offers them a chance to be embraced by friendly, playful dogs, creating a heartwarming and joyful experience they’ll cherish.
