About Carmey Avdat Farm
Our Story
Established in 1998 as part of the “Wine Route” project in Negev Highlands, Carmey Avdat is an ecological tourist farm specializing in grape cultivation and winemaking. Our inspiration came from nature, ancient farms, gardens and different cultures. Our deep familiarity and love for the desert have been the basis for our daily lives on the farm. When we arrived at the farm during the holiday of Sukkot in 1998 we found barren desert with no trees or shrubs. Our family of five celebrated the holiday of Hanukah on the farm in a trailer with no windows, doors or electricity.Only an underground water pipe connected us and the newly planted grapevines to the surrounding desert.
The vineyard was planted in 1999 and our dream became a reality. We experienced the first snowfall that year. The guest cabins were constructed the following year to open the farm to the public and allow them to experience the Negev and desert.
Fruit trees, pools and infrastructures were built with minimal impact on the landscape. A facility for purifying waste water and a solar system for producing electricity were installed. In 2005 we established the winery – the first to operate using solar energy.
During COVID-19, we utilized the standstill to develop the farm. We taught everyone construction work, and completed the wine cellar, visitors’ center, Artists’ Village, and coffee house in 2021. The visitors’ center is named after Shmulik Rifman, initiator of the Wine Route in the Negev. Today Carmey Avdat Farm is an ecological tourist site open to visitors and hikers.
That same winter, we experienced our first snowfall on the farm - a truly mystical experience that is hard to put into words.
Agricultural and Ecological Tourism - Agrotourism
Tourists and hikers now crave authentic, nature-focused experiences. Therefore, tourism is evolving. Farms, located outside the usual tourist destinations, are opening up to visitors and offering intimate, eco-friendly experiences. Family-run farms are blending wine, olive oil, and dairy production with personal encounters, creating rich and thrilling tourism opportunities.
Ecological issues are increasingly important and a public concern. Carmey Avdat Farm has prioritized ecology since its inception and has worked to preserve the environment and cooperate with researchers for sustainable solutions. The farm promotes ecological tourism and welcomes visitors interested in learning about ecological agriculture.
Living in the desert has taught us that water is a precious resource. We use traditional and modern irrigation methods and recycle sewage water to water the vineyards. Our goal is to merge ancient wisdom with modern technology and continue innovating.
Combining ancient and modern irrigation techniques to cultivate wine grapes in the desert is extremely rare. It can only be seen at Carmey Avdat. Flash floods during the rainy season bring history and archaeology to life, as water from surrounding slopes irrigates the vines. Water recycling and sewage treatment for irrigation are in demand in outlying areas and developing countries. There are currently no optimal ready-made solutions, and users need to adapt treatment solutions to meet health standards.
The farm partnered with the Institute for Desert Research to establish a recycling system for gray water. Initially, water from guest cabins and our home was purified and then recycled for irrigation. This project was closely monitored by the Water Institute of the Desert Research Institute.
An experimental sewage treatment system was installed on Carmey Avdat Farm in 2020. Developed by the Zuckerberg Institute and Institutes for Desert Research, it is cost-effective, energy-efficient, and treats approximately 5 metric cubes of sewage per day. After undergoing physical, biological, oxidation, and intensive-physical treatments and purification, the harvested water is of tertiary-quality and suitable for irrigating all farm crops. The system’s success has led to hopes of replicating it in other locations worldwide.