Discovering Nepal's Sustainable Agriculture written by guest blogger Annie McLaughlin, Canada The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) believes in the power of  sustainable agriculture , noting that  agriculture  makes up one-third of  Nepal's  GDP and is the main source of income for two-thirds of the population. Food security and adequate nutrition are important objectives for  Nepal Always wanting to explore the Himalayas and having just finished my formal education I was finally able to explore the country I dreamed about. I was even more eager to leave after putting my beds to sleep and getting a 3 foot snowfall after an incredible year of farming in Canada. It was amazing being able to come to a country where in a few hours time you can be in every kind of climate possible. From subtropical jungle to glacier ridges you can easily find everything here. This particular aspect makes farming in Nepal rather interesting, espe...

1. The Annapurna Circuit Gets Better Every Day For instant gratification,  go to New Zealand . You'll be able to snap photos of the postcard-perfect mountains from the trailhead. But compared to such instant-access treks (the bon-bons of the hiking world), the Annapurna Circuit is a full 12-course meal It starts with jungle, a monkey-and-banana-tree tangle that's a total shock even if you've been forewarned. When we entered the jungle sweat poured off us like rain as we climbed through terraced rice fields carved out of greenery. Two days later (where were the mountains?) we walked through a canyon so narrow and deep that direct sunshine only penetrated at noon. A day after that, we were in pines so tall and dense, I thought of Oregon. Finally, slowly, the high Himalaya emerged in sneak peeks and tantalizing vistas. And then the big magic: On our 10th day, we approached 17,768-foot Thorung La, the highest point of the circuit. Suddenly there was nothing but mountai...