SCHOHARIE COUNTY — The rich soils of the Schoharie Valley region were known as “the breadbasket of the Revolution” in Colonial days, and a group of local agricultural tourism promoters hope events this weekend will encourage more visitors.

The “Pick Our Valley and Pick Our Brains” program features several farms, specialty gardens and the Landis Arboretum offering farm and garden tours, corn and egg gathering and other events.

“It’s been a slow year,” said Cooper’s Ark Farm operator Phil Metzger, coordinator of the project. He said high gas prices are limiting trips to the region.

“We have regular visitors from Long Island and Westchester who haven’t come up this year because of the economy,” he said. “We’re hoping with this, people will see more of the valley and Schoharie County … and we hope they’ll come back,” Metzger said.

The self-driving visits are not free, but Metzger said charges are modest and visitors “will get additional value” as more activities are available at multiple sites.

Participants can start at any of the sites and visit one or all for various prices.

The farms are open Saturday and Sunday, but a tour of four area gardens will be on Saturday only, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to Landis Arboretum spokesman Thom O’Connor.

Charges differ on the farm sites, but a $10 ticket will cover all the gardens.

Promotion of the events was helped by a $4,000 grant from the Pure Catskills program of the nonprofit Watershed Agricultural Council, Metzger said.

In addition to the opportunity to buy freshly grown foods, he said, visitors will learn about where it comes from.

At his own Cooper’s Ark Farm, at 145 Ark Lane, Schoharie, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, participants can see various animals and poultry and collect their own brown eggs from Rhode Island red hens for $10 per person, including a dozen eggs.

Without eggs, it costs $8, including a hay wagon ride. Visitors will also observe egg washing and “learn more about salmonella and the importance of cleanliness,” Metzger said.

Also holding Saturday and Sunday events are:

u Barber’s Farm: 3621 State Route 30, Middleburgh, with a pick-your-own corn and hay wagon farm tour, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m for $6 per person, including four ears of corn.

u Bohringers Fruit Farm, state Route 30, Fultonham, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for berry picking and fresh ice cream at regular prices.

Horsemanship demonstrations are scheduled by JD Winslow Equestrian Entertainment on Saturday at the Barber’s Farm and on Sunday at Cooper’s Ark Farm.

The Saturday garden tours sponsored by the Landis Arboretum in Esperance include the arboretum grounds, as well as sites in Jefferson, Summit and Cobleskill.

A $10 ticket is available at any of the sites, including:

u The Carole and Robert Olsen Homestead, 1102 Westkill Road, Jefferson. Daylilies, salvia, oriental and Asiatic lilies, buddleia, roses, clematis and phlox are featured.

u Rosman Gardens, 1136 Enid Road, Summit, is a private botanical garden in the woods that includes native plants and ornamental grasses and garden perennials.

u Swallow Hill Flower Farm, State Route 10, Summit, includes an alpine garden and a variety of plants and daylilies.

u The State University of New York at Cobleskill, Curtiss Mott Hall, will feature teacher Terry Forsyth answering questions in the greenhouses.

Local history is also featured, with the Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie open both weekend days for $4 per adult admission.

The Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave is also open for regular admissions of $1.50 to $8.