Harrison Farm is home to unruly goats, bottle baby lambs, free-range eggs, barn cats, and the opportunity to do some primitive camping. How did we first hear about Harrison Farm? Was it a friend teaching goat yoga on the farm? Did we discover it via Hipcamp, looking for unique places to camp, close enough to home to bike there (i.e. within 30-ish miles)? Yes, and yes. The two go hand-in-hand.
We had heard that our energetic, caring, inspiring, and “never met a stranger” friend was teaching goat yoga in Groveport, OH. On a whim, and looking for off-the-beaten-path spots to camp on the Hipcamp website we discovered Harrison Farm and wondered – is this where she’s teaching yoga? Indeed!
With a head fuzzy from jetlag, I sat in the passenger seat on our way to Harrison Farm for the kickoff of Open Farm Days. I wanted to see my friends, after a week away on international travel. I wanted to get out of the house for a bit, having slept in after being on an adventure for over a week. If I’m honest, I wanted to see the unruly goats! I also wanted to support an independent, free-range, local farmer whose work and lifestyle are only possible because of a slew of volunteers, interns, and community support.
We’ve had lambs from Harrison Farm over to our backyard, just a few years ago, for a ‘lambgram’ around Valentine’s Day. We’d also ridden our bikes over to Groveport for a 2-night camping experience right on the farm. But we’d never made it to an Open Farm event. Without hesitation I can say that it’s such a welcoming environment during Open Farms, Sundays 1:00 – 4:00 pm ET from May to September.
Early May in Ohio is prone to pop-up rainstorms, and the resulting mud, so we brought along our rain boots (our wellies). Mine are decorated with pink and yellow flowers and chickens, so it was very appropriate for this muddy, rainy day. About 30 minutes from our Clintonville home, getting to the Groveport farm makes for a nice Sunday afternoon drive. As we got closer the rain let up and we were hopeful for a beautiful, sunny day on the farm.
We were also fully prepared to jump in puddles, should they present themselves.
To get to the farm we had to wait for a duck to finish crossing the road. They were stopping traffic in both directions. We were in good spirits and so were the habitants of the oncoming truck. We both waited patiently for ‘Donald’ to make up his mind which way he would continue – back the way he came, where his friends were still napping across the street from the main barn, or toward home.
We waited. The truck waited. We all smiled and chuckled when he took a couple of steps, first in one direction and then in the other, before deciding to head toward the barn. This is small town Ohio and the world moves at a slower pace, so no one (human or waterfowl) was in much of a hurry on a Sunday afternoon.
Once we got to the farm we were not disappointed! We saw kids (of the baby goat variety), sheep and their newborn lambs, turkeys, egg laying hens, (lots of) roosters, barn cats, geese, and even a handful of ducks that were just old enough to start laying eggs. It’s spring, so the farm was run amok with babies!
Our furry and feathered friends are likely to fall asleep in a sunbeam, so the sight of an orange feline in such a state did not surprise us.
The newest of the newborns really did steal the show! Some were so young that they were reluctant to leave mama’s side… thought they seemed to want to come join the group. They were brave and they were also oh, so shy! This little kid, however, was ready for their close-up!
There are quite a lot of roosters on the farm – we learned that many are surrendered by city-dwellers and suburbanites who decide to get backyard chickens to lay eggs – only to discover that there is a rooster in the bunch, which the city restricts. No cocks allowed! Imagine how loud it would be, if they were permitted. The farm was loud enough, like a punk band with little formal training or coordination.
One cock was trying to show off, out-calling the rest, to impress the ladies!
“An expert chef once said that Harrison Farm eggs are like velvet. I think they taste of sunshine & freedom, and I am very proud of our ladies!” (Harrison Farm website)
“My name is Katherine Harrison.
~ Katherine Harrison, Harrison Farm
I love goats, good parties, and sharing my passion for agriculture.
I find great beauty in animals — both inside and out.
The circle of life informs my values as a farmer.
I aspire to lift up the beauty of animals throughout their journey,
as part of my commitment to show respect for these amazing creatures.”
“Once upon a time, Old MacDonald didn’t have a farm.
About – “EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm with a Little Help From a Hen”
He just had a yard — a yard he didn’t want to mow. But under the direction of the wise (and ecologically sensitive) Little Red Hen, Mac learns to look at the environment in a very different way, and whole new worlds start to bloom with the help of some mud, garbage, horse poop, and worms!”
by Judy Sierra’s (story) and Matthew Myers (illustrator)
About that little brown goat I’m snuggling with in the photo above. . . well, that’s Esperanza, Instagram famous! She had the cutest ripple of fur doing a zigzag along the full length of her back. It gave her character and charm!
As a way to celebrate the full cycle of an animal’s life, while also raising funds to support the farm, Katherine has begun to participate in Oddities & Curiosities shows. I hope you’ll make an effort to attend!
“When an animal ends its journey at the farm, we compost them, and then sunbleach the skulls and bones. This is a way that I lift up the beauty of the animal through all stages of the circle of life. This is also a way to show respect for the value of life. The Oddities & Curiosities shows allow me to connect with collectors & artisans, who support my farm by purchasing these items. When I see the works of art that are created with our ethically-sourced products, I am grateful that our animals are honored in this way. Some of the best conversations that I have ever had about my farm have been at Oddities & Curiosities shows!”
Join me on my next adventure,
~ Kat
Related Links:
Harrison Farm: https://www.harrisonfarm13.com/
Open Farm Days: https://www.harrisonfarm13.com/open-farm
Harrison Farm on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harrisonfarm13
Hipcamp: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US
About Esperanza, Instagram Star: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJIjWIapeKn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm with a Little Help From a Hen”: https://www.amazon.com/EIEIO-MacDonald-Farm-Little-Help/dp/0763660434
Accidental Wanderlust 