Harnois Farm

About Harnois Farm

Situated just north of Ann Arbor, Harnois Farm features an assortment of rare and conventional birds. Heritage breed turkeys, like Narragansetts, scamper alongside the more common Broad Breasted Whitesâ”the breed that typically adorns most Thanksgiving tables. Heritage chickens, provide eggs. And the farm even claims a flock of guinea hens and the occasional duck and goose whose eggs are sold as a prime ingredient for flan.

John Harnois, who raises all of these birds with the help of his eight-year-old son, manages his farm as a model of proper land stewardship and animal husbandry. The birds are given free access to the outdoors where they can scratch and peck about as they please and at night they're tucked away safely into a coop to protect them from predators. John even takes his birds to local schools where he teaches the kids about what it really means to be a good steward of the farm and animals. As he says, âœI love my birds.â

This year (2006), John will offer a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for those interested in purchasing a bird for the holidays. Through the CSA, customers put down a deposit early in the year to reserve their turkey. In the end, CSA members will pay $8/lb, while non-CSA members will pay $10/lb. John anticipates that he'll have 100 each of the Broad Breasted Whites and Narragansetts. CSA shares will first be available in mid to late winter and it is advised that customers contact the farm early to make sure there are still shares available.

Aside from the turkeys, broiler chickens are also available for purchase from May through November. Harnois Farm eggs are also sold at two local markets, where they have become the stuff of legend, or as John says, âœthey've developed a cult following.❠Customers have been known to get forlorn when they find that the high-demand eggs have sold out.

Be sure to contact the farm for more details.