A mere stone’s throw east of Rickenbacker airport rests an oasis of serenity that needs
to be on your list of places to visit this holiday season. If for no other reason than to
experience “a magical and ridiculous place full of unruly creatures,” (700 of them, to be precise) as Harrison Farm’s head farmer, Katherine Harrison, calls it.
Now, you may be saying to yourself, 700 animals can’t possibly be calming. But there you’d be wrong. Not only is the farm a place where you can find serenity, but it’s also where Goat Yoga classes and educational tours fill the days while on-farm dinners and private parties carry into the night. A place where the circle of life is deeply respected which guides every part of the farm—a place where holistic farming is practiced in every sense of the approach.
Perhaps what’s so remarkable about Harrison Farm is the philosophy that governs it. The serene interconnectedness Katherine, a fifth generation female farmer, imbues into it and how it recaptures the value of everything in and around the farm.
“From Halloween gourds to the grand champion pumpkin at the Circleville Pumpkin Show to recycled egg cartons to old towels and bedding to expired bread and produce from local food pantries—we can put almost anything to use at Harrison Farm," Katherine explains.
It is through partnerships with neighboring businesses like Strader’s Garden Center, the Circleville Pumpkin Show and Dill’s Greenhouse that allow Katherine's interconnected philosophy to manifest—the same way it does with the animal bones she ethically sources for local artists.
"[The circle of life] defines everything I do as a farmer," Katherine says. "As a steward of the earth and the creatures upon it, I endeavor to show respect for it.”
Along with holistic philosophies, setting foot on the Harrison land is a way to dip into a
farm run by a fifth generation Harrison. In fact, that big red barn? That is where Katherine’s great-great-grandfather tended sheep—just as Katherine does today.
Seeing an active farm that has lasted nearly 100 years under one family is awe-inspiring to say the least. But it hasn’t been easy. Katherine had to purchase the land at auction after her grandmother passed on. The resilience that has kept this farm relevant these past 10 decades owes its thanks to the Harrison family values—how everyone is a part of the same ecosystem.
Katherine credits her grandparents for this straightforward mindset. Like when they taught her stewardship with the phrase: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” With these words, Harrison makes sure to “never waste food, resources, opportunities or life.”
And life is what you will find in spades at Harrison Farm. There are sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, a horse, a donkey, two working dogs, a rescue dog and 25
rescue cats. In addition to animals, humans also roam the farm, from high school and college students who experience Katherine's immersive internship program to young adults "who just want to learn about farming.”
“I could not do what I do without the amazing community which supports me,” Katherine
states. “I am grateful to have people send donations, help with specific projects, drop off bags of cat food, attend our Goat Yoga classes, send LambGrams and remind me to take care of myself, too, from time to time.”
If you’re looking to get away from the stress of life this fall, we invite you to experience the alluring purity that Harrison Farm generously offers.
"As a steward of the earth and the creatures upon it, I endeavor to show respect for the circle of life.”