Goslings

     One of the things we take pride in is making sure all of our birds have moms.  While we do raise hybrid cornish cross birds we import from the hatchery, we synchronize their arrival with hatch dates of our broody hens (Turkey and Chicken) so they will be raised with and by other birds.

  Folks familliar with raising "meat birds" have been suprised by seeing our imported hybrids foraging and perching.   Far from the 'Frankenbirds' of broilers raised without a momma hen teaching them, these birds, raised by laying hens and Turkeys *  are happy, "birdy",  enjoy a diversified menu and don't require electricity to keep warm.

   We also raise beautiful Heritage Breeds of chickens, Turkeys and Geese.  Follow the Hobbiton Hatchery link from the site map page for more about what we rais and how.

With the extra care and attention these birds have,  farm sales don't generate enough income to be monetarily profitable.  The birds are, however, an important link in the collaborative offerings here and lighten the ecological footprint of our projects here.

 

 

*both Toms and Hens share the work of keeping them warm 

The Inn-stead works  in concert with other cottage industries to provide a farm stay experience for friends, families, civic clubs and work groups on retreat from urban and sub-urban landscapes.

  Part Inn, part homestead, this place hosts recreational trails, daily routines of a small scale diversified farm, workshop space and mentorshipi opportunities.   Guests are offered space to involve themselves in systems here that feed, clothe and house sustaining lifestyles... or to simply become familliar with nearby farms that feed them during their stay.    

    Visitors are encouraged to visit seasonally for rest, recreation and enjoyment of the year's progress.  INNstead hosts will, upon request, facillitate relationships between guests and local farmers that send farm stay guests home with locally sourced whole foods and ready meals that fill their home larders and freezers, nourishing returning farm stay folks in their daily lives between retreats.

The Inn-stead here at The Garcelon House means to be a pilot project for reinventing the town farm model for the 21st century by seeding an ag based hospitality cottage industry.  We call this project "Joy Town Farm" as Troy was once named Joy.  For more information about this initiative, visit the Joy Town Farm portion of this website by clicking on it's link on the site map page.

If you'd prefer to avoid the service fees assosciate with online transactions you can mail a payment to The Garcelon House at 198 Ward Hill Road in Troy, Maine, 04987.  If you care to set up a payment directly from your bank or credit union to TGH'S credit unon,  become a member through our website and we can make that arrangement.  Thanks for your consideration!

Reducing the administrative costs of moving money means the stewards of our mission, as well as the farmers, shepherds, food and fiber artists have more time and money to spend doing the work we're here to do.