Real Farm Life in Harbor Springs, MI

Little Dipper goes the furthest north they’ve ever been, to Harbor Springs! And what better place for a country band than a farm.

Pond Hill Farm, which has grown to 238 acres, has a rustic, real and intentional, on-farm vibe. An on-site saw mill provides wood for the countertops throughout the facility and slabs customers can purchase. “We wanted to use pieces from our land in the building,” Marci says.

The farm has goats, pigs, chickens and bunnies, too. “That’s been dramatically downsized since I first came to the farm,” Marci says, noting there used to be upward of 40 cows, and a whole herd of sheep, pigs and chickens. “The whole process was not financially viable, so now the animals live here for our guests to enjoy,” she adds. People particularly like their chicken wagon, a mobile chicken house that allows chickens to forage on new ground as the wagon and fencing are moved to new areas of the farm as cleanup after harvest. The farm hosts many educational fields trips. “We are teaching kids about where their food comes from, parts of the plant they eat, and making good choices in what they eat,” she adds.

There are four hoophouses on the farm with three heated. “We’re growing things year-round like kale and spinach in the winter, and in the summer, we’re doing everything from tomatoes and broccoli to cucumbers and peppers — it’s really the whole gamut,” Marci says. In the fall, the farm hosts its very popular fall festivals on the weekends, including music, bonfires, squash and pumpkins. They can draw up to 1,000 people a day.  “Our giant pumpkins are a hit,” Marci says. “My husband is obsessed with growing giant pumpkins. It’s his favorite thing. … Well, it’s more like pumpkins, fish and beer.” The farm was named after the pond Jimmy’s dad dug on the property when he was a youngster. It’s used for irrigation, but also has schools of fish — rather large trout.