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THE FOOD SHOP

BY ERICA MARCUS | erica.marcus@newsday.com

July 3, 2008

A Cornish X Rock chicken from Wildcraft Farms in Swan Lake; the farm sells its chickens at the Islip farmers market. (Photo by by Ed Leonardi)

Wildcraft Farms

The farm is in Swan Lake, N.Y. The farmer can be found at Islip Farmers' Market (Town Hall parking lot on Montauk Highway) on Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon and Huntington Farmers' Market (Elm Street parking lot on Main Street) on Sundays, 7 a.m. to noon

THE GOODS Ed Leonardi sells chickens (plucked, cleaned and frozen) that he and his wife, Christi, raise on their 18-acre Catskills farm. The breed, Cornish X Rock, has lean, flavorful meat. Leonardi's birds range anywhere from 2 1/2 to 4 pounds and sell for, on average, $12. He's gotten a great customer response so far, selling out in two hours. Customers who buy a chicken one week, he said, "come back the next week for two."

WHAT THE CHICKENS EAT After they leave the brooding shed, the birds spend the next few weeks on pasture, eating their choice of grass or feed. Once they've "mown" the grass within their electric net, they are moved to a fresh area of pasture. Of course, they leave the old area well fertilized.

THE STORY Leonardi grew up in Kings Park and settled on Long Island. In 2005 he left his job as an operations manager and moved full-time to the upstate farm he and his wife bought in 2003. After an unsuccessful attempt to grow gourmet popcorn, he turned to poultry.

THE FUTURE Leonardi plans to start selling eggs later this month, and next year he hopes to bring his pastured beef to market.