Since 1989 Three Sisters Farm has been growing and marketing organic produce from our bioshelter ( solar greenhouse ) and gardens. Principles of Permaculture Design are used to guide farm development as an ecological system. We are located in rural Mercer County, in western Pa, 5 miles north of Sandy Lake. Our address is 134 Obitz Road, Sandy Lake, Pa. 16145 phone:724- 376-2797
Three Sisters Permaculture Design is a Consultation and Education Service.We offer consultation on organic farming, greenhouse design and management,constructed wetlands for waste water treatment, ecological landuse planning, permaculture designs , gardening, landscaping, native plants and More. Our education programs include: permaculture courses and workshops, gardening and cooking classes and More.
Please see www.sustainabledesign.net for further information on design services and associates.
Organic Seedlings: Native Plants, Herbs and More
Workshop and Permaculture Course Offerings
Organic Gourmet Produce
Salad of the Season is a Pennsylvania Mesclun (French for mixed greens salad). Our mix contains baby lettuces, many other greens and wild edibles. Ingredients change with the seasons, so our salad is always unique. We grow a wide selection of culinary herbs; several types each of basil,sages and thyme and mint, chives, dill, cilantro, parsley, sorrel, many more.
Each season brings it's special selection of crops. Spinach, lettuces, and peas in the spring, cabbage, early potatoes, baby squashes carrots and beets in the summer and autumn brings raddiccio, endive, winter squashes and an abundant cornucopia of other fall crops.Most of our crops are marketed to Pittsburgh's finest restaurants. We are open seasonally to local customers. .Please call or email to check hours before coming.We have a fee for tours.
We carry a lot of interesting garden plants each spring for sale at the farm.
For more information on our gardens Click Here ****
The following chart represents our best estimate of crops and when they will be available.
|
Crop |
June |
July |
August |
Sept. |
October |
|
Beans |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Beets |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Bok choy |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Broccolli |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Cabbage |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Carrots |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Chinese cabbage |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Collards |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Cucumber |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Kale |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Mixed greens |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Lettuce |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Leeks |
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
Radish |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
Scallion |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
Snap peas |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Sweet peppers |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
Hot peppers |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
Potatoes |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Summer squash |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Winter squash |
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
Spinach |
X |
|
|
X |
X |
|
Tomatoes |
|
|
X |
X |
|
|
Turnips |
X |
|
|
X |
X |
|
Swiss chard |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Each week subscribers will receive a box of the week's fresh produce, at least a $15.00 value. Options can be arranged for fresh herbs and flowers either as a substitute for a portion of the produce or for an extra charge.
Permaculture Consultation
Permaculture (permanent culture, permanent agriculture) is a system of land use planning which incorporates concepts of ecosystem dynamics, ecologically appropriate technologies, and an ethic of care of the earth into a comprehensive design system. Through Three Sisters Permaculture Design we offer a wide range of consultation services. While we specialize in permaculture as applied to the farm and greenhouse, we also consult on constructed wetlands, home and commercial landscapes and school projects. Since 1981 we have been studying permaculture and applying sustainable design. Our most notable work is the continuing development of Three Sisters Farm. We have also consulted on the edible landscaping and other projects at Slippery Rock University's Harmony Homestead. The bioshelter at Three Sisters farm is an example of permaculture as applied to greenhouse design and management.
Permaculture Education
We also offer a wide range of educational programs
THIS YEARS SCHEDULE INCLUDES:
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For more info contact: Darrell Frey, Three Sisters Permaculture Design,134 Obitz Rd. Sandy Lake, Pa. 16145, 724-376-2797 Email: defrey@bioshelter.com
defrey@bioshelter.com Telephone 724-376-2797 fax 724-376-4171
__________________________________________________________________________
Bioshelter Design .....
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The Bioshelter at Three Sisters Farm is a year round organic garden,compost facility, chicken house, potting room, kitchen and storage barn in one. The indoor garden is managed as an ecosystem. Based on work by the New Alchemy Institute in Massachusetts and other solar greenhouses, the bioshelter is a state of the art ecostructure. The bioshelter acts as the heart of Three Sisters Farm..We offer consultation on solar greenhouse design, construction and management.
The bioshelter is used to grow a winter salad of mixed greens, as well as herbs, flowers and transplants for the farm's four acres of gardens. The term bioshelter implies a solar greenhouse but more describes an ecological management strategy to encourage natural pest control. Since 1989 we have been evolving our plant mix and seasonal cycles as we learn from nature in the bioshelter.
The bioshelter is heated by the sun and firewood. Heat and CO2 are recovered from indoor compost chambers and used to provide bottom heat to deep growing beds. Additional heat and CO2 from the small flock of chickens also enriches the growing beds.
For more info on The Bioshelter click here ****