After managing a local nonprofit farm for a couple of years, Jeff Schreiber with his wife Kelly Kiefer decided to start their own organic farm in Campbellsport, WI, calling it Three Sisters Community Farm. Three Sisters has been a certified organic CSA farm since 2011, and the name of it was inspired by the interrelation of the three main agricultural crops – corn, beans, and squash.
Talking about the early days, Jeff says that they started small, with just six CSA shares and selling at the local farmers markets, which eventually grew into solely focusing on CSA. Getting the organic certification was a must for Jeff and Kelly, since they were already familiar with the process from their experience at the other farm and being consumers themselves. “I think there is a lot of integrity to having the organic label,” Jeff says.
When it comes to sustainable farming practices, Jeff says that they are inspired by the method of biodynamic agriculture, which is an organic way of farming that was developed in the early 20th century and is not quite the same concept of organic farming as we understand it today. One of the main goals of this practice for Three Sisters is to meet most their fertility needs within their farm.
“Most organic farms get their fertilizers imported from other sites, often from large animal operations, which is allowed under the current organic standards,” Jeff says. “It is challenging to meet our needs in that way, and we are not perfect, but it is our goal to strive for using as much fertilizer from our own farm as possible.”
Another way Jeff and Kelly take care of their land is having a long-term lease with some ecologically minded investors who purchased land around them. “This is our second year on the land, and it is an exciting opportunity because we would not have been able to afford to buy it ourselves,” Jeff says. With the land come certain stipulations – they have to maintain the organic certification, and a portion of the land has to be a native pollinator habitat. Jeff and Kelly have planted fruit trees to diversify the landscape and to ensure that not all of it is productive farming land.
“It’s hard to see the real degradation of the landscape in rural Wisconsin, since we live out here and see it all the time,” Jeff says. “In general, mainstream agriculture does not promote soil health and environmental responsibility.”
As the name suggests, Three Sisters Community Farm is about building a community, and Jeff says that they are inspired to keep the original CSA idea of building close relationships with their customers. “In this time, everything is digitalized, and the CSA system can become just a subscription,” Jeff says. “The idea of CSA to us is about trying to develop a relationship with the members.”
Beside becoming a member and buying a share, Three Sisters is open for volunteers to help on the field and experience what it means to be on a small-scale vegetable farm. “This year we had so many people come out, and I could tell that people from the city were happy to get a little taste of country air and contribute to our work,” Jeff says. “We try to engage as much as possible, and it is important for us that people feel a part of something and making an impact.”
To learn more about Three Sisters Community Farm and volunteer opportunities, or sign up for a CSA share, visit http://www.threesisterscommunityfarm.com/