Redlands Horticultural and Improvement Society General Meeting – Thursday, February 20th – 7:00 p.m.
Organic Gardening Methods in San Timoteo Canyon
Abby Harned, Three Sisters Farm
Abby Harned, co-owner of Three Sisters Farm in Redlands’ San Timoteo Canyon, California will share her passion and speak about her experiences with organic farming. Three Sisters Farm grows their produce – which includes beautiful greens and lettuces, radishes, broccoli, beets, Swiss chard and carrots, along with fresh herbs such as cilantro and basil, and flowers – on one acre of the 20 acres she and her husband Jason acquired in 2002.
Harned will explain the organic methods they use to maintain a diverse crop rotation that discourage pests, along with other techniques such as limiting deep cultivation of the soil, composting, micro-irrigation, hand weeding, and the use of green manure, mulching and natural repellants. She will also share how the planting of native trees, shrubs and flowers have attracted beneficial insects, birds and other predators for their crops, particularly their flowers and cilantro. In addition, she’ll demonstrate tools they have found helpful. “We’re often asked about backyard situations and all we can tell people is not to give up. We do find that our story inspires folks to try new things and make positive changes,” says Harned.
Three Sisters Farm has been certified organic since its inception in 2008. They sell their organic produce sold through Community Supported Agriculture or CSA, which is a locally-based economic model of agriculture and food distribution, and at the Grove School Farmer’s Market, and local restaurants.
The Church of the Nazarene is 1.3 miles East of the Redlands Mall at 1307 E. Citrus Avenue. Turn North on Grove Street to the Church Parking Lot. Enter through the Assembly Hall entrance doors. Door prizes, refreshments and an opportunity to meet the guest speaker are a bonus to the monthly meetings.