8 minute read
In the Family Three Sisters have
THREE SISTERS FARM HONORS A PASSION FOR LOCAL PRODUCE FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD
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Amanda Zaluckyj, “The Farmer’s Daughter USA”
STORY BY BECCA EDWARDS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THREE SISTERS FARM
Three Sisters Farm is a certfied organic farm that its owners say helps educate the public about farming and local produce.
If you have siblings, you understand the repartee that is generated when you are together and the seamless storytelling in which one begins a story, another interjects and yet another finishes it. Personalities emerge and there is a subtle revelry to the conversation. Listening to Beth Lee, Mary Connor, and Priscilla Coleman of Three Sisters Farm, it is evident that their bond with each other is as strong as their bond with their family’s land.
“People don’t realize there was a time when Bluffton did not even have a grocery store,” said Mary Conner.
“Mom would have to go to Savannah every six months,” added Priscilla Coleman.
“We had vegetables, cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys and goats and lived off the river. We were self-sufficient, but what we didn’t grow we had to get from Savannah,” finished Beth Lee.
This love of and living off the land transcended from childhood to adulthood and in 2008 the sisters decided to “mess around and give [Three Sisters Farm] a little try.”
With their USDA certified organic farm in the Pinckney Colony Community of Bluffton, the sisters grow certified organic vegetables, berries, herbs, flowers, sugarcane, indigo and mushrooms.
“With the exception of toilet tissue,” joked Coleman.
“But we have eggs, a garden and again live off of the river,” said Lee.
The sisters agree it is important to support local farmers and grow and eat organic foods.
“It’s important for us to help educate the general public about farming and promote local produce and flowers and sustainable practices,” Coleman said. “For me, organic isn’t just about not using pesticides on what we grow. That is one aspect, but it’s about the health and care of the ecosystem, land, soil and environment.”
Said Connor: “Most people do not realize that by eating organic, you are not putting these chemicals into other ecosystems like our rivers. That’s why we practice no till or low till, too. We are also supporting an industry that is protecting the workers who work these farms.”
Priscilla Coleman
The reaping of 2020 has enabled Three Sisters Farm to harvest new beginnings both personally and professionally.
Coleman oversees the cultivation of the flowers and indigo and is looking forward to once again offering a CSA flower subscription and returning to local farmers’ markets, as well as launching a series of workshops that teach people about natural dyes and “educate the public on how to grow your own food.”
The sisters admitted they saw “a disconnect in our younger generation who don’t understand our food system and how to cook whole foods” and expressed a passion to empower people to live, as they do, sustainably, thoughtfully and consuming nutritious foods (visit 3sistersorganicfarm.com for recipes).
Reflecting on the past year, Connor said, “During the pandemic, people saw the importance of supporting local farmers. But we have to support them all the time, not just during a crisis.”
THREE SISTERS FARM ADHERES TO THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM’S GUIDELINES FOR GROWING CROPS AND EMPLOYS ITS OWN SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES:
NO-TILL
Prevents soil runoff and prevents runoff into streams. Retains soil nutrients.
SOIL BLOCKING FOR TRANSPLANTS
Blocks are made on the farm. No plastic involved. Produces healthier plant starts.
MULCHING
Helps prevent weeds and conserves water.
COMPOSTING
Plant waste is composted.
DRIP AND MICRO-IRRIGATION
Conserves water and helps with runoff.
HAND WEEDING
Gentle on the plants and allows for less soil disturbance.
SHALLOW WEEDING
Disturbs only the first half-inch of soil. Prevents disturbance of the soil structure.
RAISED BEDS
Prevents plants from “drowning” in heavy rains.
COVER CROPPING AND ROLLER CRIMPING
Cover crops keep soil from being exposed and washed away in rain or blown away by wind. Roller crimping cover crops creates a pre-mulched bed.
BENEFICIAL INSECT HABITAT
Many flowers create a habitat for beneficial insects who help contain pest populations.
HONEY BEES
Help with pollination of crops.
OCCULTATION
Cuts the soil off from sunlight.
Source: Three Sisters Farm
[ 2021 LOWCOUNTRY ] BUSINESS & FINANCIAL JOURNAL
COMMUNITY STALWARTS : FORSYTHE JEWELERS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS ON THE MOVE REFINANCE ADVICE: MORTGAGE TIPS TO SAVE MONEY FEATURED BUSINESS: SWINGFIT’S CLUB FITTING
BY JAMES MALLORY | PHOTOS BY CAITLIN RYAN OF MEMORY LANE PORTRAITS
Andrea Bragg, owner of Forsythe Jewelers, has been around high-end bling for more than 20 years. In a year that forced a lot of people to reassess their lives and relationships, Bragg noticed a trend.
“We’ve sold more engagement rings in the past 12 months than we probably have in the past five years,” she said. “The pandemic forced everybody to hit pause and to think about those they hold dear.”
Designer rings, pendants, necklaces and earrings can be passed down through the generations. For the giver, it can be a way to show that the relationship will be long-lasting, Bragg said.
The recipient will have a reminder of a special occasion, who gave it to them and when, she said.
“This time last year, no one knew what the pandemic would bring,” Bragg said. “What makes this (40th) anniversary sweeter is that we’ve been through it and survived — which we owe to the strong support of our community and clients. It has been amazing. Forty years is a memorable number, and it is more significant because we have made it through this pandemic. It is just a testament to how relationships are important.”
Building relationships and customer loyalty start with her staff, most of whom have been with the store eight years or longer, Bragg said. The sales associates, known as the Forsythe Gems, stay in contact with regular customers, sending texts and emails about new merchandise and trunk shows. They also remind them about special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays and assist them with favorite items noted on a client’s wish list.
“We have an amazing team who care about what they do and their relationships with clients,” Bragg said. “This is a relationship business. There has to be a high level of trust when you are purchasing a piece of jewelry.”
ANDREA BRAGG
Some relationships stretch back many years, with regular clients stopping by whenever they are visiting Hilton Head Island. The retailer, which opened on the island in 1981, was founded in 1927 in Rochester, N.Y. Bragg has been associated with the jeweler for 20 years and bought the store in 2015.
“I love the business because of the relationships that we have formed with our customers over the years. It’s like welcoming family into your home,” she said. “We enjoy seeing our long-time friends, catching up with returning visitors, and enjoy meeting new people every day.”
To celebrate its anniversary, the store is hosting a Roberto Coin trunk show on April 27-28. Coin’s signature mark is a ruby, hidden inside each piece of jewelry, representing long life, health, and happiness, Bragg said. Coincidentally, the ruby is the traditional 40th wedding anniversary stone.
“The Roberto Coin brand has been a loyal partner of Forsythe Jewelers for 19 years, so it’s the perfect synergy to mark the occasion,” she said.
A sign of a successful business is the ability to adapt to its environment, including the pandemic. Forsythe Jewelers took the opportunity to revamp their website and add an online shopping component so that customers could safely shop from their homes.
“An online presence is important,” said Bragg, “because it allows shoppers to see the brands. In the end, though, people still want to touch what they are buying. And while the designer brands draw people into the store, it is the atmosphere and merchandise that customers love.”
She described the atmosphere as fun and relaxed.
“It is not stuffy,” she said. “Customers who have shopped in larger, high-end stores often comment on the extensive selection we offer and how knowledgeable and friendly our staff is. We look forward to reconnecting with our longtime friends and seeing new faces as we celebrate our 40th anniversary with the community.”
Forsythe is located in The Shops at Sea Pines Center. Sea Pines Resort gate passes are reimbursed — or call ahead and they’ll leave a pass for you at the Sea Pines Welcome Center.
