the small farmer
pittsburgh market garden
Want access to fresh, local produce?
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Sign up for access to the freshest produce, from our farm to your inbox. Weekly updates include the fresh list for the subscription box, recipe ideas, news from the farm, and a la carte purchasing. We promise not to spam you- it’s just good, simple food and how to get it.
About the Farm
The Small Farmer is Pittsburgh-area market garden run by a married team on a quarter of an acre in Gibsonia, PA. We focus on high quality vegetable production through sustainable, small-scale agriculture...
About the Subscription
Weekly boxes are available July through October. They are between $15-$20 in value and present a selection of the freshest, peak-of-season vegetables. Expect to get three to five different seasonal vegetables and herbs in each box, with recipe and preparation recommendations. An email will announce specific availability at the start of each week, and allow you add additional veggies or change quantities. Box size may vary from week to week, and items like eggs, sourdough bread, salsa, or preserves may also be available to add on.
VEGGIES WE INCLUDE
- salad greens, spinach, kale, and microgreens
- basil, cilantro, dill, and other herbs
- sweet and hot peppers
- heirloom and slicing tomatoes
- potatoes (purple ones too!)
- greens beans and peas
- dry beans of all colors
- heirloom garlic
- pumpkins
- turnips, radishes, and beets
- broccoli and cabbage
- watermelon
- and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn How it Works!
Where can I buy your produce?
Markets for 2021 are TBD. Sales announcements are coming soon. Make sure to follow our newsletter to find where we’ll be throughout the season.
is the farm certified organic?
We are not certified organic at this time. That said, we do follow organic growing procedures, only use OMRI-approved fertilizers and additives on the farm, and practice minimum-tillage, regenerative soil-building methods to produce food that is both healthy and delicious. Check out the About Our Farm for more details.
I'm going on Vacation. What do i do with my subscription?
Your weekly subscription can be transferred to a friend while you are away. Same pick up times and places will apply- just let us know! Or, you can pause your subscription during your vacation. Please email at shell@smallfarmerpgh.com with at least one week’s notice.
I'm a chef/restaurant owner/distributor interested in purchasing!
We’d be happy to have you on board! Please email shell@smallfarmerpgh.com to inquire.
I don't like a certain vegetable in this week's box- can i substitute it?
If there’s something you’re not sure about, I encourage you to give it a try, especially just once- you never know where you’ll find your next favorite meal. In-season, just-picked produce often has a different quality from items that have been picked unripe and shipped across the country (I don’t eat tomatoes in winter at all, but I will eat them like candy when they’re ripe in the fields!). We’re also happy to give preparation tips and recipes if you’re not sure what to do with something.
That said, we want you to be happy with your subscription. If you know you won’t use an item in your box, please let us know 48 hours before your pickup day. We’re happy to substitute for other items when quantities allow.
Where do I pick up my box?
We currently have two locations- on-site at the farm in West Deer, and a scheduled pickup day in Fox Chapel. Pickup addresses will be sent after signup.
Want a different pickup location? Let us know. We’re happy to setup a new hub if there is interest in a new area.
Our Methods
Every decision on the farm is made not just for productivity, but for health. We don’t spray pesticides and only use organic amendments. We are constantly building healthier soil with minimum tillage, composting, cover crops, and more.
Our Produce
We grow heirloom and new varieties chosen for flavor and uniqueness- these are not your normal grocery store potatoes! Produce is harvested to order, which means it’s field-ripened and as fresh as it comes.
Weekly Box
Available mid-July through mid-October, our weekly boxes offer peak of season produce and are perfect for home cookers and local eaters. Each week includes 3-4 different vegetables and fruits that change with the seasons.
About Shell
Owner/Farmer
Shell is a first-generation farmer growing on third-generation farmland. Always one for adventures, working hard, and spending time outdoors, the farming bug bit hard almost as soon as they started a garden. Growing some food just isn’t enough when you can grow all of it and feed all of your friends in the process. Rather than drown in squash, they’ve decided to share it with you. Their favorite thing to grow is any vegetable that is not the color you think it ought to be (purple peppers, rainbows of potatoes, speckled beans, pink celery, you name it…). Promoting biodiversity through heirlooms and new varieties of vegetables is one of Shell’s particular passions.
Keep in Touch
Vegetable sales are directly through our weekly newsletter, make sure to sign up to follow along. Feel free to get in touch with any questions you may have, we’d love to hear from you.
Email Address
shell@smallfarmerpgh.com
Call Me
(724) 448-5729
Visit Us
Gibsonia, PA