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Ron and Shelly Muzzall are the fourth generation on the family farm on Whidbey Island.
In 2010 the farm will become a centennial Washington farm. They have three
daughters. That is where the 3 Sisters Family Farms name was derived from. The farm
consists of 600 acres mostly hay and pasture but they also raise Cabbage for seed
and barley for their layer flock and hogs They currently run about 150 mother cows
using all the offspring to supply grocery stores, internet and farm stand sales.
They belong to Island Grown Farmers Cooperative where they have their grass fed
beef and all natural hogs processed under USDA inspection.
The Muzzall family has long been recognized for their conservation and sustainable
practices. It is really just a way of life from what we eat to how we heat our home.
This has really not changed for many generations. The biggest problem on any farm
is really just cash, from generating it to keeping it. So conserving is a way of
life, from used wire to used equipment. We utilize the manure from our animals for
fertilizer in the form of dry manure and liquid manure from our lagoons. Most of
our seed down consists of either Alfalfa and grass or Clover and grass. The compliment
of legumes and grass provide for each other. With 95 percent of our land in sod
or timber you can only imagine the carbon sequestration that exists. We use a integrated
pest management system and realistically the 95 percent of our land that is in sod
never sees any pesticides. Our biggest weed control challenge is our fencerows and
our timber and agricultural land interface. Pesticides and commercial fetilizer
cost cash and we use as little as possible in order to remain sustainable. Ron and
Shelly have been involved with farmer cooperatives, their church and served on various
county committees. Our goal is to continue the family legacy of sustainable farming
on Whidbey Island.
"Shelly D - I just wanted to praise you guys on an amazing product! The pepperoni you make is the best I've ever had. No kidding. Just felt like saying so!"
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