A Farm With a Cause

The owner, Esther Dormer, bought this 150-acre farm in the town of Bulger, Pa., about a half-hour outside of Pittsburgh, through a corporation for just under $400,000 in 2000, according to public records. Her husband, Brian Dormer, 54, is an airline pilot. Ms. Dormer, the co-founder of an angel investing firm, wasn't much of a green thumb. 'I never had a plant that lived more than three weeks,' she joked. But that was besides the point; she bought the farm to donate the crops to a local food bank, and teach their children a lesson about charity in the process. Roger Wade

Ms. Dormer and her family came up with a plan with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to donate their crops, which over the years included tomatoes, peppers, collard greens, cabbage and kale (before it was trendy, Ms. Dormer says). Lisa Scales, CEO of the food bank, said Ms. Dormer donated approximately 150,000 pounds of food from 2001 to 2006. Roger Wade

The property includes a historical farmhouse converted for residential use, a multipurpose barn, these twin greenhouses, a tool shed and other outbuildings. For Ms. Dormer, developing the farm also about teaching their children about the world. 'I wanted to do something that got them connected to the land, and connected to giving,' she said. Roger Wade

The main residence, this roughly 100-year-old farmhouse, was completely renovated about six years ago, and features a reclaimed barn wood exterior. The approximately 2,250-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is also a four-bedroom, three-bathroom guesthouse. Roger Wade

Ms. Dormer worked with designer Lisa Dagnal to create a naturalistic, unvarnished look for the home. 'You get the most timeless and beautiful design when you work with nature, instead of fight it,' Ms. Dormer said about her design philosophy. The dining room includes an exposed brick wall with an iron, wood-burning stove. The original wood flooring was restored. Roger Wade

The living room centerpiece consists of a concrete planter filled with moss with a sheet of acryclic on top. 'It took seven guys that were furious at us to bring it in,' she joked. "All we heard [from the movers] was, 'Why can't you be normal?' " she said, laughing. A bookcase from the far wall was removed to expose the original wood behind it. Roger Wade

The master bathroom features a natural stone tub and reclaimed wood timbers on the far wall. Roger Wade

One of the bedrooms is shown. Roger Wade

The property also has a two-story multipurpose space built by an Amish crew from the remains of an old barn. The space serves for both entertaining and storage. The lower level has horse stalls and an office space. Roger Wade

The upper level of the barn, where the couple have entertained parties of 300 people, is shown. Cement floors make the space versatile and easy to clean up, for hosting everything from Irish dances to formal dinners. Roger Wade

The lower level, pictured, is for more intimate gatherings, Ms. Dormer said. The space could be used as a horse barn, but the stalls have also come in handy for storing beer and snacks for the larger gatherings, she said. Roger Wade

'We love things looking very serene and bare,' Ms. Dormer said. Roger Wade

The property also includes five 'view houses,' one of which is pictured, spread across the property. They're positioned so that the next view house is visible from the last one, to create a sense of connectedness. Ms. Dormer says they are selling because the length of their agreement with the food bank has run out and they are looking to do new things. Roger Wade

The property was listed in May 2012 for $10 million and was reduced to $8.275 million in 2012, according to Thania Krafthefer, who is handling the sale for Grand Estates Auction Company. It will go to absolute auction—without a reserve price—on May 6 with Grand Estates Auction Company. Roger Wade