Our Story
Ever since Charles Gindler came to America from Germany in 1850, Gindlers have been farming in our area. Interestingly, some of the Gindler ancestors who stayed in Germany operated a factory which produced farming equipment. Our farm land was first farmed by my Grandparents, Harold & Fern Gindler, beginning in 1945. They were later joined by my father, Glenn. Over the course of our 70+ years and 4 generations, the Gindler Farm has always strived to produce the highest quality products.
The C.L. Gindler farm machinery factory in Salzgitter Bad, Germany. circa 1880.
Harold & Fern Gindler, our farm's original owners
4 Generations of Farmers
Glenn, Randy, and Harold Gindler
Glenn, Lars, and Randy Gindler
As was the case with most family farms in the second half of the 20th century, our farm adopted industrial farming practices. We used more and more pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and antibiotics. A watershed moment for us was when Harold Gindler passed away in 2001 from a rare form of cancer. The doctors reported that the cancer was most assuredly caused by exposure to farm pesticide chemicals. Even though chemicals are sometimes necessary, we began wondering if this was really a good thing not only for humans, but the farm and countryside which we love so much. We began, in earnest, to learn about and explore organic, sustainable agriculture concepts and practices.
Our current farmers: Randy & Lars Gindler
Lars with one of our first apple trees.
Starting in 2014, a remnant of the original farm was set aside with the goal of creating a small scale vegetable, fruit and grass-fed meat & egg farm using organic and sustainable practices. We planted a 50+ tree orchard and began experimenting with cover crops to help rebuild organic matter in the soil while at the same time flushing out the residues left behind from pesticides and herbicides.
In 2016, we sowed pasture grass, fenced in the pasture and purchased our first sheep and cattle. That same year, we gave our bees a treat by planting over 200 lavender plants and sowing native prairie flowers on more than an acre of our land in what has become a prairie restoration project.
We are constantly studying, exploring, and experimenting with different crops as well as methods of production in hopes of growing the most healthy, nutrient dense, flavorful products for our customers.