Our story

Gary was born with a passion for farm life and agriculture later completing a degree in horticulture from Cornell University.

In 1991, his job with MSU Extension brought Gary and his wife, Linda, to Leelanau County. In 1998, on a string and a prayer Gary and Linda literally “bought the farm” and began the adventure of growing cherries while juggling off-farm careers. In addition to growing cherries for the wholesale market, Gary and Linda poured their energy and passion into growing vegetables, fruit and flowers for their family, friends and co-workers.

After retiring from a career in healthcare, Linda revived Gary’s abandoned garden of rocks with perennials. Their farm garden spaces blossomed and in 2024 Leelanau Fresh Farm Stand appeared at the end of the driveway. Gary also took the leap to full-time farming and has expanded the offerings of local vegetables and fruits to Northern Michigan residents and visitors.

We’d love to see you at our farm stand, share stories and provide you with of taste of the beauty and bounty of this place that we are so blessed to call home.