Our Story at Gertz Farm
Gertz Farm has been a part of the Anne Arundel County community since 1908, when the farm was first purchased by the Gertz family. What began as a hardworking hog and tobacco farm has grown and evolved through generations while remaining true to its agricultural roots.
For more than a century, the Gertz family has cared for this land with pride, adapting to each new season while preserving the values of hard work, family, and community. Every generation has left its mark, helping the farm continue to thrive.
Honoring the Past, Growing the Future
Everything we do is inspired by the legacy of Allen Gertz, whose love for farming, generosity, and commitment to helping others continue to shape Gertz Farm today. We strive to honor his memory by treating every visitor like a neighbor, caring for the land he devoted his life to, and preserving the traditions that made the farm a special place for so many.
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We are equally grateful for Pam Gertz, whose unwavering support and dedication have always been an important part of the farm's story. Along with their children, David and Denise, the Gertz family has helped carry forward a legacy built on faith, family, perseverance, and a deep respect for the land they called home. This is the same land where they grew up, worked side by side, celebrated life's milestones, and built memories that span generations.
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For John Bartlinski, the Gertz Farm has been his second home for as long as he can remember. Long before he could drive a tractor or shoulder a rifle, he was riding along with his Pop Chuck and his uncle, spending countless mornings hunting and making memories in the woods. When hunting season ended, summer brought a different kind of work. John could be found alongside Allen, picking tomatoes, tending flowers, and learning the value of hard work, dedication, and caring for the land.
John's mom, Mary—known lovingly as Babcia—and Mrs. Pam shared a friendship that everyone described as one soul in two bodies. Their bond was the heart of the farm and the family that surrounded it.
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Nearly 20 years ago, right after high school, John introduced Brie to the Gertz Farm. It didn't take long for it to become her favorite place too. As the saying goes, "If you can't beat them, join them," and before long she was hunting alongside John—successfully harvesting a deer or two herself. The farm quickly became home to both of them.
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John and Brie were married on New Year's Eve in 2014, and since then they've rarely gone more than a week without visiting the place they love most. In September 2017, they welcomed their first daughter, Sadie, who has been learning the joys of farm life ever since.
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In January 2020, the farm suffered an unimaginable loss with the passing of Allen. While grieving, Brie was expecting their second daughter. Wanting to honor the man who had meant so much to their family and to the farm, they named her Scarlett All(y)n August Bartlinski. She was born on September 1, 2020, carrying a piece of Allen's legacy with her every day.
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The Gertz Farm is more than fields and flowers. It's where generations have hunted, worked, laughed, loved, and built a family. It's where memories continue to grow, legacies live on, and where we hope our daughters will someday continue the traditions that mean so much to all of us.
Our Promise
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The Legacy of Allen Gertz
Every bouquet, every ear of sweet corn, every tomato, and every smile shared at the farm is part of a story that has been growing for more than 100 years.
Thank you for being a part of the next chapter in the history of Gertz Farm.
Not long afterward, another heartbreaking loss followed when Mary's passing left an emptiness that could never be replaced. With both halves of Mrs. Pam's heart gone, John and Brie naturally found themselves spending even more time at the farm—doing whatever they could to make sure she always had a reason to smile, and of course, a box of Royal Farms chicken in her belly.
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Then came the beginning of something beautiful.
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Inspired by Allen, Mary and the endless rows of zinnias blooming across the farm, Brie started Petals, Pigtails & Pencils. What began as a small flower stand on the family's front porch was born from a simple dream: to teach their daughters the importance of hard work, serving others, and giving back to their community. That little flower stand has since blossomed into a working farm and a growing family business built on love, determination, and tradition.
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Today, every bouquet we grow is rooted in the memories of those who came before us. Our dream is to restore the Gertz Farm to its glory days—when Allen filled every inch of the fields with rows upon rows of flowers, sweet corn, and tomatoes. With the help of Mr. Richard—who we like to joke simply came with the farm—we're well on our way.
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Allen H. Gertz was born and raised on the family farm and spent his life doing what he loved most—farming. Alongside his brothers, he grew tobacco before expanding into hay, straw, soybeans, vegetables, flowers, and landscaping. In 1972, Allen built his home on the family farm with the help of family and friends, where he and his wife, Pamela, raised their family.
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For more than 40 years, Allen was a familiar face at the Riva Farmers Market, where he sold tomatoes, zinnias, mums, ornamental grasses, and other homegrown products every summer. During the winter months, he plowed snow for Anne Arundel County and many of his neighbors, always willing to lend a helping hand.
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Allen was also an avid antique tractor enthusiast. As a proud member of the Anne Arundel Antique Tractor Club, he restored more than 15 antique tractors and rarely missed the Anne Arundel County Fair each September. His passion for farming extended beyond the fields—it was a way of life that he loved to share with others.
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For the last decade of his life, Sundays became a tradition at the farm. Friends, neighbors, and fellow farmers would stop by to talk, share stories, enjoy a donut, ask farming questions, or simply spend time together while Allen worked on equipment. His shop was more than a workshop—it was a gathering place where everyone was welcome.
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Those who knew Allen remember him as humble, generous, hardworking, and always smiling. His kindness, wisdom, and love for the farming community continue to inspire everything we do.
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