GEMEL TRUST

When you look after the land it will look after you!

George and Ellen Bartlett run Gemel Trust Farms. They’ve been farming in the district for the past 30 years. They are predominantly dairy with some sheep and beef and also some agricultural contracting around the area.

They’ve had and have a great team working for them over the years helping to make the business what it is today, and were thrilled to be nominated as a Sustainability Improver.

Wanting a farm they can leave to the next generation in a better state than they found it, has always been a driver for them.

They have lived on their Stanway farm for the past 16 years. “We have worked with Horizons Regional Council planning on setting aside land to plant trees on and have since planted over 20,000 native trees and several thousand Eucalypts for shade and shelter for animals. The trees are starting to really grow now and it is exciting to see.”

They are on a district water scheme which is not an unlimited supply. “We are very frugal in our water use. We recycle wash water to wash yards and have water saving devices where possible.

We winter milk our herd to protect the soils and lessen compaction and have just invested in building a wintering barn for housing cows during wet periods.

Gemel Agriculture Trust

Stanway Farm

027 442 9940