Meet the Proprietors: Ron and Brenda Ginther

Long before it became the farm we enjoy today, this land was just a quiet cornfield. In 1986, fueled by hard work and a dream, Brenda and Ron Ginther began shaping it into something more — raising buildings, planting gardens, and creating a solace filled with life and meaning.

Originally from the Netherlands, Brenda immigrated to the United States with her parents as a young teenager. After attending public school in Lansing, she earned both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Chemistry from Michigan State University. After meeting Ron at MSU, where he completed an advanced degree in Physics, the two married and settled into family life in Mason. While teaching at Lansing Public Schools, Brenda spent her free time gardening, and it was during an antique-shopping trip in St. Johns that she discovered the world of herbs—and brought home her first Sweet Annie plant. As her passion and knowledge of herbs expanded, so did her dream of turning her hobby into a second career. She began experimenting with dried flowers and herbs, learning new varieties and developing floral designs. In the spring of 1986, Ron raised the first of many outbuildings on the property, a greenhouse and a small barn in which to display her creations. It was then that the Wooden Shoe Herb Farm was officially born, and earned its name—paying tribute to Brenda’s proud Dutch heritage.

Since then, the farm has grown into a beloved destination. Every structure and planted bed stands as a reminder of the care and pride Ron and Brenda put into building this farm from the ground up. Over the years, offerings have expanded to include homemade soaps, candles and cosmetics, dried culinary herbs, handmade pottery and specialty design classes. Brenda continues to deepen her expertise through ongoing study in herbs and design, including advanced training in Europe, sharing her knowledge and creativity with visitors and the community.

 

Once upon a time, the farm was home to a flock of peacocks, their jewel-toned feathers catching the sunlight as they wandered freely through the fields and gardens. Their proud calls echoed across the property, adding a touch of wild beauty to everyday life here. Over the years, however, the peacocks moved on, and the farm feels a little quieter without them strutting around and showing off their colors. Though they’re no longer physically here with us, the memory of their elegance and playful personalities still feels woven into the landscape—a lovely chapter in the farm’s story that we’ll always cherish.