Pahl's Farm
A Maryland Family Tradition for Generations
Pahl Farm History
The Pahl Family has been
farming for over 100 years. Peter Gompf, who came from Germany
passed the “Home Place” located in Pikesville to his Granddaughter
Lillie Gompf who married Clarence Pahl. She ended up with this
property because it was the parcel her father got by drawing straws
with his brothers. Wow. Talk about luck of the draw.
Lillie Gompf married
Clarence Pahl around 1915 and they lived on one of the Gompf
properties in Pikesville. Lillie and Clarence Pahl grew crops,
raised chickens, eggs and pigs. They sold their products from
the farm and they attended Lexington Market on Saturdays. When
Leslie Pahl (Sr) was born, the last of the Pahl children, He lived
and worked on the farm. When he married Mary Jane Cunningham,
they both worked on the farm.
In 1956, a year after Leslie Pahl Jr
was born, they opened a produce market on the farm. In the beginning
they sold their produce off of tables made of sawhorses and boards. A wood structure was built in
1959. This building burned in 1972 after being torched by
neighborhood kids. The block building that was built in 1972
still stands. It is open during the summer. In 1988,
Greenhouses were built behind the market to “modernize” the plant
growing operation. The old converted chicken houses were
retired.
In 1975, Les Pahl Sr, Mary Jane and
Les Jr purchased a 135 acre farm in Granite, only 8 miles from the
“home place” in Pikesville. It was property that had not been
farmed for many years. Over the next few years, the ground was
cleared. Ponds were built. Many conservation strips and
waterways were built and installed.
Les Jr and Pam had been working
together and dating for quite a few years. They married in
1978 and lived on the Granite farm.
In 1977, a call came from then Mayor
Schaefer’s office inviting us to participate in a new adventure.
A farmers market was going to open in Baltimore City at the Old Fish
Market parking lot. It was a success! The farmers market
boom began. Since then we have attended many farmers markets.
Some came and went by the wayside. We still attend Towson
Market which started in 1979. Howard Park Market which started
in 1985. We also now attend 32 nd Street Farmers Market.
We started in there in 2008. It is ironic because we were
invited to join it when it started many years ago. We said we
could not handle a Saturday market because we were too busy with our
wholesale sweet corn sales, produce stand and Sunday Market
preparation.
Les and I (Pam) had a
daughter, Donna, in 1986. Another daughter, Jennifer, in
1990. And twin sons, Dan and Greg in 1994. A house full.
We attended farmers markets. Mary Jane ran the stand. We
all worked on the farm growing beautiful fruit, vegetables, and
flowers.
In 2003, Les Jr succumbed
to bile duct cancer after a year and a half battle. Thanks to
an incredible amount of help from family and friends, we are still
farming.
In 2006, in response to
demands from neighbors for fresh produce in Granite, we started a
CSA with pick up at our farm in Granite.
We are currently
expanding that operation. We also attend 4 farmers markets.
Our greenhouses are open in the spring at our produce market across
from Sudbrook School, in Pikesville. The stand is open
in the summer. See current hours.
Over 100 Years
From Germany to Pikesville to Granite. Family farming has been in the Pahl family for generations.
2010 MD State Fair
The Pahl Family once again enjoyed many ribbons and awards at the 2010 Maryland State Fair.
2009 MD State Fair
First place: -Grand Champion Flower Arrangement Water Plants in a Watering Can -Champion Perennial Purple Hydrangea -White Cosmos -Pink and Yellow Double Snapdragons -Red Formal Zinnias -Yellow and Red Single Layer Zinnia -Purple and White Statice
Second Place -Pink and Yellow Snapdragons -Formal Pink Zinnias -Pink Cosmos
Third Place -Formal Purple Zinnias -Yellow Tassle Cockscomb -Speckled White and Purple Cut and Come Again Zinnias