We humanely raise 100% grassfed bison. In April our well failed; without water the ranch is dying. Funds must be raised; this is a make-or-break situation.
We humanely raise 100% grassfed bison. In April our well failed; without water the ranch is dying. Funds must be raised; this is a make-or-break situation.
We humanely raise 100% grassfed bison. In April our well failed; without water the ranch is dying. Funds must be raised; this is a make-or-break situation.
We humanely raise 100% grassfed bison. In April our well failed; without water the ranch is dying. Funds must be raised; this is a make-or-break situation.
We humanely raise 100% grassfed bison. In April our well failed; without water the ranch is dying. Funds must be raised; this is a make-or-break situation.
We can hardly believe it ourselves! You can bet there have been plenty of tears here at the ranch and over the phone with those who have given generously of their time, energy and absorbed expenses involved to generate the message about our critical water situation.
We'll be sending out a message later to let you know details, but thanks to YOU - we reached our goal of $150,000! We're rushing to get out the final perks to everyone and do a final tally which we'll post here.
Also, please stay tuned for upcoming efforts and phases for the rebuilding efforts which will take 2 years (if all goes well!) The real work is about to begin! We will slowly migrate to our new website:
For now, please accept our profound gratitude which has reached unprecedented depths for the caring support expressed over the last 60 days from all of you. We knew we couldn't do it without help. And mercifully, that help came. Thank you. Thank you.
Click here to listen to the January 4, 2014 interview by Laura Avery on KCRW's good food (interview starts at 50:00 minutes) or click here for the short version.
The Lindners received a wonderful Christmas gift in the form of a check for a substantial fraction of the cost to rebuild the well. They received additional personal checks and contributions at the Farmers Markets. This means we are only about $5K shy of the funding goal!
Now we need you more than ever!
Please help by spreading the word and by donating (again) if you can. While big donors are wonderful, the Lindners depend on their loyal customers to show them that they care enough to make this happen!
Costumers turned volunteers set up an fundraising stand at the Hollywood Farmers Market on January 6.
Thank you for your support!
WATER FOR BISON
We believe in the preservation of small
family ranching, humane animal husbandry and the return of a heritage animal - the North American Bison - to the West. We believe in providing clean, healthy food directly to customers, without the use of chemicals, antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
This is our mission.
We invite you to join the effort to save our small ranch and preserve the environment
for a family group - including 40 new calves - of North American Bison by donating for the repair or
replacement of our irrigation water well. Without your help, both our ranch and bison family group will cease to exist.
A new irrigation well is urgently needed to restore water to our 100% grass-fed bison ranch!
Above: The well failed unexpectedly in April, 2013, leaving parched, barren land. Below: With your contribution, we can turn the fields back to a green and lush pasture for the bison.
Without water, the ranch is dying.
OUR NEED: $150,000
The well failed - we will lose our bison - we desperately need water.
Please help us restore life-giving water by donating to WATER FOR BISON!
You can contribute via PayPal of via Credit Card. PayPal donations are available instantaneously, while donations via credit card will only be released to us at the end of the campaign. Nevertheless, we welcome which ever mode of payment is easier for you!
An Oberlin graduate with a teaching degree, Ken rose to the level of Vice President of Quality Assurance in the fields of biomedical and medical manufacturing, implementing ISO standards and working closely with federal regulatory agencies. A proud Montana native, Kathy is named after her legendary great-grandmother, Margaret Carlston, who became known as “the Cattle Queen of Montana”. She has worked for corporate executives in investor relations, marketing, advertising and telecommunications. For both, most of their employment history was spent in Fortune 500 or 100 companies.
After years of research, but with no agricultural experience, we invested our life savings to become humane, 100% grass-fed bison ranchers. Ten years ago, we were the first to introduce this clean, healthy red meat into Los Angeles area farmers markets. While still living in Southern California, we commuted 1,200 miles every 11 days to our 225-acre bison ranch in Lassen County, located in northeast California. One year ago, we moved to the ranch full-time.
Because of the deep caring we have for our customers, our grass-fed bison, and our land, we found – ununwittingly – that we provide a unique point, a "reconnect," for each to connect with the other. A disconnect between people and their food has existed for many years, encouraged by commercial food distributors and promoted as “convenient.” That has finally, thankfully, started to change. While there may be little that is convenient about what we do, our customers bypass the “convenience” of the nearest supermarket, choosing instead to reconnect with the source of their food by driving to the farmers markets where we sell. And we are there, finding the same caring reconnect with them.
Caption: Left: Reconnecting land, bison and customers at the farmers market. Right: Our bison on pasture their entire lives, just as Nature intended.
In comparison, many traditional ranchers take their animals to the sale barn every fall and consider themselves done. Very few work their ranch, humanely care for their animals, and then go on to promote and sell directly to individual customers, educating them why their food dollar is important and well placed with small, ethical farmers like us. It’s hard work and it requires commitment far beyond just making a living.
For us, this wonderful reconnect has become a labor of love and a learning privilege. By inviting others to reclaim and become part of the sustainable life cycle that Nature intended, we regularly renew and strengthen our personal commitment to the animals and the earth. We do this by respectfully raising our bison 100% on grass, without drugs, chemicals, or grain, while restoring a heritage animal to an area where they were once were native. Most people are unaware that 80% of all bison are shipped to feedlots, even some which may be marketed as “grass-fed.” We don’t think that’s right, nor do our increasingly aware customers.
Caption: Left: Bison were native to NE Calif. in the 1500s. Right: 80% of all bison are shipped to feedlots, even some which may be marketed as "grass-fed." We don’t do that!
In summer, our bison graze on pastures of native grasses, forbes and legumes (no GMOs); in winter they eat hay (dried grass). Drawing from a healthy aquifer below, our well provides cool, clean irrigation water for biodiverse pastures and hay crops. Not only is a new well vital to securing bison’s tenuous foothold here, it will help send a message that small farmers like Lindner Bison can keep moving forward with confidence. We want to pass the ranch on intact to the next generation of caring grass-fed bison producers.
With
the water back on by April, we can start to reseed our biodiverse, non-GMO, pasture grasses and hay ground, as well as establish additional paddocks for rotational grazing
Year 1 – Reseeding biodiverse pasture grasses and hayground
Early spring seeding and irrigation will provide new pasture grasses and biodiverse grass hay for winter. While pastures become established, we will feed purchased hay; if we’re very lucky, it may be possible to briefly allow grazing in the fall.
Feeding hay continues so the new grass can become established.
Year 2 (2015).
With pastures once again lush and green and full of forage, we can fully resume rotational grazing by summer!
A chicken tractor (we call it the ‘chicken jet’), made with repurposed unusable pipe, stands by. Inside, 12 heritage chickens are waiting to follow the bison through the pasture, naturally distributing manure and helping to control flies, a la the Joel Salatin model. This kind of closed-loop farming makes our ranch and our animals healthier and even more sustainable.
Caption: Our chicken tractor (aka the “chicken jet”), with 12 heritage chickens ready to follow the bison.
If we are fortunate enough to exceed our funding goal
Excess funds will go toward purchasing grass hay during 2014. 2013 hay prices are $200/ton; our herd eats about one ton every day.
Rotational grazing paddocks may be extended by enclosing another 40 acres with game fencing and replacing wheel lines with K-line irrigation pods. This will provide the best grazing/recovery rate once water is fully restored to the land.
Caption: Our herd eats about a ton of hay a day, at $200/ton. This is what 50 tons of hay looks like.
(see right panels for selecting perks; note that perks are sorted according to amount, not category)
Truly Sustainable Gifts
If you are looking for a gift that keeps on giving consider giving a donation in honor of a love-one, colleague, friend. We will follow up with an electronic card or a folded picture card, explaining the donation and the cause.
Please send us the the name of the recipient and email address for an electronic card (delivery within 24 hours) or the street address (delivery by postal service). Also state how you want to be acknowledged as the gifting person (your name, nickname, anonymous, someone else).
A $5 service charge is included so that your gift has the most impact!
$35 Hay for THREE! This gift will feed a bison for three days. The hay will be delivered to the farm.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$205 Hay for a Day. A ton of hay to be delivered to the farm. This will feed the entire herd for one day or a single bison for about 3 weeks.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$40 Seed an Acre! The 200 acres of pasture and hayground will have to be reseeded. $35 seeds an acre with a biodiverse grass seed mix.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$97 A Sack of Seeds! The 200 acres of pasture and hayground will have to be reseeded. This gift buys a 40lb sack of biodiverse grass seeds which is good for roughly 2.6 acres.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$25 Start the Engine! Our small tractor holds 5 gallons of diesel fuel. It takes 24 hours to cover 40 acres (2 tanks or $40 fuel). This gift will cover 20 acres.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$205 Keep the Engine Running! Our small tractor holds 5 gallons of diesel fuel. It takes 24 hours to cover 40 acres (2 tanks or $40 fuel). This gift will cover the entire 200 acre farm!.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$34 Grass Tranquility. During the first year, bison must be kept out of the newly seeded pasture areas. The cost of appropriate fencing runs at ~$2.90/foot. This gift will buy 10 feet of fencing to give the grass time to grow.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$150 Growing Tranquility. During the first year, bison must be kept out of the newly seeded pasture areas. The cost of appropriate fencing runs at ~$2.90/foot. This gift will buy 50 feet of fencing to give the grass time to grow.
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$125 Picture Perfect. We will send to the lucky recipient a postcard with a picture from the farm every month for one year. This unique gift will keep giving the entire year, reminding the receiver of the donor and showcasing the beauty of bison and a small farm!
Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
$500 Adopt a Baby Bison.The recipient of this gift will support a bison throughout its first year of life. We will send regular updates on the animals in the form of at least 4 postcards of the growing up bison. The cost of an adult bison when grass is growing is around $600/year and now that we have to feed hay its around $900/year.
Since bison at that age are hard to tell apart and our bison are not tagged, we cannot guarantee that the picture will be of the very same animal each time. Please include name and address (email or postal) of recipient.
Other Perks (note that some might not be currently available)
$25 Digital copy of our e-book Standing into the Storm (download only). Online book reviews on Amazon Where your donation goes: Item+Indiegogo+ccard:$3.00 (12%); To well: $22.00 (88%)<>
$45 Water for Bison tshirt, organic cotton. (Indicate S, M, L, XL) Estimated delivery: 1-2 weeks Where your donation goes: Item+Indiegogo+ccard+ shipping: $20.80 (46%)
To well: $24.20 (54%)
$80 Water for Bison farmers’ market tote bag (Approximate size & style, actual tote may vary.)
Estimated delivery: 2-3 weeks (please add $5 for shipping.)
Where your donation goes: Item+Indiegogo+ccard+shipping: $29.00(36%); To well: $51.00 (64%)
$100 Personally autographed copy of our book, Standing into the Storm. Estimated delivery: 1-2 weeks (please add $5 for shipping.)
Where your donation goes: Item+Indiegogo+ccard:
$14.50 (14.5%); To well: $85.50 (85.5%)
$150 (currently unavailable, please contact us if you really want this item) Women’s Victorian-style choker necklace with a reproduction of a charming vintage photo of the Cattle Queen of Montana suspended from a black velvet ribbon. The first 10 also have either a black or red faux jewel mounted at the base of the frame. Adjustable closure.
Estimated delivery: 2-3 weeks (please add $5 for shipping.)
Where your donation goes: Item+Indiegogo+ccard: $28.00 (21%); To well: $122.00 (81%)
$200 (currently unavailable) Personally autographed copy of our book, Standing into the Storm AND Water for Bison farmers’ market
tote bag.
Estimated delivery: 2-3 weeks (please add $5 for shipping.)
Where your donation goes: Items+Indiegogo+ccard:
$41.50 (20%); To well: $158.50 (80%)
$250 (currently unavailable, please contact us if you really want this item). Sterling silver bison pendant on beautiful 16-inch sterling silver chain.
Estimated delivery: 2-3 weeks (please add $5 for shipping.)
Where your donation goes: Item+Indiegogo+ccard: $60.00 (24%); To well: $190.00 (76%)
$500 (currently unavailable) 2 Water for Bison farmers market tote bags, 2 organic cotton T-shirts, an autographed copy of our book, Standing into the Storm, and 1 women’s Victorian-style choker necklace with reproduction of a vintage photo of the Cattle Queen of Montana on a black velvet ribbon.
Estimated delivery: 2-3 weeks (please add $10 for shipping.)
Where your donation goes: Items+Indiegogo+ccard:
$127.00 (25%); To well: $373.00 (75%)
$750 (currently unavailable) A half day working ranch tour at our Heritage Ranch with the bison, including lunch with Kathy and Ken Lindner, plus 2 autographed copies of our book, Standing into the
Storm You must provide own transportation to ranch.
Estimated tour dates: May-October, 2014 (books delivered at ranch, or add $10 for shipping)
Where your donation goes: Items+Indiegogo+ccard: $275.00 (36%); To well: $475.00 (64%)
$1,500: One day, one night working ranch tour for two, with
modest overnight bunkhouse accommodations and one meal with Kathy and Ken Lindner, plus 2 autographed copies of our book, Standing into the
Storm and 2 farmers market tote bags.
You must provide own transportation to ranch.
Estimated tour dates: May-October, 2014 ('goodies' delivered at ranch, or add $10 for shipping)
Where your donation goes: Items+Indiegogo+ccard: $555.00 (37%); To well: $945.00 (63%)
$5,000: (currently unavailable) Two days, two nights working ranch tour for two, modest
bunkhouse accommodations, two meals, 2 autographed copies of our book, Standing into the Storm, 2 farmers market tote bags and 2 organic cotton T-shirts.
You must provide own transportation to ranch.
Estimated tour dates: May-October, 2014 ('goodies' delivered at ranch, or add $10 for shipping)
Where your donation goes: Items+Indiegogo+ccard: $1337.00 (26%); To well: $3663.00 (74%)
$10,000 Limit 4. Available: 2014. (Ranch pickup; optional shipping available.)
One-half, 100% grassfed bison, custom cut, wrapped,
frozen; around 200-220 lbs. of prime meat cuts, organs, bones. Qty.
9-11 boxes, 18x22x12 inches. This sized box fits nicely into most home or
commercial chest freezers. Package includes optional salted down winter hide, ready for tanning and finishing (ranch pickup only.)
Where your donation goes: Items+Indiegogo+ccard: $3740.00 (37%); To well: $6260.00 (63%)
Lindner Bison practices ethical food production through humane animal husbandry without drugs or chemicals. We use food grade diatomaceous earth for worming and protection against insects. Instead of letting thirsty wild animals drown in the bison's stockwater tank, we provide critter ramps so that 'visitors' can safely get back out should they happen to fall in. By preventing animal drowning, this simple approach avoids having to add antibiotics to the drinking water to protect bison against bacteria in decaying carcasses.
Lindner Bison are dedicated advocates of non-GMO, heirloom and heritage species. We oppose genetically engineered plants and animals. We empower ourselves and others by staying current on global events and reports surrounding GMOs, sharing news via our Facebook page and in person. At the local level, we give back to our community by providing educational ranch tours. We're also privileged to be working with stakeholders to help establish a community food garden. During winter months, Ken plays in the local symphony orchestra.
2013 October: California State Grange adopts resolution supporting Lindner Bison's proposed 2-tier Food Regulatory System. August: Introduced the 2-tier Food Regulatory system concept to our senator in Sacramento. The 2-tier system recognizes unique challenges and contributions of small farmers over-burdened, severely hampered and/or stopped by regulations designed by and for big food corporations. Accompanied by Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense attorney Pete Kennedy and Calif. Legislative Outreach Coordinator, Yannick Phillips. May: Lassen County Food Summit speakers/participants. April: Irrigation well failed; all repair attempts failed April: Massive ground swell of customer support helps overturn LA County action against Lindner Bison. February: TED Conference; Lindner Bison meat selected for opening event dinner.
2012 November: Relocate to ranch, our new base of operations. September: The Commonwealth Club of San Francisco Speakers, "Standing into the Storm." August: TEDx UCLA Speakers/Food & Food Systems, "Cost of Quality.” August: Second Place Winner–Farmer of the Year! Santa Monica, CA.
2011 November: Book release, Standing into the Storm, a journey from industry into grassfed bison ranching and a call to reclaim our agrarian heritage.
2010: L.A.County Public Health, Env. Health, Food Safety Advisory Council Speakers. 2009: 2nd bison producer in U.S. certified by Animal Welfare Approved. 2009: "Fresh!" the movie, Panel participants. 2008: Featured, premier issue Edible Los Angeles. 2006: Featured, Audubon magazine, "The Ripe Stuff" by Mary-Powel Thomas. 2005: Weston A. Price, Santa Monica Chapter Speakers. 2005: Alfalfa hay ranch purchased, infrastructure built; herd relocated to NE California. 2004: Santa Clarita Rotary Club Speakers. 2003: Return to Southern California, Pasadena Farmers Market. 1999: California Restaurant Association Innovator Award, Healthy Foods, Bisurkey Burgers. 1997: After 3 years of research, four 4-yr. old bison cows and their calves purchased; placed with South Dakota rancher.
Water for Bison tshirt, organic cotton. (Indicate S, M, L, XL)
Estimated delivery: 1-2 weeks
10 out of 50 of claimed
Start the Engine
$24 USD
Our small tractor holds 5 gallons of diesel fuel. It takes 24 hours to cover 40 acres (2 tanks or $40 fuel). This gift will cover 20 acres.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
17 out of 100 of claimed
EBook: Standing into the Storm
$27 USD
A link will be provided for downloading a digital copy of our e-book! This was written mostly on a laptop during repeated 10 hour drives between the ranch and Southern California.
Where your donation goes:
Item+Indiegogo+ccard:$3.00 (12%)
To well: $22.00 (88%)
13 out of 100 of claimed
Grass Tranquility
$34 USD
During the first year, bison must be kept out of the newly seeded pasture areas. The cost of appropriate fencing runs at ~$2.90/foot. This gift will buy 10 feet of fencing to give the grass time to grow.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
2 out of 100 of claimed
Hay for THREE
$35 USD
Hay. Needs to be purchased during 1st year while new grass becomes established.
Each bison eats about $10 worth of hay each day. This donation feeds either 3 bison for a day or 1 bison for three days
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
19 out of 300 of claimed
Seed an Acre
$39 USD
The 200 acres of pasture and hayground will have to be reseeded. This gift provides seeds for an acre of a biodiverse grass seed mix.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
11 out of 200 of claimed
Tote bag
$80 USD
Water for Bison farmers’ market tote bag (Approximate size & style, actual tote may vary.)
Estimated delivery: 2-3 weeks
5 out of 50 of claimed
Sack of Seeds
$97 USD
The 200 acres of pasture and hayground will have to be reseeded. This gift buys a 40lb sack of biodiverse grass seeds which is good for roughly 2.6 acres.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
7 out of 75 of claimed
Standing into the Storm
$100 USD
Autographed copy of our book, Standing into the Storm. (Pls. add $5 for shipping.)
Where your donation goes:
Item+Indiegogo+ccard: $14.50 (14.5%)
To well: $85.50 (85.5%)
16 out of 100 of claimed
Picture Perfect
$125 USD
We will send to the lucky recipient a postcard with a picture from the farm every month for one year. This unique gift will keep giving the entire year, reminding the receiver of the donor and showcasing the beauty of bison and a small farm!
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
2 out of 20 of claimed
Growing Tranquility
$150 USD
During the first year, bison must be kept out of the newly seeded pasture areas. The cost of appropriate fencing runs at ~$2.90/foot. This gift will buy 50 feet of fencing to give the grass time to grow.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
0 out of 100 of claimed
Hay for a Day
$205 USD
Hay. Needs to be purchased during 1st year while new grass becomes established.
Herd averages 2000 lbs daily at $200/ton.
Please send us the email or address of the recipient of a gift card describing your donation.
(includes $5 for processing)
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
2 out of 300 of claimed
Keep the Engine Running
$205 USD
Our small tractor holds 5 gallons of diesel fuel. It takes 24 hours to cover 40 acres (2 tanks or $40 fuel). This gift will cover the entire 200 acre farm!.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
0 out of 20 of claimed
Adopt a Baby Bison
$500 USD
The recipient of this gift will support a bison throughout its first year of life. We will send regular updates on the animals in the form of at least 4 postcards of the growing up bison.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
3 out of 4 of claimed
A day at the ranch!
$1,500 USD
One day, one night working ranch tour for two, with modest overnight bunkhouse accommodations and one meal with Kathy and Ken Lindner. Must provide own transportation. Two autographed copies of our book. (Pls. add $5 for shipping)
Where your donation goes:
Items+Indiegogo+ccard: $555.00 (37%)
To well: $945.00 (63%)
Estimated Shipping
October 2014
1 out of 6 of claimed
Half bison + Hide
$10,000 USD
One-half, 100% grassfed bison, custom cut, wrapped, frozen; about 200-220 lbs. of prime 100% grassfed meat cuts, organs, bones. Qty. 9-11 boxes, 18x22x12 inches. This sized box fits nicely into most home or commercial chest freezers. Package includes optional salted down winter hide, ready for tanning and finishing (Ranch pickup; optional shipping available.)
Where your donation goes:
Items+Indiegogo+ccard: $3740.00 (37%)
To well: $6260.00 (63%)
Hay for THREE! This gift will feed a bison for three days. The hay will be delivered to the farm.
The 200 acres of pasture and hayground will have to be reseeded. $35 seeds an acre with a biodiverse grass seed mix.
Our small tractor holds 5 gallons of diesel fuel. It takes 24 hours to cover 40 acres (2 tanks or $40 fuel). This gift will cover 20 acres.
During the first year, bison must be kept out of the newly seeded pasture areas. The cost of appropriate fencing runs at ~$2.90/foot. This gift will buy 10 feet of fencing to give the grass time to grow.
We will send to the lucky recipient a postcard with a picture from the farm every month for one year. This unique gift will keep giving the entire year, reminding the receiver of the donor and showcasing the beauty of bison and a small farm!
The recipient of this gift will support a bison throughout its first year of life. We will send regular updates on the animals in the form of at least 4 postcards of the growing up bison. The cost of an adult bison when grass is growing is around $600/year and now that we have to feed hay its around $900/year.
