No vaccines, no antibiotics, no hormones, and not a single bag of synthetic fertilizer on the pasture. That’s the promise behind one small farm in northeast Indiana.
Bold? Absolutely.
The cattle eat grass from start to finish. The pigs and chickens roam outside, and their extra feed skips corn and soy entirely.
Even the eggs come from hens raised that way.
I like how personal the story feels. A city couple watched a documentary in 2020, then traded their downtown life for 30 acres of rolling hills.
I can’t imagine making that leap, but I’m glad somebody did.
Now folks order from all 50 states, and locals book visits to see the animals up close.
A Documentary Changed Everything for One Fort Wayne Couple
Most people finish a documentary and move on with their evening. Cody and Stacey Harting watched one in 2020 and rewrote their whole future.
That film pushed them toward regenerative agriculture, and they never looked back.
Grown Well Farms was the result of that choice. Before it existed, the couple lived in downtown Fort Wayne, surrounded by sidewalks instead of pastures.
In 2021, they bought 30 acres outside Auburn and started building something new.
The move wasn’t a total leap into the unknown. Cody grew up around farming through his family, so the work wasn’t foreign to him.
Stacey brought a completely different skill set, since she previously ran a photography business.
That mix makes sense when you look at the farm today. One partner understands animals and land, and the other knows how to tell a story visually.
Together, they built a brand that feels honest instead of polished for show.
Their goal stayed simple from day one. They wanted to restore the land, raise animals with care, and feed their community clean, nutrient-dense food.
Plenty of people talk about doing that someday. Few actually pack up their city life to make it happen.
The No-Shots, No-Chemicals Rulebook Is Stricter Than You’d Expect
Here’s a farm that says no to a lot of things. No antibiotics, no vaccines, and no hormones ever go into the animals.
That list alone sets it apart from most meat you’ll find at a grocery store.
The land follows the same strict code. Grown Well Farms uses organic methods without chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers.
So the grass the cattle eat grows without any of that stuff sprayed on it.
Why go to all this trouble? The farm’s philosophy centers on regenerative agriculture, which means restoring soil health by copying how nature works.
Healthy soil grows healthy plants, and healthy plants feed healthy animals.
It’s a full circle idea. Animals graze and fertilize the ground naturally.
The ground recovers and grows richer forage. Then the cycle starts all over again, season after season.
For shoppers with food sensitivities, these rules matter a lot. You know exactly what you’re avoiding, and you don’t need a chemistry degree to read the label.
That kind of clarity is rare.
Is this approach harder than conventional farming? Almost certainly.
But it’s the whole reason people seek this place out in the first place.
Your Steak Night Is About to Get a Serious Upgrade
Grass-finished beef sometimes gets a reputation for tasting, well, a little too much like a lawn. The beef at Grown Well Farms aims to fix that problem.
The farm describes its flavor as mild, tender, rich, and well-rounded.
The secret starts in the field. These cattle are 100% grass-fed and finished on lush, diverse pastures.
They never switch to grain at the end, which is when many farms fatten animals up quickly.
The cut list reads like a grilling wish list. You can find New York Strip, Sirloin Steak, and Bone-In Ribeye Steak for the big dinner nights.
Flank Steak and Skirt Steak work great for tacos, fajitas, or quick weeknight stir-fry.
Ground Beef covers the everyday stuff, like burgers, chili, and meatballs. Then there’s Ox Tail, a cut that rewards patient cooks.
Slow braise it, and you’ll get a deep, comforting stew.
Want to stock up for months? Customers have bought quarter shares of beef, which fills a freezer fast.
It’s a smart move if your family eats beef often.
Fire up the grill. Your neighbors will start wondering what smells so good.
Pigs Here Actually Get to Act Like Pigs
Mud, grass, sunshine, and room to roam. That’s the daily life for pigs at this Auburn farm.
Photos from the farm show them grazing in open fields with trees and buildings nearby.
The pork is pasture-raised, with organic feed added to round out their diet. That feed is corn-free and soy-free, which matters to anyone avoiding those ingredients.
It’s a detail many farms skip right over.
Breakfast lovers, pay attention. Nitrate-Free Bacon sits on the product list, along with Mild Pork Sausage.
That combo could make Saturday mornings feel extra special.
Planning a cookout instead? Pork Bratwurst belongs on the grill next to some peppers and onions.
Pork Spare Ribs are ready for low and slow cooking, whether you smoke them or bake them.
For a cozy Sunday dinner, the Pork Loin Roast is a crowd pleaser. Bone-In Pork Chops cook fast and stay juicy when you don’t overdo them.
There’s even Pork Fat for rendering into lard, which old-school bakers love for flaky pie crusts.
Happy pigs, clean feed, and a freezer full of options. Not a bad deal at all.
Chickens and Eggs Without the Corn and Soy
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? At Grown Well Farms, the answer is both, and they’re equally worth your attention.
The farm raises pasture chickens and sells nutrient-dense eggs too.
Pictures from the farm show chickens hanging out near a small farm building. Their days include pecking around outdoors, just like the farm’s philosophy promises.
Confinement isn’t part of the plan here.
Like the pigs, the chickens get extra feed that’s organic, corn-free, and soy-free. That’s a big deal for egg buyers.
Corn-free and soy-free eggs can be surprisingly hard to find, even at specialty stores.
The chicken cuts cover all the basics. Skinless Chicken Breast works for salads, wraps, and quick dinners.
Chicken Thighs bring more flavor and stay moist, which makes them forgiving for beginner cooks.
Then there’s the Whole Chicken. Roast it on Sunday, eat leftovers on Monday, and simmer the bones into broth on Tuesday.
That’s three meals from one bird, which feels pretty clever.
Eggs, meanwhile, might be the easiest way to start. Scramble a few, and you’ll get a quick taste of what this farm is all about.
Book a Visit Before You Gas Up the Car
Road trippers, one quick tip saves a lot of hassle. Farm visits and pickups here are by appointment only.
So don’t just pull into the driveway and hope for the best.
You’ll find the farm at 1134 County Road 40, Auburn, IN 46706. It sits in DeKalb County, out among 30 acres of rolling hills.
That’s a big change from the downtown Fort Wayne streets where the owners used to live.
Local pickup is simple once you plan ahead. Order online, and your items are typically ready within 24 to 48 hours.
Then you swing by at your scheduled time and grab your haul.
Bring a cooler if you’re driving far. Frozen meat travels best when it stays cold.
A couple of ice packs can make the ride home stress-free.
Curious about how the animals live? Cody has given farm tours to customers who wanted to see the setup firsthand.
It’s worth asking when you reach out to schedule.
Auburn makes a fun stop in northern Indiana anyway. Pair your pickup with a day exploring town, and the drive pays off twice.
Live Across the Country? Dry Ice Has Your Back
Not everyone lives a short drive from Auburn. Good news, though, since Grown Well Farms ships to all 50 states.
Yes, even Alaska and Hawaii.
Shipping clean meat across the country takes careful timing. Perishable orders go out with dry ice from Monday through Wednesday.
That schedule helps avoid boxes sitting in a warehouse over the weekend.
Once shipped, orders arrive within 24 to 48 hours. That’s quick enough to keep everything frozen solid.
Just make sure someone can bring the box inside soon after it lands on your porch.
A quick safety reminder feels smart here. Dry ice is extremely cold, so never touch it with bare hands.
Use gloves or tongs, and let any leftover pieces fade away in a ventilated spot.
The online store makes ordering easy from your couch. Browse beef, pork, chicken, and eggs, then fill your cart.
It’s like visiting the farm without the gas money.
For anyone stuck with limited grocery choices, this is a game changer. You get pasture-raised, chemical-free meat from Indiana without leaving home.
Your freezer might need some reorganizing first.
Northeast Indiana Neighbors Get a Weekly Perk
Imagine never running out of good ground beef again. For certain northeast Indiana neighbors, that’s basically the deal.
It’s called The Grown Well Collective.
This membership works on a subscription model with an annual fee. Members get free weekly delivery of all farm-raised products.
There’s a minimum order for each delivery, which is easy to hit when you’re feeding a family.
The delivery zone covers a nice chunk of the region. Fort Wayne, Leo, Grabill, Auburn, and Huntertown are all included.
So are Laotto, Avilla, Garrett, and Kendallville.
Why does this matter? Busy weeks make it tough to plan farm pickups.
Having food show up at your door removes one more chore from the list.
Customers have also mentioned that Cody makes delivery a breeze. He’s known for answering questions and working with folks when items run low.
That personal touch is hard to find with big grocery chains.
Think of it as a farm share without the guesswork. You choose what you want each week, and it simply arrives.
Honestly, that beats wrestling a shopping cart with a wobbly wheel.
Catch Them at the Market or Join the Herd Share
Summer Saturdays bring another way to meet this farm in person. Grown Well Farms sets up at the YLNI Farmers Market during the summer season.
It’s a fun chance to chat and shop in one stop.
Markets are great for first-timers. You can ask questions face to face before committing to a big order.
That kind of conversation builds trust fast.
Cody seems to enjoy those talks too. Customers have shared how he took time to discuss food sources and health goals with them.
One even got tips on what to do with beef liver.
Raw milk lovers have an option as well. It’s available for herd share customers, which is how the farm offers it.
Ask about the details if fresh milk is on your wish list.
This might be the most complete farm stop in the region. Beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and milk all come from one family operation in Indiana.
That’s a lot of grocery list covered by a single farm.
So grab a tote bag and head to the market. Or schedule that visit to Auburn.
Either way, dinner just got better.
