Avdem is located in the mountain village of Lesja – at the top of Gudbrandsdalen, 600 meters above sea level. The original name AbifahaimaR (the wealthy home) indicates that the farm is among the oldest in the village, around 2000 years old. Since the late 1700s, the farm has been in the same family, and today's farmers are the eighth generation.

Traditionally, it was the women who milked the cows, made cheese and churned butter, and in the summer this important work took place on the mountain farm. In the late 1800s, a local dairy was also founded here in the village. It was Siems Meieriforening, which sold butter to Kristiania (today’s Oslo) and even exported to England! Avdem Gardsysteri is therefore based on a diverse tradition.