June, 2020
July, 2021
Though they have full time jobs and other responsibilities, Lizette & Mike Barton are all in when it comes to Barton Farm and Gardens. Their kids, Ellie and Max, both contribute to the farm, as do other close family members.
The group photo includes Mike’s parents, Keith & Diane Barton. Mike & Liz share the same wedding anniversary as Mike's parents. Today, on July 30th they celebrate 10 years of marriage while Keith & Diane celebrate 44.
These “wannabe farmers” have been vending at Haymaker Farmers’ Market for 10yrs and Liz has been on the board of directors since 2013. “It's hands down one of the most rewarding things in my life,” said Liz. “Haymaker runs year-round. When the pandemic hit, we quickly pivoted to a drive-thru model that ran from March through May and then moved back to a walk-up model. We knew customers needed local food. More importantly, we knew vendors were counting on the market for income. The drive-thru was successful. The market's customer count continues to rise and personally, we are having a great season.
I think a lot of people realized that when the shit goes down, you can count on your local community. Wal-Mart may have been out of ground meat but the farmers at Haymaker weren't. More importantly, the quality is 1000% better, and when you buy from local sources you're directly supporting small businesses and families. We could all do better by investing more in the people and businesses in our communities, especially our local food community.”
Community pride is something the Bartons come by honestly. They are continuing a legacy that began generations ago.
“This land has been in our family for over 100 years. I never dreamed I'd end up here, but here we are. Each year our garden gets a little bigger—we plant more fruit trees and berry bushes and we raise more turkeys and chickens. Teaching our kids how to grow, harvest, and cook their own food is important. Teaching how much work goes into the food we eat is critical if we want them to make good decisions about their food when they're adults.
We could not do ANY of this, without Keith and Diane. Thank goodness for family.”
