Cindy and Richard Dixon would be your average couple were it not for their passions for gardening, nature, community, and animals—they have four rescue cats and a rescue dog. Cindy was always passionate about gardening but was too busy raising three daughters and teaching fitness classes to pursue her gardening hobby for any length of time. Richard, her husband, works full time as a mechanical engineer.
After teaching fitness from 1999-2015, Cindy’s Achilles tendons finally said it was time to stop. After having one Achilles surgery in 2014, she required a tendon transplant in 2018. Finding herself with three grown daughters and a lot of time, she took the opportunity to reinvent her life.
Richard built a greenhouse in the backyard, using upcycled wood from the old playscape and donations from people. The old rings from the playscape? They are now for hanging baskets.
Richard also built a sugar shack complete with an evaporator where he makes his own maple syrup. In 2015, they started a roadside cart for the local community and people just kept coming.
The cart is stocked with cut flowers and hanging baskets. Cindy also makes jars with flowers and gift baskets that can be ordered via Facebook Messenger or by dropping a note at the cart. Other items from their greenhouse or sugar shack are jams, jellies, all kinds of vegetables, maple syrups, apple cider, grape juice, herbs, and fruits, and more. No chemicals or pesticides are used in any of their products. The cart is run on an honor system for payments, and they take cash, checks or Venmo.
The process starts in January when Cindy starts planting 3,000-4,000 seedlings in the greenhouse, which are transplanted to baskets in March when the vegetables and herbs are started.
By the end of April the roadside cart opens. Vegetables are ready in June and July. The jams and jellies, made from fruits grown on the property, contain no pectin. In August, cider from their apple trees, as well as brandied peaches from the peach trees, and juices appear on the cart.
Meanwhile, Richard starts tapping trees for maple syrup in February. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. He makes several flavors, including bourbon and cinnamon-vanilla, which are available from the end of August through the end of September. They even make their own vanilla extract.
When you drop by, Cindy may be there with a welcoming smile, ready for some warm conversation.
The cart is open from April 23 to Oct. 30 this year and is located at 139 Higley Road. For seasonal updates, visit facebook.com/13higleyRd
