In the beginning.....

Our story starts out like any other over a vat of macaroni and cheese. In 2005 Matthew and I meet in the kitchen at the Rock Springs 4-H center. I was unsuccessfully scrapping extra thick cheese laden pasta from a industrial steam kettle. Matthew told me that the Great Wall of China is held together with mortar made from rice (a starch, not unlike pasta) and this mortar was so strong, that the bricks would often disintegrate before the pasta-like mortar did. I laughed so hard, I snorted. 

Fast forward four years and on a brisk fall day Matthew took me back to camp and after a peaceful walk, he dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife. I was so overwhelmed with joy, I was for once in my life rendered speechless. A very quick year later we stood in the same dinning hall, surrounded by our friends and family, and promised to be together forever. Since that day we have been on so many amazing adventures together one of which has been starting our business together. 

We started Cook's Market in 2010 as a way to get out of debt. We both worked full time jobs, and gardened on the side. Sometimes we would stay up all night prepping for the weekend farmer's markets, only to be rained out the next day. The good stuff and the bad stuff made our marriage and business stronger, and eventually all the hard work paid off.  In April of 2012 we drove away from the tax man's office screaming WE ARE DEBT FREE!!!! (If you have had this privilege you can relate to our joy. If you are in the middle of that battle hang in there you can do it. If you are contemplating the journey we strongly recommend Dave Ramsey.)

During our get out of debt phase we realized we loved being farmers, bakers, flower pickers, and general creative people. So we decided to stick with it, and are working everyday to turn Cook's Market into premier Kansas farm, where you can be inspired with tasty food, gorgeous flowers, and ingredient worthy produce. 

A pretty perfect moment.....