Our Story

Dreams start as seeds–and ours is no different. Though it’s hard to say exactly when this seed fell, or for how long it lay in the dark, before it broke open and grew into the dream of this magical place: Further Up Farms. 

In some ways the love for the dirt has probably always been in our blood. From the backyard fruit trees of my mother’s childhood as a Missionary Kid in the Philippines, to the acre garden my father and his parents tended for themselves and anyone in need in their community in North Carolina, to the backyard gardens of my own childhood—the love of the dirt, the love of good food, and the desire to share both those things with others has always been central to our lives both together and apart. But for the longest time, we had no idea where those desires would lead.

“This place is really special. You guys have to buy it.”

It was October of 2020, when my brother Luke and his wife Julie Morton-Yates were visiting from Montana. My mom, Joy Morton, had just checked the local real estate listings and saw an interesting property for sale in Elizabeth, Colorado. Thirty-two acres of rolling hills and meadows, mature trees, a creek, and multiple springs—there was something immediately compelling about this piece of land and the beautiful, but in-need-of-love, house standing at the top of the first rise. I was there with them that day, strolling through the leafless cottonwoods---the warm autumn day whispering of change. Of promise. 

By Thanksgiving, my parents, Allan and Joy Morton had moved into their new home, and the mutual dream of Further Up Farms began to take root. My brother Noah already lived in the area and had gone through an intensive aquaponics training course years before. My husband Willy and I had planned to move to to area in the summer of 2022, but when the perfect house came on the market in July of 2021, we couldn't let the fact that we had newborn twins stop us from making a move towards this crazy dream.

And so it was that in the Spring of 2022, Further Up Farms was born. We had our first test garden that season, grew more cucumbers than we knew what to do with, and therefore made an inordinate amount of pickle relish.

The following winter we began planning for our first real market season. Spring of 2023 was our first year selling our produce at the Backyard Market in Black Forest. We learned a lot that first year; including a lot of "what not to do," but by the end we were tired and ready for the winter's rest so we could dream and scheme anew.

In 2024 season we launched our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program for our local Elizabeth community, as well as those in Black Forest--and all summer long we got to know the people who came to get their veggie totes from us week after week; putting faces to name, to stories as the season progressed. And at the end of it, our customers told us that they thought our CSA was a good value, and helped them save money on high quality local veggies, which couldn't have made us happier. 

In 2024 we also had the great privilege of adding another family member and farm enthusiast when my brother Noah married the wonderful Jocelyn Morton. Jocelyn is now our chief lettuce baptizer in the aquaponics portion of our business, and her uplifting spirit is a delight to all who have the honor of knowing her and working with her at the farm. 

 

WHAT’S NEXT in 2025? 

This upcoming season,  in addition to being one of the staple produce vendors at the Backyard Market in Black Forest, we hope to also supply veggies to several local grocery stores, do a few pop-up farm stands in places like Elizabeth, Kiowa, Elbert, and maybe even Simla, and expand our produce operation with a hoop house, caterpillar tunnels, and an additional five acres for a pumpkin/winter squash patch! 

This farm is a dream, and it’s still coming true. Be sure to check out our blog to continue reading about our story of being a small, organically grown, multi-generational family farm in the heart of Elbert County Colorado.