"Grow the business" is the ardent battle cry of the corporate warriors; standing still means certain economic doom.
Sharon Kirkwood Wilson followed that advice, successfully expanding over the years the variety of goods sold at the farm stand near Hickory that has been in her family for more than three decades. The stone and wood house on U.S. 1 has added baked goods and dairy products, handicrafts, nursery plants and trees, fertilizer and mulch.
Harford County zoning inspectors came by recently and also told her to grow the business. But they meant "grow your own" to stay in business. Otherwise, they said, the stand that has been there for 60 years would violate county zoning restrictions.
Mrs. Wilson, who operates Kirkwood's Farm Market with her husband Gregory, says that the market could not make ends meet if it did not extend its offerings of agricultural products that customers demand.
"We could not survive if we sold only peaches and apples from our farm, it just isn't enough," said Mrs. Wilson, who also works as a full-time nurse. The family has 40 acres nearby, growing corn and fruit and vegetables for sale at the market, but also sells goods produced by others.
County zoning says the problem is that Kirkwood's has gotten too large. There's no traffic problem, or complaints from neighbors or competitors; the store has simply expanded to sell more than "traditional agricultural products" and so flouts the law, officials say.
Because it was in business before the first Harford zoning code in 1957, Kirkwood's is allowed to continue in business as long as it restricts itself to local farm goods.
The conflict went to a public hearing last week before examiner L.A. Hinderhofer. He is to decide whether county zoning is correct that Kirkwood's is in violation, and if so, whether the stand should get permission for extended use.
It's a knotty decision. Kirkwood's is no ramshackle roadside table selling produce in season. It's a year-round enclosed store that even advertises itself as a garden center and bakery. Sno-cones, ice cream and yogurt are sold outside.
On the other hand, the goods are mostly agricultural. And the merchandise has grown in response to repeat customer requests. There's no attempt at deception, fooling the public that everything is pure home-grown and baked on the premises. It's simply that the success of this growing Harford landmark may well prove to be its downfall.
