Duane Bordine is no stranger to farming – he started out at 16, at his family’s farm in Canton, which has been in operation since 1836. Back in his youth, Duane’s family farm consisted of sweet corn, which they sold at markets and at Kroger, and grew to a larger commercial operation. Duane moved to his current farm in Stockbridge, MI, where he’s owned over 200 acres since 1979, including vegetable, soybean, wheat, muskmelons and pumpkins. He’s started farmers markets in Northville and Livonia, and hasn’t let hardship get in his way. After having his lower legs amputated, Duane decided he still wanted to keep farming in some way. He’s built raised beds from 55 gallon drums, cut in half (over 50 of them) so he can fill them with soil and pick flowers for the market from his wheel chair, as well as vegetables for his family. Duane has a positive attitude, and he council’s other farmers who have a disability that “just because you’re an amputee, it’s not the end of your farming days.” Come visit Duane for beautiful flowers: gladiolas, zinnias, pin cushions, and occasionally some veggies from one of his special raised beds.
