Should Small Farms Shut Down in Barrington Hills?

In early 2024, our flower farm in Barrington Hills was shut down after an anonymous resident filed a complaint through Trustee Darby Hills. For three years, our farm quietly operated—growing over 100 varieties of flowers on a small portion of our land, allowing visitors to pick them.

We never had any complaints about traffic, noise, or disruption. The village knew about our farm, and in fact, when we asked for guidance before opening, we were advised to refer to the code, where agriculture is listed as a permitted use.

The Bigger Question...

Why Should a Small Farm Be Shut Down for Selling What It Grows?

Barrington Hills has long valued open space and touts its agricultural heritage, but what happens when a small farm tries to operate in a way that aligns with these values?

The issue as we understand was not farming itself, but selling what we grew. Across Illinois, agricultural sales are a normal part of farming. The ability to sell what you grow is how farms—especially small ones—stay viable. It’s not a retail store. It’s not a commercial business in the way some may imagine. It’s simply farming.

Our farm wasn’t the first to face this issue, and it won’t be the last. That’s why we’ve been working on a third proposal, one that clarifies what agricultural sales should look like in Barrington Hills. It doesn’t change zoning. It simply ensures that residents who choose to farm can sell what they grow directly to their customers—just as farmers have always done.

What’s Next for Agricultural Sales in Barrington Hills?

Small farms are disappearing across the country, even as consumer demand for local, responsibly grown food and flowers has never been stronger. Communities that recognize this shift are better positioned for the future.

Agriculture isn’t something that belongs only in faraway rural areas. It has always existed alongside residential areas, just as it does in Barrington Hills today.

If Barrington Hills values open space, farmland, and self-sufficiency, then shutting down a small, sustainable flower farm should raise questions. That’s why we’re pushing for change—not just for us, but for anyone who believes farms should be able to sell what they grow.

You can learn more about our legislative road so far here.

If you like the idea of farms being accessible to the public, we could use your support. Please consider writing a letter in support of our proposal to clerk@vbhil.gov or attending public hearings.