ESSEX, Vt. -
A rainy day never bodes well for an outdoor farmers market, but for Moana Dixon it's only more proof of the fact that when it rains it pours.
"There are no words to describe an accident like this and the impact it has on our business," she said.
This farmers market is her only means of income. Last Friday, fire engulfed her mother's restaurant in Johnson. She's heading to every venue possible and cooking at a neighboring restaurant's kitchen trying to make back a fraction of what she's lost in revenue. One week later, the breath still catches in her chest as she explains how the fire started.
"The fact that I've accidentally burned the business down puts a greater responsibility on my shoulders," Dixon said.
Wednesday brought another blow-- Dixon learned damage from the fire she started while cooking chips on the back porch won't be covered by their insurance company.
"We're going to have to start from less than zero all over again," Dixon said.
We met with Moana Dixon last Saturday, as she revisited the devastated structure that was both her business and her home. At first glance, she couldn't imagine going back inside, saying, "It's not easy to see everything you've worked for, this is my mother's livelihood, everything she has is in this house, it's not easy to walk up and see that it's been destroyed."
Now, she's working on holding her head high, leaning on the support from both the Johnson community and her other set of neighbors, the farmers market.
Guy Roberge and his wife donated $100 when they heard what happened to Dixon's business.
"It's a little bit really. It would've been nice to be $1,000, but we did what we could," said Roberge of Green Mountain Kettle Corn.
"At times it's kind of humiliating that we have nothing, but it's overwhelmingly gracious for them to take out of their own pockets and provide for us when we're at a complete loss," Dixon said.
Now that the ashes have settled and the initial shock subsided, Dixon says she has no choice but to press forward as she tries to recover what she came to Vermont to help her mother build.
Dixon says if they can recover even half of the $150,000 total loss, they might be able to rebuild.
Dixon's website is accepting donations. Click here for more.
