Bart Anderson "The Tomato King"

Bart was born in Millard County and moved to Murray when he was a young child.  In 1959 he purchased the  Rasmus Nielson home in Hunter Ut.  The Nielson home was built in 1884 and then renovated and changed in 1884. There was lots of room for Bart to garden on his acre of land. Bart had 25 fruit trees, berries, a large garden, pigs, chicks, goats and horses.  

Bart worked for Kennecott for over 30 years. He now teaches tree grafting courses & gardening classes to the community.  Many people still call him to get some of his “Bart’s Best Tomato” seeds. He has taught many extension office courses on gardening and he has been on the Utah/Salt Lake Canal Company for decades. Right now he serves as one of the Water Masters for the Canal Company.

For almost 25 years he has been Supervisor for the State Fair Horticulture Building. Every year he supplies the Hunter area with a “Share the Harvest” event where excess fruits & vegetables are shared.

This afternoon we talked about the Old Hunter residents. We reminisced about the past. He talked about how important it was to the residents of this area to have the Utah canal built in the 1880's. They needed to water to irrigate the Granger/Hunter area. We talked about how every home had their own well until the water/sewer was brought to the homes in the 1950’s. 

Bart told me that:  “In Hunter…All the woman are strong, All the men are good looking and All the children are above average.

In Hunter the wind is always at your backside, everything North, South, East or West of you is Down-hill.

In Hunter the gardens are all great and the Tomatoes are the Best 

Bart also told me that there are 2 things that Money $$ can’t buy The 1st is True Love and the 2nd  is home grown tomatoes.

BONUS: I left the visit with his old Zinc's Sled in my car. He donated it us for the next historical display that I will do. He remembers buying the sled for 75cents when he was a young boy. 

Please watch Bart's video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qn99Gc5IxA

This was Bart's family Outhouse.  He moved it to his current home.

It is the begining of February and Bart already has his tomatoes growing. He will be planting them in a water insulated system in March and then will be planting them in his garden in April. 

In 1959 Bart and his wife "Sweet Pea" Shirley bought this home at 5340 W 3500 South. This was the old Rasmus Nielson home and it was built in 1884 and then renovated in 1904. Bart lived in it until just a few years ago. Recently Bart sold the home and the acre surrounding it to a developer. It will probably be demolished and a group of condo's will then grace this acre of land very soon. Drive by it if you can, before it is gone. 

I left the visit with Bart's old Zinc's Sled in my car. He donated it us for the next historical display that I will put together. Bart remembers buying the sled for 75cents when he was a young boy. 

Here is an article about him   https://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=36760939