At Carlson Harvest, we don’t just work the land—we’re continuing a family tradition of growing, building, and creating that spans generations.

A deep appreciation for the land has been passed down through our family, shaping how we live and work today. Before the Great Depression, my great-grandfather was a landscaper and gardener for wealthy estates around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis. My grandmother grew the best tomatoes in North Minneapolis, and my mom’s mother always had her hands in the dirt, nurturing her garden. My mom’s dad was an implement dealer, ensuring farmers had the tools they needed to keep working and feeding the community. Farming is in our blood.

My father built his career in corn breeding, but when he wasn’t shaping the future of agriculture, he was in the garden. In 2020, my sister gifted him a startup beekeeping kit, and that unexpected passion became the foundation of our honey operation today. My dad’s father was a consummate tinkerer, always fixing, building, and figuring things out—something that clearly rubbed off on me.

In 2019, with a growing family, we started looking for a place with better schools, and Howard County—specifically Ellicott City—was the obvious choice. It took some time, but we found the right piece of property and carried on raising chickens and gardening, just like we had before. With my folks just down the road, when my dad got his first bee colony, the natural place for it to go was our farm. That’s when beekeeping truly became part of what we do.

At first, we sold eggs to friends and family, and as we added more chickens, it only made sense to expand into a greater business. Setting up Carlson Harvest was the natural next step.

Carlson Harvest is a true family effort. You can still often find my dad with a smoker in his hand, teaching the kids how to plant seeds, or enjoying fresh eggs from the chickens. My mom wasn’t always a fan of birds, but after seeing cute chicks and goslings, she’s fully converted. Now, she’s the first to offer help mucking the coop or spending time at the farm stand at the end of our driveway.

Stephanie has fully come into her own as a farm wife, handling the business side of Carlson Harvest while managing the everyday farm tasks—including washing eggs and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I was always drawn to how things work—whether it was taking things apart as a kid or fixing and building as an adult. Now, I handle house repairs, tinker in the garage, weld, and keep our farm running. After seven years in the Navy, including a tour in Iraq, I came home wanting to build something lasting—a place where family, tradition, and hard work come together. Meli, my service dog, has been by my side, making sure I keep moving forward—on the farm and in life.

That’s how Carlson Harvest was born—out of a desire to reconnect with my roots and share the kind of honest, homegrown food I grew up around. We believe in simple, honest food—raised with patience, care, and respect for the land and the bees that make it possible.

We take pride in offering pure, small-batch honey, farm-fresh eggs, and homegrown produce in season—all raised with care, patience, and a whole lot of love. We’re proud to be part of the Ellicott City community, sharing the best of what we grow with our neighbors.