How We Ended Up Digging Up Lawns for a Living

Apr 10

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably wondering who we are and what we’re actually about.

So I figured we’d start at the beginning.

I’m Mara, and I’ll be the one writing these blog posts since computers are not really Nate’s cup of tea. He’s much more of a build it, fix it, figure it out on site kind of person, which works out pretty well for what we do.

I’m the owner and project manager behind Blissful Bee Gardening, and I wanted to start here by sharing how this all came to be and who is behind the work.

Because this business did not start as a landscaping company. It started with food, public health, and a deep desire to build a life that actually aligns with our values.

Where It Started for Me

I’m a dietitian with a master’s in public health, and most of my work has always been rooted in food systems and food security. At the core, I just want people to have access to good, local food.

My first job out of college was as a Junior Master Gardener with NDSU Extension, where I worked with kids building garden beds, growing food, and teaching hands on cooking and nutrition. That experience stuck with me and shaped how I think about food and connection.

After that, I worked for over 5 years at a tribal college in Bismarck, North Dakota, where I wore a lot of hats, from teaching nutrition and food safety to supporting culinary programs and farmers markets. That role really shaped everything for me. It’s where I learned about food sovereignty, Native American culture, and what it truly means to be a good steward of the land. It deepened how I think about the relationship between land, food, and community.

When I moved to Minneapolis, I wanted to stay connected to that work. I joined Neighborhood Roots to support fundraising for local farmers markets, and that role expanded into budgeting, systems thinking, and making sure these markets are sustainable long term.

Where Nate Comes In

Around that same time, I met Nate.

He had been working seasonally for a landscaping company and also had a printing job that did not really fulfill him. He has also worked at Town Hall Lanes for over ten years, which is where we met and where he still works in the winter.

Nate brings a completely different energy to this work. He is hands on, detail oriented, and has a strong sense for how things should come together in the field.

Starting the Business

Blissful Bee Gardening started in 2023.

That first season was busy, but it started slow. We were working nights and weekends, figuring things out as we went while Nate was still working his printing job.

At a certain point, it became clear we needed to make a decision. Nate left his printing job, went back to working at Town Hall Lanes in the winter, and we started to take seriously what it would look like to build this into a full time business.

2024 was our first full season going all in.

Why This Work Matters to Us

This business sits at the intersection of everything I care about.

Personal health
Environmental health
Food systems
Community

It all connects.

We wanted to build something that nourishes both people and the earth. Something that supports pollinators, creates space for growing food, and helps people feel more connected to where they live.

For Nate, it meant doing work that felt tangible and meaningful. Being outside, building something real, and seeing the impact at the end of the day.

For both of us, it meant creating a life that reflects our values.

What We Are Building

Blissful Bee Gardening is about more than landscaping.

It is about helping people rethink their outdoor spaces. Turning lawns into something alive. Creating places that support pollinators, grow food, and actually get used.

We are still building this. Still learning. Still figuring things out each season.

But it feels right and that is what matters.

We’re excited to share more about us, the business, and the work we do. We hope it’s fun and educational. Next up, the rebrand and why we’re digging up lawns in the first place.