Mount Holly Springs pastors find healing in beekeeping

Ryan and Maureen Brown

Business Name: Ebenezer Honey

Years in business: 7 years, official business since 2023

Location: Mount Holly Springs

Q: Why did you want to start this kind of business?

A: This journey began in our backyard, not long after a season that taught us the fragile beauty of life. When Ryan was diagnosed with cancer, everything shifted. Time slowed down. We learned to pay attention to the moments that matter most, to give thanks for what we have, and to notice the quiet grace that is always there, even when it doesn’t announce itself. After recovery and remission, we took a class on beekeeping. Tending to the bees began as a curious experiment, but quickly became a natural part of our healing. As our lives shifted and kids went off to college, the bees offered us something steady to care for, something rooted that reminded us of all we’ve been carried through.

We named it Ebenezer after the line in the Bible, in 1 Samuel 7:12: “Here I raise my Ebenezer — the Lord has helped us this far.” This work, these bees, this business — it’s all a reminder of God’s faithfulness and how far he’s brought us.

Q: How did you get your start?

A: We are pastors at a local church, so our lives are full of prayer, people and showing up where we’re needed. You might wonder what ministry and beekeeping have in common. For us, it’s simple: both are about stewardship. Both are about tending what’s been entrusted to us and offering care in the quiet, everyday ways that make a difference. Whether we’re sharing a message on Sunday or filling jars with honey, it’s all an act of love — an offering to others that’s lived out in small, steady ways.

What started as a curious experiment took on a whole new meaning as most of our “experiments” do. Because that’s what happens when you have a personality wired for new opportunities and ideas. This simple little hobby grew into a micro-business rooted in community and partnership. We’ve been tending the hives since around 2018, but officially opened for business two years ago.

Our bees stay close to home, kept on a couple of local properties within two miles of where we live. Some of our hives are at Carwood Farms, a local grass-fed beef farm that offers bundles to the community — and benefits from the pollination our bees bring to the fields. Our other bee yard is tucked away on a quiet country plot surrounded by trees and wildflowers. It’s peaceful there, and the bees seem to know it. We’re grateful to partner with others who care for the land like we do, and together, we get to enjoy the simple, purposeful work that brings something beautiful over time.

Q: What does your business sell or provide?

A: We harvest raw, local honey and craft a few other simple goods: beeswax tea lights, lavender sachets and a handful of cozy tees and hoodies. But what we value most isn’t just what we create. It’s the feeling we hope you take away when you find your way here: a sense of being welcomed, grounded and reminded that in a world that moves fast, there is still sweetness worth savoring.

Ebenezer has an online store, ebenerzerhoney.com, where you can purchase our raw honey products (and some Ebenezer merchandise). It’s available for local pick-up or delivery. We also have our products in a couple local(ish) stores: Crossing Creek & Co. (located just off Route 74, on Sheaffer Road, Dillsburg); Springhouse Spa (Dillsburg); Fiddlestix Mercantile (located in New Oxford); and Carwood Farms (Carlisle).

Ebenezer Honey also supplies honey to One13 Social and Pitt Street Station, where it’s featured in some truly incredible menu items. We love stopping in to taste the delicious, thoughtful creations these chefs dream up; they’re serving our community with such care, creativity and wholesome goodness.

And a couple of times during the year we will do a local fair or festival; we keep experimenting with which ones are best for the time and investment.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now?

A: One of the biggest challenges is navigating nature and climate. Last year, across the U.S., bee keepers noted record lows and loss. The rain last spring washed away the nectar flow, and the warmer temps have created new issues with hive beetles. We were fortunate with minimal loss, but we’ve had to do some rebuilding of bee colonies this year.

The other, beyond our control sort of issue, is the general use of pesticides, both domestic and commercial. Chemicals hurt the bees and impact their production, so this is always something we are trying to work through with our colonies.

Bees will fly up to two miles for pollen and water, so we are very thankful to Carwood Farms and their commitment to sustainable farming.

The ongoing challenge we have is sustaining our hives, because bees naturally multiply. We started with two hives back in 2018, but colonies grow and when they become too big for the hive, they swarm and move on. As bee keepers we work to help the bees cultivate healthy flourishing colonies that produce good honey, which means managing and building new hives, before they swarm. New hives need new homes. We learned this well in those early years, when at one time we had six hives out back. We’re always looking for local farmers who are willing to host our hives.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do or place in Cumberland County?

A: One of the things we really love about living in Cumberland Valley is the pace of life — it gives you room to breathe and pay attention. The mountains around us are just stunning, and the little towns tucked in between have a kind of charm that makes you want to slow down and explore. There’s so much creativity here, too; local makers and artists bringing beauty into the everyday. Some of our favorite days are the simple ones: riding bikes on the trails between Newville and Shippensburg, working in the garden or sharing a good meal made from what we’ve grown. Beekeeping has become a big part of our rhythm too — learning from the bees, harvesting honey and getting to share it with our neighbors. We’re grateful for this community, our church and the chance to live rooted and connected in a place that really feels like home.