Our Story
From childhood neighbors to building a family homestead,
Where it all began
Iron & Harvest has roots that go back long before land, animals, or garden beds. We grew up just a few streets apart in Kernersville, North Carolina.
Aaron and I were in the same first-grade class, spent summers together on our neighborhood swim team, and shared the kind of small-town childhood that shaped who we are today.
In high school, we attended rival schools but still crossed paths through our shared love of singing — and later while lifeguarding together at the Kernersville YMCA. Our lives overlapped in quiet ways for years, long before we ever imagined the life we’d eventually build together.
Small-town beginnings in Kernersville, North Carolina
Starting our life together
Years later, our paths crossed again at a wedding where Aaron was singing, and from that moment on, we were inseparable. We were married two years later and made Durham, North Carolina our home.
Those early years were filled with big dreams, long days, and a lot of hard work. Katharine worked as a pediatric nurse at Duke, while Aaron juggled several jobs — launching his real estate career, working part-time as a worship leader, and even “mannying” for a wonderful family. We lived simply, budgeting tightly, sometimes eating ramen or peanut butter and jelly for dinner, all while working toward becoming debt-free and building the foundation for our growing family.
Just over a year after getting married, we welcomed our first child, Ellison. Two years later, we added our second child, Grady — embracing the busy, beautiful season of starting our life together.
October 2014 — The beginning of our life together.
Coming back home
For years, we never imagined we would move back to Kernersville — though Katharine hoped we might someday. Then, in the fall of 2018, Aaron lost his grandfather, and everything shifted. That loss brought a new perspective on time, family, and what mattered most. With Aaron’s grandmother still living, being closer to family became a priority.
We made a big leap — Katharine left Duke after six years, and we moved back to the hometown Aaron once said he’d never call home again. Aaron launched Reel Realty, and suddenly we found ourselves just ten minutes from all four of our parents. Our kids gained the gift of grandparents becoming part of their everyday lives, and we began to realize this move wasn’t just about location — it was about building a life centered around family.
A new way of living
After moving back to Kernersville, life began to shift in ways we never expected. Katharine took a nursing job at a local pediatrician’s office, but after years in the fast-paced hospital environment, the slower pace left her missing both the challenge and, more importantly, time with the kids. Then COVID hit, and we made another leap of faith — Katharine stepped away from nursing to stay home, and Aaron went all in with Reel Realty. It was a scary decision, but looking back, it’s clear how God was aligning our family for what was ahead.
Not long after, another unexpected turn came. We enrolled Ellie in public school, fully expecting her to follow the same path we had. But by Christmas of her kindergarten year, she was begging to be homeschooled. We took a leap, bought the curriculum, and didn’t send her back in January. It was a big adjustment, but it opened the door to something we hadn’t anticipated — more freedom, more time together, and the opportunity to shape a life centered around learning, growth, and family. As our family grew with the addition of our third child, and later our fourth, we began to realize that slowing down and intentionally building our days together was becoming the foundation for everything that would follow.
Learning to grow
Around this same time, something else began to grow — our interest in living more intentionally and learning new skills as a family. Katharine had always joked about having a “black thumb,” with every plant she owned growing up eventually dying. But after moving back home in August 2019, she decided to try again. Aaron’s dad built her first garden bed, filled with horse manure, and she started planting. The joy of that first harvest was impossible to articulate. Watching something grow — something she had nurtured from the very beginning — sparked a new passion.
A few years later, her dad added a second garden bed, and the garden became a place where our family learned together. We also added a compost bin — and even composting worms — which quickly cut our household trash nearly in half. There were plenty of successes and just as many challenges along the way. Eventually, the wood beds began to rot, a family of mice moved in, and voles started stealing lettuce. In 2025, we removed the garden beds, but instead of ending the journey, it sparked plans for something even better. We’re already dreaming about a new and improved garden at our future home — one that continues to grow alongside our family.
Falling in love with farm life
As we spent more time outdoors and working with our hands, our family naturally began leaning into farm life. Ellie quickly fell in love with animals, especially chickens. Our friends had a flock, and anytime they got new chicks, Ellie begged to visit so she could hold them and carry them around. Around the same time, she also started asking for a horse.
In October 2025, we took a family vacation that included a stop at the Kentucky Horse Park. That visit sparked something in all of us, and we didn’t waste much time. Just a month later, we welcomed Apollo into our family. He lives at Aaron’s parents’ farm, and the rhythm of barn life quickly became something we all loved. The quiet routines, the responsibility, and the grounding nature of caring for an animal brought a new kind of joy — even if it meant a bit of a drive to see him.
At the same time, our kids were stepping more fully into hands-on life. Grady developed an incredible work ethic, happily scooping manure, hammering finishing nails into new garden beds, and hauling sticks from pasture areas. Ellie could often be found brushing Apollo and soaking in every moment with him. These small, everyday experiences began shaping the kind of life we wanted — one built around responsibility, growth, and learning together.
October 2025 — The season we fell in love with farm life.
Iron & Harvest begins
When the opportunity for this property came along, we knew almost immediately that it was something special. The vision started forming quickly — having Apollo in our backyard, expanding our homestead skills, adding animals, and returning to gardening in a more meaningful way. It felt like a natural next step in the life we had slowly been building.
What made it even more meaningful was the location. The property is within walking distance of Katharine’s parents, continuing the theme that had shaped so many of our decisions — staying close to family and building a life rooted in community. After years of growing, learning, and dreaming, this felt like the place where those dreams could take shape.
Iron & Harvest wasn’t a sudden shift — it was simply the next chapter in a story that had been unfolding for years.
The beginning of Iron & Harvest Homestead.
What we’re building
We’re stepping into this new chapter slowly and intentionally — one phase at a time.
First comes our home. Then fencing and a run-in so Apollo can finally move to our backyard.
Along the way, we’re bringing with us the rhythms we’ve already built — gardening, sourdough, and a simple compost system — continuing to grow them in this new space.
From there, we’ll begin adding what’s been on our hearts for years — a chicken coop, expanded gardens, and maybe even a Highland cow or two.
This isn’t just about building a homestead.
It’s about building a life.
A place where our kids learn responsibility, stay curious, and grow through everyday experiences. Where work is shared, rhythms are meaningful, and learning happens naturally.
We’re not in a rush.
We’re just building it — one step at a time.
Looking toward what we’re building.
Why Iron & Harvest
At the heart of Iron & Harvest is something simple — a love for watching life grow. New babies, new plants, new seasons, new skills. Watching birth and growth brings us so much joy and constantly reminds us of God’s goodness. It leaves us in awe of His creation and grateful for the opportunity to experience it together as a family.
Living this way also allows our children to experience life cycles firsthand — birth, growth, and even loss — creating meaningful conversations and hands-on education that can’t be replicated in a classroom. It teaches responsibility, resilience, and the value of hard work. And let’s be honest, farm life comes with constant challenges. But we believe those challenges create opportunities for problem solving, growth, and learning together.
Iron & Harvest is about building a life rooted in faith, family, and purposeful work. It’s about slowing down, getting our hands dirty, and creating a place where our family can grow — in every sense of the word.
We’re still at the beginning, and we’re so glad you’re here for the journey.
Building a life rooted in faith, family, and purpose.