Stewardship of the land has been a mission for the Johnson family in Hambden Township for six generations.
Stewardship of the land has been a mission for the Johnson family in Hambden Township for six generations.
They expanded that tradition in 1982, when David and Beverly Johnson and David’s parents, Arthur and Judy, incorporated the family farm on Woodin Road and opened Mapledale Farm Inc. landscape and supply business on Old State Road.
In June, the business was recognized by the Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce as the best small business of the year, praising the Johnson family’s determination and dedication to the community.
The company has seen some rocky times in the last two decades, David said in a recent interview.
At the turn of the 21st century, Mapledale had up to 48 employees helping supply commercial and industrial customers with mulch, topsoil and gravel.
“After 2008, things changed,” he said.
With the economy suffering, the family downsized the supply business, but there was still plenty for employees to do during the summer months.
When COVID-19 caused everyone to go home, business saw an upturn.
“We were extremely busy. With people staying at home, they were doing more projects and more gardening,” David said. “It was a good year.”
When the farmers’ market on Chardon Square was cancelled in 2020, he offered to set the weekly event up in the store parking lot and for two months at the end of the growing season, it was fairly successful.
“All those people had product they needed to sell,” David said.
Since the market was on private property, there were fewer regulations, he said, adding the market returned to the square and changed its hours. It is now open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Currently, Mapledale has three construction crews and two grounds maintenance crews and it looks to be another good season.
“This year’s been just as busy (as 2020), but some supplies are hard to come by and all our costs are going up,” he said.
The customer base has spread out with orders coming in from Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties and David sends trucks loaded with product to the far side of Cleveland.
“We’re the supplier for Best Sand products. If you want sand, you come through us,” he said.
Best Sands, on Ravenna Road south of Chardon, is a division of COVIA Corp. headquartered in Independence.
Drivers will also deliver from three cubic yards to hundreds of cubic yards of mulch or gravel to residents or large commercial operations, David said.
His operations manager, Lance Fay, takes care of design and installation for the construction projects and Jeff Winfield manages grounds maintenance and turf care crews.
“Lance has been with me 24 or 25 years,” David said, adding both men live locally and he values longevity among his staff.
The showroom features a few pieces of lawn furniture such as Adirondack chairs. The Chardon Square picnic tables are made of the same wood-like material that is longer-lasting and nearly maintenance-free, he said.
David said he likes to work with local vendors, especially in the current atmosphere.
“Ever since the COVID business, everybody wants (food) locally-grown and (items) made in the U.S.,” he said. “There’s no better time for small businesses to network, to collaborate and compete.”
