the man behind the madness

Hi, I’m Bart Johnson — the Backyard Farmer behind all the spice, crunch, and creativity you’ll find here.

I’m a native of the DMV area, originally from Arlington, Virginia. After meeting my wife, Jessie, we settled in Laurel, Maryland, where we built our home together with our two Siberian huskies, Mila and Indy, and our two cats, Bella and Splinter. Our little corner of the suburbs quickly became a place full of life, laughter, and a growing number of garden projects.

What started as a few pepper plants and cucumber vines in the backyard turned into something much bigger. My love for hot peppers, pickles, and experimenting with flavor sparked a passion for gardening, fermentation, and small-batch sauce making. With every harvest, I learned new techniques and created new combinations — always chasing that perfect balance of heat, flavor, and freshness.

After sharing my creations with family, friends, and fellow fans while tailgating at Washington Commanders games, I realized it was time to take the next step. Backyard Farmer was born from those shared moments — a way to bring the same handcrafted, homegrown flavors to more tables.

None of this would have been possible without my biggest supporters — my amazing wife Jessie, and our furry family, Mila, Indy, Bella, and Splinter. Their love, patience, and constant company have been at the heart of this journey — and I’m endlessly grateful for that.

At Backyard Farmer, everything is made in small batches — grown, harvested, and crafted by hand. There are no mass-production lines or shortcuts here. Every veggie starts as a seed planted with care in our backyard soil, nurtured through the seasons, and transformed into sauces, pickles, and condiments that are full of real flavor and heart.

Because for me, it’s not just about what you taste — it’s about where it comes from, how it’s made, and the love that goes into every single jar and bottle.