Harmony Cedar, Inc. is a owned and operated by Rick Hansen.
Rick has been offering handcrafted furniture through our website since 2001, specializing in modern hardwood designs with clean simple lines such as Mission, Prairie, Arts & Crafts and Shaker.
A Brief History
Rick began Harmony Cedar in 2001 at the request of an Amish neighbor. The rural farm economy was very poor, and the family needed help to get their new cedar chests to market. The first few cedar chests were created in a curvy, decorative mission style -- and weren't very popular. Harmony Cedar introduced a few new styles that proved to be more popular (such as a true mission style chest, a shaker design, and a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired harmony cedar chest). The income from the sale of these cedar chests has helped several Amish craftsmen to provide for their families in a tough rural economy.
We have since introduced a line of dining furniture, but have remained true to these same simple styles. The sale of our handcrafted furniture continues to benefit the rural economy by providing work for craftsmen, small delivery companies, local sawmills, and local landowners with stands of beautiful hardwoods. Our products are all American Made.
Rick has placed large sections of his family's farmland into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and has planted over 5,500 trees on this land. The mix is 50% hardwoods (Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, and Walnut) and 50% softwood Pines. The trees help provide wildlife cover, prevent erosion on hills and slopes, improve water quality, and help to replenish the forests native to the Upper Midwest.
American Made Furniture
The solid hardwoods used in our furniture are locally grown and harvested here in the Upper Midwest.
Your purchase of a Harmony Cedar furniture piece helps to directly support the rural Midwestern economy.
Evan, Suzanne and
Rick Hansen
Rick Hansen -- President
Rick Hansen's background is in agriculture and environmental stewardship. He earned a Masters of Science Degree in Soil Management at Iowa State University in 1987, and worked at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for 17 years. Rick was elected to the Minnesota State Legislature in 2004.
Rick manages his family farm in Southern Minnesota, which is located near several Amish farmsteads. Rick's relationship with the Amish community began several years ago when his uncle passed away. Members of the community helped to round up his cattle and watch after the farm in the absence of Rick's uncle. They also helped on several other projects in the coming years -- fencing, roofing, and even a bit of fine woodworking. This was the beginning of a several-year-long relationship that led to the creation of Harmony Cedar.
Suzanne works as the Sustainability Manager for Macalester College in St. Paul. Evan is now in second grade at Lincoln Center Elementary School in South St. Paul. He is taking violin lessons and karate lessons. He has been helping plant and harvest the garden and loves catching toads, fishing and Harry Potter.
Mary Furth -- Customer Service
Mary Furth has over a decade of customer service experience in publishing & retail, has lead Outward Bound wilderness expeditions, is an artist and tailor.
Lois Daby -- Accountant
Lois Daby earned a BS degree in business from Cedarville University in Cedarville, OH. Upon college graduation she taught high school business education for 10 years due to a shortage of business teachers. For the last 20 years she has been providing accounting services for small businesses.
Lois's dedication to accuracy is essential, and it is appreciated.
Our Amish Partners
We are also thankful for the hard work and dedication of our Amish partners. Their craft is becoming a lost art, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with them and provide such beautiful heirloom-quality furniture to our customers.
