Meet Eric, the “Farmer” behind Hongik Eco Farm!

Sometimes, all it takes is a simple comment to change the course of a life. For Eric Carlberg, it was a roommate’s offhand remark:

“You know, if you cut up a potato and replant it, you can grow more potatoes.”

That moment sparked a deep curiosity about growing food—one that quickly turned into a lifelong calling. From those first experiments with backyard gardening to leading community-based food initiatives, Eric has spent the past 18 years cultivating more than just crops—he’s been growing connection, sustainability, and purpose.

With a background in the nonprofit sector and hands-on experience in educational and cross-cultural farming projects, Eric brings both heart and expertise to his work. He’s taught economically diverse high school students, gardened alongside seniors in rural Kenosha County, and formed global friendships through food-sharing projects like Mano A Mano in Round Lake, Illinois.

What excites him most? “The smell of healthy soil, the burst of spring growth, the joy of eating what the garden yields,” he says. But above all, it’s the people—sharing the harvest, stories, and labor that make farming truly meaningful.

Now, as the lead farmer at Hongik EcoFarm, Eric is eager to put his passion to work helping transform our land into a thriving model of regenerative agriculture and community cooperation. In his words,
“I’m not just farming to grow food—I’m farming to grow community.”

Please join us in welcoming Eric to the Hongik family!