New Growth for Homegrown
It’s been a few months since Homegrown, and I think I’ve finally come down from the wave of stories, hugs, tears, and that dance party! If you weren’t able to attend this year, or we didn’t get a chance to meet, hello! And if we did, I miss you! I hope you had a summer that was equal parts bud and blossom, and that you’ve arrived in this new season recharged and ready to reseed.
I’ve got some news that’s equal parts exciting and a little scary (the best kind, right?)
I’ve taken on a full-time role as a Business Advisor with the Huron Business Centre (HBC), and Homegrown is growing stronger roots with HBC as its lead partner. [CUE THE BALLOON DROP!]
Now before you wonder if that means Homegrown will lose its bloom, let me reassure you: NOPE.
All the things we love about Homegrown – the connections, the energy, the vibe – aren’t going anywhere. Huron Business Centre has been a sponsor and a champion of Homegrown from the beginning, and they’ve given me and Homegrown a bigger plot to grow into.
Our friends at LaunchIt Business Exploration Centre, who helped do the hard work of breaking ground and planting seeds in these first few seasons, will forever be a Founding Partner, and their team will still be part of the growing cycle when initiatives align with their mission.
Behind the scenes, it will still be me tending the garden and growing the community. But sometimes, the gardener needs her own support stake. 😉
Running a business for the past 10+ years has been equal parts thrilling and exhausting. And creating Homegrown has been one of the brightest sparks through it all. But here’s the truth: keeping the wheels turning on my design studio, finding energy to dream, plan, and execute Homegrown at the scale it deserves, while managing a household… it’s been a lot. If you know, you know. And I know you know.
With HBC’s infrastructure, resources and support, Homegrown will keep blooming and stay a true regional gathering, open to rural women from across Huron, Bruce, Grey, Perth and Wellington Counties. Homegrown will always be a community garden.
And for me? It means I get to pour a lot more energy into growing something sustainable for us, instead of burning out trying to do all. the. things.
Photography by Ashley Noble Photography, Erin Soltys Photography,
Creative Kathleen Photography & Selah Photography
So mark your calendar now:
Homegrown 2026 is happening Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Between now and then, watch for smaller “Homegrown Hangs” — think cozy, quarterly gatherings where we can reconnect, swap stories, learn, and remind ourselves we’re not doing this wild rural business thing alone. First up: the return of Homegrown Holiday (this year with a rain snow date! 😉). Stay tuned for all the details in just a few weeks.
In the meantime, I hope you’re harvesting wonderful things in your business, and planting seeds for next year’s growth.
With gratitude, grit, and a whole lot of excitement for this next season,
Heather
P.S. If you need a little energy boost and want to see Homegrown 2025’s highlight reel, check out the gallery here.
