Growing Season: What’s Been Happening at Heartsmith
There’s a certain kind of energy that comes with this time of year.
The land starts to wake up. The days stretch a little longer. The to-do list grows… and so does the sense of possibility.
Here at Heartsmith, we’re very much in a building season—not just on the land, but in the work we’re doing as a whole.
And we wanted to take a moment to share what that looks like right now.
🌱 The Summer Program Is Taking Shape
Our biggest focus right now is our Kids’ Summer Program.
What started as an idea has slowly been turning into something real—something we’re building with intention, care, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work.
We’re currently in the planning and fundraising stage, working to make sure this program is not only meaningful, but safe, sustainable, and accessible for the kids who will be part of it.
This means:
Securing funding for staffing and supervision
Gathering supplies, materials, and food
Preparing the land so it can safely welcome children
Connecting with community partners and guest educators
We’ve also made the decision to run this year as a 3-week pilot program. This allows us to focus on quality over quantity—creating a strong, thoughtful experience while laying the groundwork to grow in the future.
This program is about more than just keeping kids busy for a few weeks.
It’s about giving them a place to:
Spend time outdoors
Build confidence
Learn real-life skills
Practice teamwork and emotional awareness
Feel a genuine sense of belonging
And we’re getting closer to making it happen every day.
💙 A Big Thank You to Walmart
One of the highlights of the past few weeks has been receiving a $1,000 Spark Good Local Grant from Walmart.
For a small, grassroots nonprofit like ours, this kind of support makes a real, tangible difference.
These funds are helping us begin covering essential program costs and move forward with more confidence as we continue fundraising.
We’re incredibly grateful to be part of a community where organizations are willing to invest in local kids and local ideas.
🌿 Our Roots at the Farmer’s Market
We’ve also been getting a lot of questions about the Farmer’s Market this year.
The market is such an important part of our story. It’s where Heartsmith first began showing up in a consistent way—meeting people, sharing our vision, and building the relationships that helped shape what we are today.
Because of that, it will always hold a special place in our hearts.
This year, we’ll still be there—but in a different rhythm.
You can expect to see us:
On opening day
During Kids Days
And likely about once a month throughout the season
Instead of being there every week, we’re choosing to focus more of our energy on the summer program and the broader work of building Heartsmith.
On a personal level, we’re also navigating caregiving, as I continue supporting my father and learning how to balance those responsibilities alongside everything else.
This shift allows us to show up more intentionally—both at the market and everywhere else.
🌱 Building Something That Lasts
If there’s one theme that keeps coming up lately, it’s this:
We’re building something that takes time.
Whether it’s clearing trails on the land, planning a program, or growing a community, none of it happens overnight.
There are a lot of unseen moments:
The planning
The problem-solving
The figuring things out as we go
But there’s also a lot of heart behind it.
Heartsmith has never been about doing things fast. It’s about doing things with care.
About creating something that people can trust. Something that feels real. Something that lasts.
🌿 How You Can Be Part of It
As we move forward, there are so many ways people are already showing up:
Supporting our fundraisers (like our upcycled t-shirts)
Sharing our posts and helping spread the word
Volunteering time and energy
Simply encouraging us along the way
Every bit of it matters.
And if you’ve been following along, supporting, or cheering us on—you’re already part of this.
Looking Ahead
There’s still work to do. Still pieces to put into place.
But there’s also momentum.
And there’s something really special about watching a vision slowly take root—not all at once, but steadily, season by season.
We’re grateful to be doing this here, in this community, with all of you.
🌿 Learn. Grow. Play.
Heartsmith Homestead
