The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
We’ve had a bumpy 7 years of Homestead Hippie. Not just in business but personally. The major challenge we overcame was 2020. We returned to the UK to visit family in November 2019. We had family members that were unwell, and I’d just had a miscarriage. We were already exhausted after a move from Australia to New Zealand for business. New Zealand didn’t quite go as planned and we just needed a break. So, we came back to the UK and stayed with my parents. Little did we know a global pandemic was around the corner. The world went into lockdown, and we got stuck in the UK, living in my mum and dad’s house with my two brothers. It was very cramped! We also found out in this time I was pregnant, so didn’t want to risk travel. This was one of the toughest times for us, managing businesses remotely, being pregnant after a miscarriage in a pandemic where appointments were limited and only I was allowed in. Plus seeing other families struggling with the whole event and knowing we could help. It was a lot! We had to really dig deep to get through, and we decided to focus on supporting other families as much as we could. We kept Homestead Hippie free; we donated food and baby items to families in need, we opened up other businesses we have for free to support small businesses during the whole thing, and we made it our mission to just help as many people as possible. This helped us in the process. And in fact, changed the face of Homestead Hippie. Although it was an extremely challenging time, Homestead Hippie wouldn’t be where it is today if that never happened.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
I’ve never had a job. I’ve always worked for myself and had businesses. So, it’s all I really know, and I can’t imagine it any other way. I guess a con would be certainty. Especially in today’s climate it can feel uncertain and uneasy as a business owner. It’s a pretty rough time to be in business and a job could feel like a stable solution. But, for me, the pros of running your own business far outweigh any cons. And the entrepreneurial rollercoaster is so worth it. The lows are always worth the highs. I guess if there comes a day that changes then it might be time to pass on the business baton. But the ability to have a schedule that works for you and your family, being able to set your own boundaries, work on your own terms and run a business that suits your whole family unit is something that I could never pass up. And most importantly, the soulful aspect of running your own business. It is so rewarding and fulfilling to know you are helping other people. I am a huge empath, and I love to help others. It fills my soul to do so. And being able to run a business that has the ability to reach thousands, and hopefully one day hundreds of thousands, is extremely fulfilling.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’d like to make Homestead Hippie the ultimate place for Home Educating families to connect and provide judgement-free support worldwide. I have this vision that everyday home ed families worldwide log onto their Homestead Hippie accounts and connect with each other, build connections and friendships that last, ask questions, answer questions, access resources on alternative topics and help each other along the home ed journey.
Parents, step parents, guardians, grandparents never feeling alone or not welcomed in the home-schooling space. That’s the mission. I don’t ever want anyone to feel as alone as I did when going into those groups to seek support, and getting nothing but reasons why I shouldn’t be there.
I’d love for Homestead Hippie to be Facebook for home educators (without the judgement and keyboard warriors). I believe that if we keep the essence of Homestead Hippie as it is now, we could create an extremely strong community full of likeminded people that are all there to support each other. As well as being able to connect our community with businesses that can provide products or services to support home educators.
Visit the Homestead Hippie website to find out more, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
