Homegrown Rhythm Days have been the perfect bridge between homeschooling and the local community. We have been able to meet like-minded families, which is encouraging for myself as the homeschooling parent, and has created lasting friendships for my daughters. Being a part of Homegrown has also helped with my confidence in speaking to others about homeschooling, including skeptical or concerned family members and friends.
-Abby
Homegrown Learning Community has been the most wonderful experience for our family. Our daughter has blossomed so much since starting, both academically and socially. We've both made wonderful new friendships along the way - it truly feels like we've found our people here!
-Meg
Homegrown welcomed my family with open arms! It feels amazing having a community of like-minded families to go on a homeschooling journey together.
-Emily
Our family loves homegrown for so many reasons, but we especially love the community. So many people ask us about the “socialization” piece of homeschool, Homegrown provides that for our child and so much more. We love the hikes and monthly community meetups. Katie and Sarah are so welcoming and knowledgeable in helping us navigate homeschool when questions arise. Thanks Katie and Sarah !!
-Amanda
Homegrown has been a great start to pre-preschool homeschooling for my son. If not for Homegrown's hikes, he wouldn't have had as much interaction with other children at this point in his life as an only child in rural NJ. The community has also provided amazing mom friendships for me and introduced great mom conversations, where I've been able to ask about anything from homeschooling [to unschooling] to family planning to mama self care (because it all affects homeschooling). I will be forever grateful for Homegrown's welcoming environment and the village that it has provided for our family.
-Alessandra
HGLC has truly given my family a place to call home. We are surrounded by like-minded families who put their children's needs at the forefront, far beyond what is traditionally expected of school-aged children. Being part of this community has allowed us to play an active role in how our children learn, to explore different learning styles, and to nurture them in a way that aligns with our own values and traditions, without fear of judgment or criticism.
I was surprised by how naturally we found our rhythm here. Showing up each day to warm smiles and genuine greetings has given me a sense of comfort, belonging, and stability. We all come together with the same goal in mind, and the friendships that have grown out of that shared purpose have been an incredible bonus. It feels safe. It feels like we've finally found people who align with our vision, our hopes, and our dreams, for our children, for ourselves, and for our future.
I truly believe that without Homegrown Learning Community, I wouldn't feel nearly as confident in my choice to step outside mainstream expectations and let my children flourish in the unique ways they were designed to. This community has made all the difference.
-Danielle
Homegrown came at the perfect time for us! We were frustrated with public school and I was searching for alternatives when I saw Katie's post about Homegrown. When my husband and I attended their open house we left feeling like we finally found our community!!! Families that wanted to spend time with their children, give them better than the "normal", and were willing to do the work to make that possible. I no longer felt like the weird mom all alone. That emotional support did wonders for us as a family. Joining rhythm days I saw my kids blossom.
Outside of rhythm days there are so many opportunities to pick and choose field trips, hikes and special events. There's no all or nothing obligation like with some other organized activities and Homegrown allows our family the flexibility we were craving with homeschooling. We are so thankful to Katie and Sarah for creating such a beautiful community. You can feel their enthusiasm for their work, their families and all our families in everything they do!
-Ashley
