You know that moment when someone starts talking about something they’re truly passionate about? Their eyes begin sparkling and their excitement becomes contagious.

That’s what it was like while sitting down with Heidi for an interview for Birch Road Bookkeeping’s very first blog post.

So, meet Heidi. She is the owner of Heidi’s Local Market located in the heart of Middlebury, Indiana. I’d be remiss not to give her husband, Landon, a shoutout for all the behind-the-scenes work he does, such as bookkeeping, inventory tracking, and more. Every business needs a Landon in their corner.

Born in Middlebury, Indiana and a Northridge graduate, Heidi had a deep love for entrepreneurship for as long as she could remember. She reminisced on childhood memories of sitting around the dinner table with her family, making them listen to her latest business ideas. She laughed and said she wasn’t sure if they just listened out of politeness but had always felt their full support in whatever latest endeavor her little brain was concocting up.

Accompanying that deep love for entrepreneurship was her love for gardening and cultivating her own food from her own backyard. This passion of hers is highly evident as you step into her store. Upon entering, you’ll see houseplants, plant pots, locally sourced fresh flower bouquets, natural room sprays, and locally made tallow bar soaps. As you round the corner, you’ll receive a warm greeting from Heidi and see a shelf to her left with a myriad of organic teas and coffee on display. Past that, you’ll find local produce, spices, local honey, and dry goods.

She works very closely with local farmers for seasonal produce, and Horn of Plenty in Middlebury for additional produce that can be found at Heidi’s Local Market as well.

She is running a local business that supports other local businesses – the best kind.

She mentioned that while you can buy produce from major grocery stores, it’s better to know where that produce comes from, and most importantly, the soil health that is growing that produce.

As you can tell, she cares deeply about nutrition and selling items that offer it. You can be confident in whatever you’re buying at Heidi’s Local Market has been carefully researched and handpicked for its nutritional benefits.

“I have so much respect for anyone who starts a business endeavor”, she said. “You really don’t know what it’s going to be. You have an idea in your mind of how you’d want it to go, but you don’t know the actuality of it and how it will be received.”

“When I first started this business, excitement drove me, but there were also moments where I thought, what am I doing?”

“But always remembering my ‘why’ is what anchored me. Leaning into my community, friendships, and family has grounded me as well.”

“Building a business is a type of art form. ‘It’s really scary for an artist to show off their art – its vulnerability.”

I asked her what advice she would give to other entrepreneurs who may just be starting out or may be stuck in uncertainty? “Go for it. Just try. Because most entrepreneurs don’t just wake up one day and decide to start a business, rather it’s been something in their wiring - that’s been wanting to create something for a while. I would say to be brave. Even something I tell myself now, if this doesn’t work out, I will at least have learned so much that will just lead me to the next thing. The success rate of a new business is not always high, but for a lot of successful business owners that wasn’t the first business that they tried and had immediate success at. So go for it, you’ll learn a lot of skills and learn so much about yourself. Your measure mark cannot be monetary success; it cannot be your ‘why’.”

To wrap up the interview, I asked her about something that has surprised her since she opened Heidi’s Local Market. Her answer really encapsulated her love for community and people. “A surprising thing has been the connections that I have been able to make with customers. That has been really special. This place has given me the opportunity to get to know people in the community. There have been some really cool moments that have happened here. Your local customers kind of become a part of your life.”

I believe that this love for people and community that both Heidi and Landon share will cultivate into fruition what they’re dreaming up next for Heidi’s Local Market. Heidi mentioned that she would love to eventually set up picnic areas and outdoor seating for customers to enjoy. She also hopes to start hosting workshops and begin a run club!

Your community, the place you live and build your life, is filled with wonderful stories just like Heidi’s. Businesses like Heidi’s Local Market are what make a community feel alive. They’re built on passion, connection, and a deep care for the people they serve. The next time you’re in Middlebury, stop in, say hello, and support something truly special!

Visit Heidi’s Local Market

337 N Main Street, Middlebury, Indiana

Organic coffee, local produce, plants, and wellness goods

Stop in, say hi to Heidi, and experience it for yourself!