Welcome to Heartland Hub

Hello! I’m Laura, the creator behind Heartland Hub, and I’m delighted to have you here. This website has been brewing for quite some time, and I’m so proud to finally share it with you.

It all started with a mix of unexpected circumstances - technical challenges, learning new skills on the fly, and a spark of inspiration from Richard’s video, where he pondered that there are many authentic, friendly, home grown and family-run businesses all around us that we might never know about.

I'd been thinking about developing a directory to use my newly learned skills, and his words landed at exactly the right moment. I started building this site from scratch within an hour.  

This journey has not been straightforward. I’m sure many of you will resonate when I say that a few short years ago, everything in life just felt like it broke.

In rebuilding, I realised how much I didn’t understand about the digital world - and decided to change that.

As I learned, I began to see the potential for building a space where local businesses, artisans, and communities could connect without relying solely on tech giants like Meta, Facebook, or Google.

Now, Heartland Hub exists as a true labour of love - a community hub for authentic connections. It’s born from a desire to uplift local, home-based, and traditional businesses that might otherwise go unnoticed

What Heartland Hub is All About

Heartland Hub is a community-driven platform where local businesses, creators, and traditional craft practitioners can showcase what they do. This site highlights authentic, family, homegrown and craft focused businesses - from bakers and farmers to holistic practitioners and weavers.

My goal is simple: to connect people with genuine, skilful artisans in their area.

The site is still in its early stages—a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—but there’s already so much to explore. As Heartland Hub grows, business owners will soon be able to:

• Create their own listings
• Share their stories
• Connect with new customers who value quality, craftsmanship, and community.

How You Can Get Involved

Are you a local business owner, artisan, or craft practitioner? Or maybe someone passionate about supporting your community? I’d love to hear from you!

Right now, you can:

• Submit your business details via the Add a Business button.
• Reach out to me through the Contact Us page if you’d like to contribute a blog post or share your thoughts.
• Explore the Directory for sample business listings - search and location features are coming soon!
• Let me know about other features and ideas that would help you and our users.

Registered users will soon be able to:

• Submit their own blog posts (with approval to ensure alignment with our values).
• Leave reviews and comments on listings and posts, creating a supportive and respectful space for everyone.

Support and Collaboration

Heartland Hub is currently a passion project that I hope to keep free for users and business owners. However, there are ongoing costs like hosting and domain fees.

If you’d like to support this endeavour, donations are deeply appreciated - your support will help keep the site running smoothly and allow me to add even more features over time.

Additionally, if you’re looking for help with web services, I’d love to collaborate. Whether it’s creating an online presence for your business or refining your digital strategy, I’m here to help!

Thank You for Being Here

When I started this project, it felt like a “right place, right time” moment. I hope Heartland Hub can become the same for you - a place to discover, connect, and celebrate the local and traditional businesses that make our communities so special.

Let’s build a thriving, special hub for craftsmanship, connection, and community - together. ❤️