Making wreaths with natural, seasonally available materials has been the focal point of her business but is quickly expanding to fresh flowers, markets, workshops and floral accessories.  We love to get to know the person behind the dream and we are pleased to introduce you to Elysia (Ely) Harvey who is the owner of Emerald Grove in our Community Spotlight.

When did you move to Brechin and what attracted you to live here?

I moved here exactly 1 year ago. Coming from the coastal mountains of BC, an active outdoor lifestyle is very important to us. We were attracted to this area because of its proximity to the lake, biking and hiking trails, and not too far of a drive to Horseshoe and Collingwood for skiing.

Has creating wreaths always been a passion of yours?

I have been making wreaths on and off for over 20 years! I started when a friend first taught me how to make large 3ft grapevine and dogwood wreaths. She used to sell them at markets in Toronto every Christmas. It’s how I made my Christmas shopping money when I was young! I still use some of the techniques she taught me to this day.

I also have a horticultural background – both formal and informal. My dad is a horticulturalist, native plant expert, arborist and nurseryman so growing up a lot of plant knowledge was passed down to me just through watching him.  Of course as a kid I didn’t see the value in it, but I do now! My more formal training includes studying Forestry at UBC Vancouver and many years working at nurseries learning planting and propagation techniques. As it turns out – I’ve been surrounded by flowers my whole life.

Emerald Grove – tell us why you chose this name.

I suppose there is a bit of meaning behind the name come to think of it – I’m partial to words that begin with “E” and my favourite colour is green!  My dream is that one day Emerald Grove might be an actual place – where all of this creating, growing and sharing takes place!

When was Emerald Grove first established and were you this creative when you lived in British Columbia?

Like many small businesses popping up, Emerald Grove began as a creative outlet during COVID lockdowns. It was just this tiny idea but a fierce determination to turn something I loved doing into an income-generating business (and also keep my sanity during lockdown). It’s still very much a work in progress but with each success (and failure) my drive to continue it increases.

If you had to name one favourite wreath that you have created, what was it and why?

Eucalyptus. It smells fantastic when working with it, dries perfectly, and the soft sage-green colour looks beautiful with any décor style.

If someone was interested in attending one of your wreath workshops, how does one sign up?

I post updates on my social media pages when a workshop is coming up. Registration is either through the host’s website or directly through me using a registration link in my bio. Next year I hope to double my workshop events and make them more regular.

What is your favourite thing about owning a local business?

I get to connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs. Supporting local businesses is a great way to reduce our carbon footprint. I try as much as possible to source the products I use from other local entrepreneurs, whether it’s flowers, branches, silk ribbon, even the logo stamp I use; it’s a good example of how a purchase from one local business often supports many others.

Tell us a little bit about the front porch décor service you may be offering in the future.

My idea is to offer sort of a concierge-type service where I bring all the materials (say for Christmas season) to decorate your front porch and offer it as a package – planters, swags, garland, a wreath, etc. The target market might be someone who wants help dressing up the outside of their home before a holiday party, or maybe come home from work to have their front porch all done up for the holidays. It’s still just in the concept stage.

What does Ely like to do in her free time?

I’ve recently taken up paddle boarding. It’s such a great way to spend time on the water and get a bit of a workout. We’re still wobbly, but you’ll often find me and my 2 boys trying to keep our balance while paddling along the shoreline of Lake Simcoe or on the canals around Lagoon City. I think it’s usually a lone sport – but not if you have young kids! LOL

If you had any words of encouragement or advice for someone thinking of opening up their own business to follow their dreams, what would they be?

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go”.  I started on this journey not just for myself, but to show my kids it’s ok to take risks, to take a leap of faith, and to put yourself out there even if you might fail. Owning a small business isn’t for the faint of heart but doing something you’re passionate about turns the failures into motivation and the successes are pure joy.

We encourage you to follow Emerald Grove on facebook at  Emerald Grove Designs as well as instagram at  Emerald_Grove_Designs.  To get in touch with Ely please feel reach out to her by email at Emeraldgrovedesigns@gmail.com.