Sparrow Garden Homestead
My name is Charlene McCulloch Stout. I am the owner and operator of Sparrow Garden Homestead. I am a lifelong Seguin resident, with roots going back several generations. I am the mother of seven amazing children, three of whom are young adults now, plus a son-in-law and a beautiful granddaughter. These people are the inspiration for everything I do.
A couple of years ago, I was looking for an activity to do with my daughter and sisters, and I found a sourdough bread class offered by Circle 5 Sourdough. I knew Kelly Coffman would offer a great class. In this class, I found myself intrigued by the process of turning simple ingredients into nourishing bread. However, I had no idea that my afternoon mother-daughter activity would turn into a small business opportunity, a way to help support my family, and become more involved in my local community
Inspired by this experience, and with an established starter in hand, I began baking sourdough bread at home. Soon, I started to experiment with bread inclusions and additional items baked with sourdough, such as cookies, scones, sweet breads, and more. Soon, opportunities came up for my children to attend multiple summer camps, so I decided to bake sourdough bread and cookies to sell. I was able to raise the needed funds, and my baking funds have paid for many extracurricular activities since then.
Encouraged by the success of this “fundraiser” and the support of our local community, I decided to continue baking and pursue this opportunity further. I researched cottage food laws and soon became a regular vendor at the Austin Street Market in downtown Seguin. This allowed me to network with other vendors, artisans, and bakers. It was there that I met Celeste Koepsel, of Nana’s Pies and Other Baked Treats. She is a fellow baker who became a mentor in business as well as a friend.
As my confidence grew and my skills improved, I encountered new opportunities. Celeste and I also began to participate regularly in the Yellow Rose Artisan Market hosted in the downtown Seguin square. We have also highlighted our products at various vendor events, such as Buck Fever, car shows, and functions hosted by Seguin Main Street.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been the sense of connection with the community. These markets have not only led to increased sales but have become places for vendors to network, neighbors to reconnect, families to share quality time and treats, and newcomers can explore and feel welcomed.
I take pride in providing fresh breads and other baked items, using quality ingredients and traditional methods. Hearing how people have incorporated my bread into their meals or shared it with friends and family, brings me great joy.
Operating my own business has brought unexpected personal benefits. This business (along with several other ventures) allows me to set me schedule in a way that I can be present in my children’s daily lives – whether that be homeschooling, attending school events, driving teens to and from work, shuttling friends around, or just being generally available when needed. This balance enables me to nurture my family and provide for their tangible needs.
Reflecting on this journey thus far, I am grateful for that initial class that sparked a vision and for every experience along the way. What began as a bonding experience has grown into a business that brings people together and strengthens our community. My goal is to continue to learn, to grow, and to bake delicious items for my customers, always striving to make a positive impact – one loaf at a time.
By: Charlene McCulloch Stout
T-Shirts by Saundra Polanco
I started my T-shirt and craft side hustle in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began and the world shifted into lockdown. Like many others, I suddenly found myself at home, navigating uncertainty and stress. What initially began as a way to pass the time quickly turned into something far more meaningful.
As I spent more time crafting and creating custom shirts, I discovered how therapeutic and rewarding the process was. Designing and making items became a creative outlet that helped me cope during an uncertain time. Friends and family began noticing my work and encouraged me to share it with others. With their support, I decided to turn my hobby into a side hustle.
I officially launched my side hustle through Facebook, advertising my work to friends and family. This simple approach allowed me to reach people I already trusted and helped build confidence as I began taking custom orders. From there, word of mouth played a major role in my growth, as satisfied customers shared my work with others in the community.
One of the biggest challenges I face is competition, especially in a community like Seguin where many people operate similar side hustles. Instead of allowing competition to discourage me, I choose to remain positive and supportive. I understand that many individuals are simply trying to earn extra income in today’s economy. I focus on creating quality products, providing excellent customer service, and fostering a sense of community rather than viewing others as rivals.
Another challenge is balancing my side hustle while working a full-time job. I overcome this by being organized, managing my time effectively, and setting realistic goals. I pride myself on maintaining fast, clear communication with customers and offering quick turnaround times, even with a busy schedule. Being reliable and responsive has helped me build trust, leading to repeat customers and referrals.
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing and maintaining a successful side hustle while staying true to the reason I started. I hope to expand my clientele primarily through referrals and word of mouth, which I believe are some of the strongest measures of success.
What began as a way to cope during the pandemic has grown into a meaningful side hustle rooted in creativity, resilience, and community support. I am proud of how far it has come and excited about the continued growth ahead.
By: Saundra Polanco
Caro’s Freshies
Hello, my name is Carolyn Herrera, and I am the owner of Caro’s Freshies. I have always loved scents and perfumes. When I discovered cookie cutter freshies at Gift & Gourmet, I was hooked. Freshies are small space air fresheners. Some people hang their freshies in a room, office, or locker, but most people use them in their car. Cherry Leather was my absolute favorite and still is! About 3 years ago a friend at work made me a GORGEOUS blue and black bull. I never realized freshies could also be beautiful!
My husband Jesus encouraged me to try to make freshies myself. He has been a rock through this whole adventure. He helps every day after work, inserting hooks, labeling bags, and cutting string. He helps me set up at markets. He even built me a she shed to give me room to grow! And he puts up with my glitter everywhere!! I started watching TikTok and YouTube videos, and through a lot of trial and error and some questionable choices, here we are! At first, I just made freshies for myself and family. Later for friends. Last year, I got my first wholesale order FROM GIFT & GOURMET!!! I was floored!! I love being in this business. Sometimes I still cannot believe it is mine! I get to meet such amazing people! It makes me so happy when people see my stuff and smile or laugh! Making quality products that make people happy will always be my goal!
I wish I could just make beautiful things and not have to worry about any of the business part. The taxes are the worst. Quarterly state and county sales tax AND end of the year federal tax!! Luckily, I am in a group of freshie makers- we all rep for the same mold company. They coached me through getting a tax id number with the comptroller. Then I got a DBA (doing business as) from the county and opened a business account. I have yet to learn how not to give stuff away!!
The Seguin (and surrounding) Community has been amazing throughout my journey. I was born and raised here. The love and support I have been shown continues to blow me away. I now sell freshies at Guadalupe Trading Co. I swear, Katy and Nick are so amazing and continuously encourage me to explore my creativity. Besides Gift & Gourmet and Guadalupe Trading Co, my freshies are also in Lola’s Mexican Food, Yoli’s Mexican Restaurant, Maldonado Nursery Gift Shop in Seguin (y’all need to check them out, it is so cute!), Paws to Perfection, and The Haunted Magnolia Hotel Gift Shop. You can also come meet me and see my craziness every 4th Saturday at the Yellow Rose Artisan Market at the square! I am always set up in front of the old Wells Fargo Bank on Nolte Street.
In the future, I hope to learn more about the business side. Learn to keep track of sales and expenses. Learn how to balance family and business. Learn how to get to bed on time, lol. And just learn how to be a better person and give back to my community.
By: Carolyn Herrera
All About that Crunch
Owning my own business allows me to combine creativity, purpose, and a commitment to quality in everything I do. Through All About That Crunch, I have the freedom to pour my heart and attention to detail into something that is truly mine. I take pride in providing our community with a great product—one I am genuinely proud of. Every event, every product, and every interaction reflects not only my work but my values. I love the flexibility entrepreneurship gives me, but even more than that, I love the sense of purpose it brings. When you own a business, the long hours feel meaningful because you know exactly why you are doing them.
Another important reason my business means so much to me is that it allows me to supplement my income. As an educator, I am deeply passionate about what I do, but like many in the education field, my pay has not kept pace with the rising cost of living. Everything from groceries to utilities continues to increase, and having my own business helps bridge that gap. It provides financial support while allowing me to do something I truly enjoy rather than taking on work that doesn’t align with my passions.
Looking ahead, my hopes and dreams are centered on growth and sustainability. I want to continue participating in major events that bring people together, but I also dream of seeing my products in more storefronts. Expanding into retail spaces would allow my work to reach more people and create a steady presence beyond markets and special events. Growth, to me, isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building something lasting while staying true to who I am and why I started.
The Seguin community plays a huge role in both my business and my life. I was born and raised here, graduated from high school here, and have spent years serving this community as an educator and as a former director of a childcare facility. Because of that, I have taught, worked with, or gone to school with a wide range of people and families. Those connections mean everything to me. Seguin isn’t just where I do business—it’s home.
If anyone knows me, they know I love building relationships and that when I commit to something, I am all in. The people who come to my booth at a market are more than just customers. I love to hear how they are doing and what they have been up to. I have a servant’s heart, and I love helping them find something they love—something that brings them happiness. That connection is what fuels me and reminds me why I chose this path.
Seguin’s entrepreneurial spirit is built on people supporting people, and I am proud to be part of that tradition..
By: Rachel Marek