Women professionals holding space: Jillian of Wellspring on Main and Excursion Ciders
Jillian is an expert at supporting community. I have received it from her as well as seen her give it to MANY over the years!
Tell us a little bit about who you are & what your background is.
My name is Jillian. I co-own and adore two local businesses, two striped cats, and three Muscovy ducks.
My businesses are Wellspring On Main, a funky little gem of a yoga & wellness studio in Douglassville. I teach a weekly mat Pilates class there on Friday mornings. It is also host to several yoga classes throughout the week, massage & reiki appointments, and other healing workshops led by an amazing team of talented women, and attended by a community of incredibly kind hearted people.
I also own and operate Excursion Ciders in Kimberton, a small batch cider bar and farm to table restaurant with my partner, Doug, and a small core staff. We naturally ferment dry hard cider with many different flavors using real fruits, herbs, and spices, and create fun and unique dishes with a new menu coming out week after week. We focus on building community and creating economic growth by supporting local farmers, producers, cheese makers, and other small businesses. Something I love and am proud of is that we feature local products and produce in everything we make.
Another aspect of the business that I love is providing an outlet for artists and musicians to perform and display their work, while curating a comfortable space where people can enjoy it, along with something delicious and a little different to eat and drink.
How did you arrive to where you are today with your work?
I’m not alone in my businesses. I have great support with my partners in both places, and a staff that i couldn’t do without. And while it might be a cliche, the genesis of both businesses started when one door closed, and we just decided to open a different one.
With Wellspring On Main, my partner Kim and I were both active as private contractors in the space for Dorian Abel of Healing Yoga. When a terrible medical diagnosis caused Dorian to shut down, we knew there was something special there that we couldn’t just walk away from, so we kept it going, and we’re heading in to our 7th year there.
Excursion Ciders was also started from the tenacity to not give up. My partner Doug and I were running a brewery, in which he founded, when Covid hit. Relationships within the brewery ownership there got a little complicated, and we found ourselves pushed out of the business. Sitting at home during the shutdown, creating tasty food for the two of us, surrounded by bottles of things bubbling and fermenting, gave us the idea to start our own project with cider. We searched around the area for a space for nearly a year, and found our main location of Excursion in the cozy little village of Kimberton. We’re about to hit 4 years there this August, and we also have a tasting room in St. Peter’s Village that turns 4 in December.
Tell us a little known fact about you that is a key ingredient to your story.
I am not an overly ambitious or business minded person. I guess I just don’t give up that easily, and enjoy being able to create a life and career that suits the life I want to have.
How do you hold safe space within the context of your professional life?
Both of my business are based on connection. Wellspring offers more connection with self, and the cidery a connection with community. Neither places have screens or count on technology, just simple human connection that is sometimes lacking in our fast paced world..
Tell us a story about a moment where you had to respond to a vulnerable moment for someone unexpectedly.
I was in line at the grocery store and the person in front of me was being very rude and aggressive to the young cashier. I asked the person calmly if they were maybe having a bad day? They didn’t respond, and I feared they thought my comment came off as condescending. As I was packing groceries into my car the person approached me. I was startled and expecting another hostile encounter, but they admitted to me that they were indeed having a bad day and apologized for taking it out on the young cashier. We chatted about some things that have been stress factors in their life that week and the person then went back in to the store and apologized to the young cashier, and we both left waving and smiling.
Tell us about a rewarding experience that you had.
I love it when my Pilates students tell me examples in their lives where Pilates has helped them move better or feel stronger. It’s also rewarding when someone compliments the food that I’ve made for them.
What is your relationship to holding safe space?
Holding safe space is a space for realness, not perfection. Vulnerability isn’t super comfortable, both experiencing it yourself or witnessing it in others. But for an authentic human experience it’s almost like a due diligence to practice just allowing it to happen, without fear or judgement. It’s important work.
What does a safe container look like for you? What does holding space mean to you?
A safe container is a feeling. Being able to trust your instincts, a quietness of the mind. A place to not have to question intentions.
Any final thoughts/wisdoms/feelings?
I don’t really know what I’m doing, I don’t think anyone really does, but I just try to do things that feel right, and create spaces that make life a little more pleasant and enjoyable.
Please tell us how to find you via website, social media, contact, etc:
Both of those of Facebook & Instagram
