The definition of conspire is to secretly plan with someone, it is also the newest shop in downtown Greencastle.
Owned and operated by long-time local farmer, and handmade products artist, J.D. Grove, Conspire hopes to bring an artistic, homegrown edge to the corner of Washington and 14th St.
Grove wants Conspire to be an oasis for anyone, including students, who feel different. She started this store to change people’s buying habits from overseas mass production products, to local and regional products, to support the community customers live in.
“I want Conspire to be a store that sells local and regional, high quality, handmade, and organic products that are made in small batches,” Grove said. She believes these types of products are going to remake small towns into more self-sufficient places. Conspire hopes to help the community itself, rather than just the town’s economy, through art classes which will be offered by artists who sell their products at the store.
The classes can be making handmade soaps offered by Grove or how to paint with watercolors offered by Teresa McGuire, a painter whose works can be found in Conspire. These classes will be held at the back of the store where Grove is working alongside Plainfield baker, Robin Teasley. Teasley is opening a certified kitchen where, apart from classes, unestablished bakers will be able to cook and sell their products in stores. The information on the classes and how to make a reservation can be found in Conspire’s website, conspireindiana.com.
For many artists and craftspeople, Conspire is the first store where their products have been sold, such is the case for Teasley. Although Teasley has been baking professionally for a while, her products were only sold by her because she didn’t have the resource of a certified kitchen.
“I hope this will be a place for artists to meet and network and where local artists can find a space that inspires and aids them to grow their art into a business,” Grove said. The kitchen is an example of how the store is meant to help new artists become more self-sufficient, because by cooking in a certified kitchen, local and regional bakers and cooks are able to distribute their products in stores.
Teasley was especially glad to not just be selling out of her car anymore. “I’ll still do markets, but this is just one step further where I can take a deep breath because I’ve stood in the rain, I've stood in the snow, and this is kind of my pay off,” Teasley said.
Grove feels the name Conspire represents how her and the 80 artists she represents are conspiring in Greencastle and taking over a small part of it. The connections Grove has made throughout her career have aided her in creating a store that broadly ranges in products and tastes.
Grove met artist Aaron Swartz at a holiday arts and crafts sale last year in Greencastle and discovered his artistic values were similar to the other artists she represents. Now a variety of his prints are sold in the store. Swartz is very excited to be part of Conspire, a store he says, “has a little bit of everything for everyone.”
Grove is trying to carry products not otherwise available in Greencastle, such as natural bath and body products, natural cosmetics, natural laundry detergent, etc. Conspire’s goal is to help Greencastle’s community, including DePauw, which is why the store is trying to carry Tiger Express credit.
Senior Laurel O’Rourke expressed her enthusiasm for the store, “I love it. I'm really excited that there is more stuff coming to the square that appeals to students.” O’Rouke said she thinks Conspire will help revitalize Greencastle’s downtown and said, “I definitely think it's a step in the right direction.”