Friends. Founders. Flour.

Meet Lise & Cait — The Women Behind Homestead

At the heart of Homestead is a friendship that’s been going strong for over 25 years. We’re Lise Ravalli and Cait Patrick—best friends, moms, food lovers, and the proud co-founders of Homestead Artisan Bakery in downtown Barrie.

Our story started long before the bakery did. We grew up together here in Barrie, spent our early years dreaming big, and always shared a love for gathering around good food. In 2014, we took that shared love and turned it into something real when we joined the Barrie Farmers’ Market with a simple vision: to create baked goods that felt like home.

Homestead was born out of early mornings, long days, and a deep desire to make something meaningful—not just for ourselves, but for our community. We wanted to create a space where people could slow down, connect, and enjoy food made with care and intention. And from day one, we’ve done everything by hand: no shortcuts, no pretenses, just really good baking using high-quality ingredients we believe in.

We built this place from the ground up—mixing dough, serving customers, raising babies, roasting coffee, and analyzing data late into the night. Our journey hasn’t always been easy (let’s be real, owning a bakery is a wild ride), but it’s been full of heart.

Today, Homestead is more than just a bakery. It’s a little slice of community. It’s where your favourite loaf lives, where we celebrate sourdough nerds, and where we proudly showcase the incredible farmers, millers, makers, and staff that make it all possible.

We’re still here—early mornings, messy aprons, lots of laughs—and we’re so grateful for everyone who’s been part of this journey with us.

Thanks for being part of the Homestead story. We’re just getting started.

With flour-covered love,
Lise & Cait