Future of Homestead Gardens in Place After Untimely Death of Founder

When Don Riddle took his own life last month, there were questions about how Homestead Gardens would move into the future without the founding owner. Don’s father, Don Riddle Sr., had passed away earlier this year and Don's oldest son had moved out of state. The company is a family-owned business, so there were no stockholders or board members to appoint to leadership positions.

Rumors swirled in Davidsonville that some of the employees were working towards an employee buyout of the nursery, the largest employer in Davidsonville.

A phone call with Tim Hamilton, who handles media and communications for Homestead Gardens, set the record straight.

“The owners’ son, Brian Riddle, is now running the company. Brian is president and Don’s widow, Laura, is vice president,” Hamilton said.

He added that Brian Riddle has been involved in the company since he was a little kid.

“Recently, he’s been living in New Jersey with his wife and child, but he came back and is now running the company. It’s staying in the family,” Hamilton said.

Further details on Don Riddle’s death remain sketchy. “Depression is something that is insidious. Let’s take comfort in the fact that he was not himself in the end,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said that the educational programs and festivals that Homestead is known for will continue.

“Everything is moving forward. We will have our Tomato Festival and Chili Cookoff—that was Don’s baby, something he always wanted to do,” he said.

The Aug. 27 Tomato Festival event will run from noon until 6 p.m. at the Davidsonville store. It will feature a Chili Cookoff plus a “Ledo’s Fastest Pizza Eating” contest, a Salsa competition, live music, local vendors and fun for the whole family.

Hamilton said that during the transition time the eight-member leadership team is helping Brian get up to speed on current business.

“We have weekly meetings and also make the day-to-day decisions. That has been in place for a while, even while Don was here,” Hamilton said.

So for now everything remains the same for the four decade old company, employees and customers.