Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Pluim.
Tracy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up in a small town in southern Minnesota, our family didn’t have a lot. To fill in any financial gaps, my father did woodworking to create anything our family needed, from tables and chairs to cabinets. Meanwhile, instead of going out to eat, my mom would cook and bake from whatever our garden and berry patches would give us. They did this not only because they loved their family but also enjoyed working with their hands and creating.
After my long path through educational leadership led me to nothing but closed doors and heartache, a family walk one night led to an idea and eventually, our company. I pulled a wooden pallet out of a neighbor’s dumpster and decided to make something out of it. With just a jigsaw and a drill, I made our first Minnesota sign. After the first few sold online, we began receiving hundreds of orders, including nearly every state and even a few countries. Feeling blessed by what we were given, we gave back, supporting an urban preschool at our church. The additional sales also led to improved equipment and additional creative possibilities.
Simultaneously, I ordered my first package of honeybees and that spring, tried tapping the maple trees in our yard. I was beginning to see just what my parents had, so many years before; when your hobbies can provide for your family, you won’t feel like it’s work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
God has blessed us throughout this small business journey. We started with just a jigsaw and pallet wood and, with sales, were able to buy a table saw, planer, and eventually CNC machines.
The biggest challenges we’ve faced has been being patient in the slow seasons and being a focused teacher and present father in the busy seasons. As a beekeeper, we’ve had as many as 10 hives at one, while also losing all of them during the winter. Each year we learn.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have taught third or fourth grade for the last 18 years. The thing I am most proud of is being able to build relationships with my students, especially those who most need a champion in their lives. Each student is unique, but for a student to be successful, they need to have an advocate and champion in their corner. I think many educators are able to do this successfully. What sets my classroom apart is that I introduce my students to a variety of other learning, including beekeeping, tapping maple trees, and how to design and program.
How do you think about happiness?
I love spending time with my family. Each summer for the last three years we have gone on a road trip to explore different parts of the United States. We’ve now seen every state west and south of Minnesota, including Banff, Canada!
For the business, I’ve really loved having my family join in on the fun. My two oldest sons have been sanding and finishing the cribbage boards, while my third son has been going into the beehives for the last month. He has learned a lot and even has his own hive now!
Pricing:
- Raw Honey is $5
- Hot Honey is $6
- Cribbage Boards range from $80-130
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beesandtreesmn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beesandtreesmn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bees-Trees-322807758360690
