Hidden Gems: Meet Tamara Crist of Tree And Harmony

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Crist.

Hi Tamara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
When I became a mother just over 4 years ago, I was very concerned with keeping my baby from getting sick. I brought my concern up to my pediatrician, and she mentioned that the best way to keep my baby from getting sick is to keep myself and my husband from getting sick. She recommended we start drinking Elderberry Syrup. I knew that elderberries had a strong medicinal component but I didn’t know much about the elderberry syrup industry. I went to my local grocery store and purchased the one with the ‘best’ ingredients, came home, tried it, and was very dissatisfied. Just the whole experience: the taste, the consistency, the ingredients, and the price – all not exciting to me. I figured there had to be a different way. I tried other syrups and even purchased a locally made one, but there was always something that I didn’t love about them. I wanted a syrup that was fresh, that didn’t have preservatives or unwanted ingredients, that I could control the sweetness level, and that I could add local honey. So I decided to try to make my own, which also got pretty tricky. I had to either buy the berries and spices in large quantities or find a place that sold them by weight and then I had to find the right recipe. Even the form of the spice had to be considered (ground vs. whole). Well, I eventually nailed it and I loved my syrup!

I have always wanted to start a business of my own but could never land on backing up a product or service 100%. If anyone knows anything about me, I’m either all in or all out AND I will not represent something that I don’t fully love and use myself. I will not lie to sell more of something and whatever I’m representing has to align with my values or I can’t do it! I also had a list of logistics that the business would have to have and I prayed and talked to God about it for years.

As I was whipping up a batch of syrup in the fall of 2021, it dawned on me to add to my Instagram story that I was making my own syrup, ‘just to see’, what kind of response I would get. Well to my surprise, I had many messages, asking me where I got the kit to make the syrup. Right then and there, I decided that I would ship kits or even drop them off at local doorsteps. Within 1 week, I had randomly started a business that checked off every requirement that I had on my ‘starting a business list’. That fall a business idea and a passion of mine collided and my business took off. In my first month of business, I sold 236 DIY Elderberry Syrup Kits and from there, I knew I was onto something!

From mailing out syrup kits that had the instructions taped onto the package (LOL) and people Venmo-ing me money to now selling through my online store and in 6 locations around Nashville. I have a few more product ideas that I’m currently working on but it is a slow process because I need to get things just right! And I also have a lot more work to do in increasing my wholesale customers and getting more activity on social media but It’s all moving in the right direction!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I didn’t have a clue about all the work that goes into starting a business from scratch but there is A LOT. I’m finally at a place where I can focus on new products, expanding my wholesale customers, and putting out content on Instagram (even though these things are all still very slow, as I am a full-time stay-at-home mom with 2 little ones now). I also started making perishable Elderberry Gummies and that was a discouraging time since if I shipped them, they were rarely kept during the shipping process, even with ice packs and fast shipping. I’m working on a gummy that is shelf stable but it’s tricky since I want to avoid chemical preservatives etc.

I’m also a mother of 2 littles and it is a bit of a weird time to start a business, however, I’m so grateful to do both. I do have to decide how big and how quickly I would like to expand. So many ideas and so much work to do but with limited time and energy. I would love to hire out more but these are all hard decisions for me haha.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tree And Harmony?
Tree And Harmony sells a DIY Organic Elderberry Syrup Kit. The package comes with (dried, organic, and non-gmo), elderberries, rose hips, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and cloves. It has suggested instructions and dosage on the package. The syrup is easy to make and doesn’t require much work. You bring water and the package contents to a boil, then reduce heat for 30 min, strain the pulp, let cool, and then add honey or your choice of sweetener. Store in the fridge for roughly 8 weeks. Pre-made DIY kit has a shelf life of 2 years from the purchase date. Another aspect of the kit that I love is that you can make it any way that you like, it’s completely customizable.

I now sell a bottle that comes with a speed pourer, which makes taking the syrup super easy and mess-free! I sell a Starter Pack which is for someone that may not have certain things in their kitchen to get started in syrup making. It comes with an Elderberry Syrup Kit, a glass bottle, a speed pourer, a fine mesh strainer, and honey. You can add a funnel for an extra charge as well!

Tree And Harmony wants to be known for providing the highest quality, most effective elderberry syrup products that do not have preservatives or any unwanted ingredients, and that are convenient and cost-effective.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love some of the options that Nashville brings, the city, the rolling hills, the farms, and the outdoor suburb adventure.

I struggle with the food scene here in Nashville, the humidity, and the bugs.

Pricing:

• Elderberry Syrup Kit: $18
• Starter Pack: $50-$73

Contact Info:

• Website:treeandharmony.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: @treeandharmony

Image Credits
Haley Maria Smith Photography and Teale Photography