A Stop On A 2020 Pandemic Road Trip
Author, George Wood, with a Minnesota trout that he returned to the river.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of taking a summer road trip was not one that many Americans entertained. But, that’s exactly what an Amesville, Ohio native and author, George Wood, did. Mr. Wood packed up his vehicle and drove westward on a journey that lasted several weeks. His experiences on this one-of-a-kind adventure are being retold in his podcast, entitled, “Positively No Outlet: Stories from Unplugged America.” The soft launch of the podcast came out in early February, and the latest installment, “Living In Harmony” is scheduled to be out this month.
Mr. Wood retired two years ago from 40+ years in public education, including being a classroom teacher, University Professor, High School Principal, and District Superintendent (in that order). In his retirement he travels the country, writing both fiction and nonfiction about life in small towns.
Living In Harmony
The “Living In Harmony” episode starts during the second week of the trip and tells of his stop in Harmony, MN. The author recounts his experiences at the Fillmore Central Schools, Estelle’s Eatery & Bar , Harmony Spirits craft distillery, and the story of Harmony Enterprises and Harmony Kids Learning Center.
Mr. Wood captures the essence of the Harmony community during his interview with local restaurant owner, Matt Brown, who has donated many of the proceeds from his winter take home meals to other area families struggling with illness and medical expenses.
Harmony’s original product was this bikini cane chair that folded into a walking cane!
The story continues to highlight how Harmony Enterprises is another example of “a force for good in this town of one thousand residents.” George shares the history of Harmony Enterprises (HECO) and its guiding mission to provide employment and diversify the local economy. The story depicts the changing product line manufactured by HECO over the years, in response to an ever-changing marketplace. From bikini cane chairs, ice houses for fishing, camper awnings, and pop-up accessories, to the most advanced waste and recycling solutions on the market, Harmony’s innovation and dedicated employees have allowed it to remain a leader in the industry.
This M60CB Vertical Cardboard Baler installed at a hardware store in Livermore, CA is an example of Harmony’s innovative solutions for recycling.
Harmony Enterprises continues to carry that torch, focusing all of its efforts on its core purpose of Career, Community, & Culture. Harmony offers quality baler and compactor solutions to waste handling and recycling. Harmony continues to develop and enhance its products to meet the needs of businesses all over the world. Mr. Wood quotes Harmony Enterprises President, Steve Cremer, who said, “we make the earth (and Harmony) a more sustainable place for generations to come.”
Living in Harmony and making it prosperous for generations to come also means that Harmony must invest in its future generations. The piece highlights the positive impact Harmony Kids Learning Center (HKLC) has had on providing affordable day care options for the community, as well as child care benefits for Harmony Enterprises’ employees.
In an interview with HKLC Executive Director Umbelina Cremer, Mr. Wood writes, “The Center’s curriculum embraces the mission of HECO. ‘We teach the children to be good stewards of the earth,’ Umbelina told me. ‘We work with the staff of Harmony Enterprises to provide experiences for the children where they not only learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts but also learn that they can make a difference.'”
Made In The USA
Harmony Enterprises is proud to have been mentioned in this interesting narrative. We also pride ourselves on being named Family Owned Manufacturer of the Year in 2020 by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. Our products are made in the USA by highly skilled professionals, helping to ensure quality and longevity.
We invite all of those considering a road trip to stop by our community and experience what it is like to “Live In Harmony”. If you would like to learn more about Harmony Enterprises, please watch this engaging video, call us at (507) 886-6666, or Contact Us today!
