Kim Stroud, owner of Happy Heart Elderberry, uses all organic ingredients and raw, local honey to make her elderberry syrup and other products.(Kim Stroud|Courtesy photo)

Kim Stroud, owner of Happy Heart Elderberry, uses all organic ingredients and raw, local honey to make her elderberry syrup and other products.(Kim Stroud|Courtesy photo)

<p>Kim Stroud sells her Happy Heart Elderberry products at outdoor markets. Look for her at the Pickle Festival on Saturday, April 29.(Kim Stroud|Courtesy photo)</p>

Kim Stroud sells her Happy Heart Elderberry products at outdoor markets. Look for her at the Pickle Festival on Saturday, April 29.(Kim Stroud|Courtesy photo)

<p>Having a master’s degree in Instructional Design gave Kim Stroud the expertise she needed to design her label and website. Inspiration for the name of her business came from Proverbs 17:22, ‘A happy heart is good medicine…’ (Kim Stroud|Courtesy photo)</p>

Having a master’s degree in Instructional Design gave Kim Stroud the expertise she needed to design her label and website. Inspiration for the name of her business came from Proverbs 17:22, ‘A happy heart is good medicine…’ (Kim Stroud|Courtesy photo)

When Kim Stroud’s daughter, Jonnasen, now 7, was just a toddler, and the little girl’s sinus and allergy issues were not responding well to traditional medical treatments, Stroud followed a friend’s advice to try elderberry syrup. “After trying a store brand,” Stroud recalls, “we saw improvements in her symptoms — she got sick less often, and when she did [get sick] she would recover more quickly.”

A former educator, with a master’s degree in Instructional Design, Stroud is not a medical professional, but after observing the difference elderberry syrup made in her daughter’s life, and also rigorously researching other possible benefits, she eventually decided to ditch the store brand, and began making her own product, under the name Happy Heart Elderberry.

In addition to Jonnasen, Stroud’s family includes husband Josh; stepson Joshua, 16; and son Archer, 5. The family lives on a small farmstead in Faison, Acorn Acres, with plans to move to a 36-acre farm near Grantham within the next year. As she began making elderberry syrup for use by her family, Stroud says it was of upmost importance to her from day one that she use all organic ingredients and raw, local honey.

Her research turned up a number of recipes to try, as well as a wealth of general information about elderberries, the most interesting — and important — fact being that elderberries are actually toxic if not cooked.

Stroud began experimenting with recipes, tweaking the measurements of various spices. “I love the flavor punch of cloves and ginger, and they are packed with antioxidants,” she says, adding, “I have always been a health nut, so all of this was right up my alley, and I loved getting the flavor just right for my kids and knowing it was so good for them!” She orders her dried elderberries, herbs and spices in bulk from an organic co-op.

As she explored how best to proceed with launching her business, she tapped into a source of information that proved to be invaluable. “I am a firm believer that we grow better together, so I joined a Facebook group with other elderberry syrup makers across the country who have their own businesses,” she says. Members of the group advised her on issues such as how to get insured and who to contact regarding state requirements. She completed some small-business courses, and sought guidance from N.C. State Entrepreneurship and the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

In the winter of 2019, Stroud began selling at farmers’ markets. “I found I had a market for young families with kids also seeking natural sources of wellness care and immune support,” she says, noting that her client base also includes “the older ‘elder’ population who tell me they remember making elderberry pie, jams, etc. when they were growing up.” She values the feedback her customers provide and is particularly grateful for the relationships she has built with long-term customers.

In 2020, she registered Happy Heart Elderberry as an LLC; her company is fully insured and regulated by the Department of Agriculture.

When explaining how she decided on the name for her company, Stroud references a Bible verse, Proverbs 17:22. “’A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones,’” she quotes. “My business was a way for me to find joy in my work and it also brought healing for our family. I wanted my business to be a testimony to others and a way to start a conversation about my faith in God.”

Her tag line, Mom Made — Kid Craved, came to her in a dream, she says, noting, “My kids are what got me started in my business and I specifically wanted the flavor to appeal to kids (of all ages).”

As Stroud’s business has found its footing, she credits her success with the strong work ethic she inherited from her parents. “I don’t think most people get far without rolling up their sleeves and putting in the effort,” she says. She is passing along this same work ethic to her children, taking them to farmer’s markets to help with small tasks.

For the first time ever, Stroud will be a vendor at this year’s Pickle Festival, on Saturday, April 29. She welcomes festival-goers to stop and talk with her about her elderberry syrup and the numerous other products she now offers, such as southern elderflower orangeade, elderflower tea, and elderberry-infused honey.

Although she doesn’t currently have her own retail store, Stroud’s products are available at several shops in eastern N.C. In Mount Olive, orders placed on her website can be picked up at Southern Ground Coffee Shop. Plus, she says, “We also offer local delivery or front porch pickup.”

For a list of retail outlets, and for other information, go to www.HappyHeartElderberry.com.