Growing Beyond the Backyard and Establishing Roots with Shoreview Natives in Two Harbors, MN

Dan Schutte didn’t set out to be a business owner. A former second-grade teacher with a creative approach to science and math, he used native plants as teaching tools in his classroom. What began as a teaching aid quickly became a backyard hobby and, as these things do, a full-fledged business.  

In 2015, Dan and his wife Kristen left their Duluth home and settled on a rural property just 20 miles up Highway 61 in Two Harbors. There, they launched Shoreview Natives—a native plant nursery dedicated to restoring landscapes and supporting pollinators across the region. Since then, they’ve completed more than 400 restoration projects throughout northeastern Minnesota, turning yards, farms, and public spaces into vibrant, resilient native ecosystems.

But Dan’s vision extended far beyond on-site landscaping. He imagined a greenhouse and gathering space where people could connect with nature, learn through workshops, and support environmental restoration more directly.  

Turning that vision into reality meant taking a leap—and making a strategic investment.  

“You kind of grow within your means to a certain point, and then there’s a jump to be made in the business to keep it going in the direction you want it to,” said Dan.  

Encouraged by friends and clients who had worked with EFund, Dan reached out and found a partner who could help him take that leap.

With a second property already secured just up the road, EFund provided flexible lending to cover key infrastructure needs—driveway installation, greenhouse foundation, septic upgrades, and site prep.  

“Before it was kind of like having a car with no keys to drive it. And in working with EFund it allowed us to have the keys and start moving this vehicle the way we wanted it to,” said Dan about the loan he received from EFund.

But the partnership didn’t end. As construction moved forward and plans evolved, EFund remained a steady source of support—offering strategic advising to help Dan navigate the next stage of growth, wherever it led.  

“It just seems really unique to have someone who's not looking to make an income off of you, but is just there with advice and resources to support you and your business,” said Dan.  

Now open to the public for their second season, Shoreview Natives' new space hosts plant sales, educational workshops, and has plans underway to expand into on-site lodging and community events—creating a unique experience where visitors can connect with native plants and the natural beauty of the North Shore.  

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