Junking Angels and Vintage Finds: Meet Sharon Hohler of Homeless Treasures, Tracy, MN

If you love vintage finds and repurposed antiques in Minnesota, Sharon Hohler is someone you want to know. In Season 3, Episode 9 of Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens podcast, I sit down with Sharon, the heart and hands behind Homeless Treasures of Tracy MN—a place where the quirky, the vintage, and the perfectly odd come together to tell stories of the past and spark imagination for the future.

Homeless Treasures is more than a place, it’s a junking experience. Spread across an acreage with three buildings and outdoor displays, Sharon’s ever-evolving collection includes furniture, oddities, repurposable wonders, DIY-ready pieces, and unique items saved from barns, estate sales, and curbside. 

Listen to Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens, season 3 episode 9, in your favorite podcast app or use the YouTube (audio only) or Spotify links below.

https://youtu.be/mMbRuVky7Iw?si=VtuTLySTIuwrR4wa

Sharon opened Homeless Treasures on June 11, 2011, after years of hosting an annual Father’s Day weekend yard sale with a friend at Lake Shetek. She’s built a one-of-a-kind experience for treasure hunters, DIYers, and anyone who enjoys a good story. “I buy junk and sell treasures,” she says with a smile. Her motto rings true for anyone looking for something useful, nostalgic, or just plain fun.

Here’s a video I took at Homeless Treasures in July 2022:

Fourteen years later, Sharon’s shop is still growing—thanks in part to what she calls her junking angels: friends, neighbors, family, and strangers who’ve gifted her with a barn, invited her to pick junk at their farm, and helped her load, and unload, her never-empty truck.

Once a beautician, elementary school paraprofessional, and hospice end-of-life caregiver, Sharon brings heart and hospitality into everything she does. I’ve been shopping at Homeless Treasures since the first summer she opened.

Repurposing and Reminiscing

Sharon’s favorite part of running Homeless Treasures? The people. Whether they’re curious browsers who come for the memories tied to the treasures, shopping to save things from the landfill, repurposing a piece for their garden, or reminiscing over an old Betty Crocker cookbook recipe on page 40 that their mom used, Sharon loves hearing their stories.

Many visitors to Homeless Treasures of Tracy MN share stories sparked by old wares: a Pyrex bowl set like Grandma’s, a hand tool from the family farm or a Seagram’s “coin thing” they’d spin on the bar with an arrow pointing to the person who had to buy the next round.

From turning a wrought iron bed frame into a garden trellis or using a bedpan for a wall-mounted flower arrangement, Sharon encourages everyone to think creatively. Some pieces are ready to use, while others are waiting for your imagination to bring them to life.

In order to give my outdoor spaces a fun and whimsical look, I like to use old washer drums and vintage barrels for planting my flowers. Similarly, vintage milk delivery boxes, coffee cans, and chicken feeders make interesting flower pots. Adding unexpected elements like these work indoors too. For example, wooden cheese boxes hold tea bags, toilet paper rolls fit nicely in wire crates for fun bathroom storage, and my wine rack once transported glass milk bottles from the creamery.

The photos below are just a few pieces that I’ve brought home from Homeless Treasures. The bench on the right is what I use for a desk in my home office. Sharon is part of my life daily routine!

In this episode we chat about:

• Emotional attachments and how to let go of belongings when it’s time to downsize
• Her husband’s “no more of that in the house” item (listen to find out!)
• Her admiration for other Minnesota flea markets and junk shops—there are at least 14 in this southwest area (they are all part of the Spring Shop Hop May 9-10, 2025 from 10a.m. to 5p.m.):

Sharon’s Crowd-Pleasing Recipes

In addition to her love of junking, Sharon knows her way around the kitchen, and all her family reaps the benefits.

Giant Banana Muffins

After giving up on banana bread, Sharon nailed this easy muffin version. I added mini chocolate chips. Scroll to the end of this post for the full recipe.

Maybe Sharon’s banana bread fail is kind of like my banana bread sinkhole?

Surprise Brownies

Everyone asks for her recipe when she shares these frosted brownies. They are surprised to find out it’s two box brownie mixes, store-bought frosting and a special pan.

Find out what my favorite box brownie mix is in “Box Brownies Get a Bad Rap But We Love Them.”

Peanut Clusters Recipe

Perfect for the holidays or anytime you need a sweet and salty treat. Makes a lot of chocolate treats

Melt: 2 (20-ounce packages) chocolate almond bark and 2 (11.5 ounce packages) milk chocolate chips in a large microwavable bowl. Stir often, 1 minute, heat until totally melted.

Add: 2 cups creamy peanut butter to bowl

Stir: until peanut butter is melted and mixed in

Add: 1 jar (35 oz) salted peanuts to bowl

Stir: until all peanuts are mixed into chocolate Drop: by tablespoon onto waxed paper lined cookie sheets. Let them set up. Store in a sealed container.

Neighboring Shops in Southwest Minnesota

Lamberton and Revere, MN

• Erickson County Furniture, 39424 220th St., rural Lamberton, 507.227.1998, handcrafted and repurposed furniture, home decor and unique creations
• The Lamberton Main Street Peddler, 217 S. Main St., Lamberton, 507.752.7337, antiques, furniture, repurposed home decor, vintage and collectables
• Past & Present Treasures, 221 S. Main St., Lamberton, 507.828.1674, thrift store: clothing, furniture, collectables, household
• Country Drieds Crafts, 100 Main St., Revere, 507.626.0867, handcrafted decor, hand sewn kitchen items, custom apparel printing, bean/corn hole bags

Tracy and Currie, MN

• Cinnamon Hen, 368 Craig Ave., Tracy, 507.492.6515, furniture, home decor, arts, crafts
• I&H Greenhouse, 201 Morgan St., Tracy, 507.629.4736 or 507.626.5921, plants, flowers, herbs, vegetables, containers
• Homeless Treasures, 1964 230th Ave., rural Tracy/Currie, 507.227.1198, antiques, vintage, furniture, unique treasures
• Mo Than Antiques, 110 Main St. N., Currie, 507.220.0409, antiques, home decor, clothing, unique finds

Walnut Grove and Westbrook, MN

• Fond Memories, 521 Main St., Walnut Grove, 507.859.2929, gifts, home decor, kitchen wares, games, craft supplies, Wind & Willow tasting
• Junk With Purpose, 900 U.S. Highway 14, Walnut Grove, 507.859.3333, home decor, antiques, furniture, creative finds
• Plum Creek Boutique, 631 Main St., Walnut Grove, 507.859.7586, women’s clothing, purses, shoes, gift items
• Chicken Coop, 21354 330th Ave., rural Walnut Grove, 507.828.9932 or 507.401.7767, repurposed items, outdoor items, rusty metal
• Vantiques on the Farm, 2328 290th Ave., rural Walnut Grove, 507.828.8036, home decor, antiques, collectables, rustic and unique items
• Pam/Brian Busswitz Barn Antiques, 2876 131st St., rural Westbrook, 507.822.2234, eclectic mix, furniture, kitchen, glassware

2025 Events at Homeless Treasures, Tracy MN

This summer, plan your road trip to Homeless Treasures Tracy MN and check out these can’t-miss events. In addition to being open most Fridays and Saturdays from Memorial Day weekend through October, Sharon hosts a few events:

• Spring Shop Hop, May 9-10, 2025, 9a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Father’s Day (Saturday) Junk Market – vendors, vintage, and more
• Labor Day Weekend Flea Market with vendors
• Plus pop-up events announced on Facebook: Homeless Treasures

🕙 Open most Fridays and Saturdays Memorial Day weekend through October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
📍 Address: 1964 230th Avenue, Tracy, MN (6 miles south of Tracy, 1 mile east on 201st St, ½ mile south)
📞 Phone: 507-227-1198

Sharon says, come out and enjoy, especially pointing out—no pressure to buy—just have fun.

Sweet wishes,