Tirdy Works

In the heart of the quaintly peculiar world of unscripted television, truTV introduced an unusual offbeat gem of a reality series in 2020 titled Tirdy Works. This series brings a delightfully eccentric and heart-warming slice of rural Maine to the screens, revolving around the life of a unique entrepreneur and her charmingly quirky business that hinges on commonly despised substance - animal excrement!

The centerpiece of Tirdy Works is Mary Winchenbach, a tenacious and cheerful entrepreneur whose relentless resourcefulness and fierce creativity led her to found a business that crafts a range of novelties, décor items, and miscellaneous trinkets from dehydrated moose droppings. Framed by the beautiful landscape of rural Somerville, Maine, the show follows Mary's journey as she manages Tirdy Works and navigates the complexities of crafting the perfect "turd" novelty.

Tirdy Works paints Winchenbach as more than just a novelty peddler though. She is a resolute businesswoman, a passionate artisan, a relentless hustler, and a strong pillar of her community. Her zest for life, resilience, and infectious humor captivate the audience, while also shattering stereotypes about rural living and blue-collar entrepreneurship.

Aside from centering on her unusual crafting business, the show also delves into Winchenbach’s life beyond Tirdy Works. Winchenbach, an openly gay woman, shares a home with her wife, two daughters, and a remarkably large collection of adopted animals. Tirdy Works gives a tender portrayal of their personal lives, exploring their intimate relationships, struggles, and the joys and challenges of living in a small town.

Winchenbach is also known for her camaraderie with the townsfolk who, despite their initial misgivings about her unconventional business, rally around her and lend an air of communal charm to the narrative arc of Tirdy Works. The depiction of Somerville’s community spirit – people in on the joke, buying the trinkets, and supporting Mary’s ambitions – adds a layer of authenticity and warmth to the show.

Tirdy Works faithfully captures the essence of a community that is supportive, accepting, and nonjudgmental, against the backdrop of Winchenbach's ceaseless artistry in creating her humbling, yet endearing artefacts. Moreover, the series offers a raw and uncensored glimpse into Winchenbach’s life, her business struggles, her personal victories, and her ceaseless mission to spread laughter while also encouraging viewers to rethink their notions about the definition of waste.

The first season of the show has ten fast-paced episodes that track Mary’s bid to grow her business along with her lieutenant, Tammi, and her team. Through these episodes, you see her set her sights on expanding, adding new products to her catalog, participating in local fairs, managing her quirky team, and continuously striving to make Tirdy Works a successful venture.

Tirdy Works is a one-of-a-kind reality show that breaks away from the norm of dramatic conflicts and fabricated narratives. Instead, it offers a refreshing, humble and laughter-filled peek into a community that celebrates the unusual and accepts the differences.

Ultimately, Tirdy Works is about more than just moose poop. It's a celebration of community, creativity, acceptance, and the beauty of making the most out of, quite literally, whatever life throws at you. It’s a tale of an eccentric entrepreneur, the love and support of a quirky community in a small town, and how these elements combine to result in a successful, albeit unconventional, growing business.

Although Tirdy Works may first pique one's interest with its peculiar premise, the viewers are likely to stay tuned for the undying spirit of the show’s characters, its authentic representation of rural life, and its heart-warming portrayal of the power of community.

At its core, the show delivers a deeper narrative about the beauty of turning life's discards into valuable pieces, both metaphorically and in the literal sense, a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and the art of finding silver linings even in what may initially appear as excrement!