May 27, 2014: The Northern Girls – Good Work Ongoing
As we update our website we wanted to preserve the beginnings of Windhover.
What follows are entries from over a decade ago that reflect our journey growing organic hops, tending orchards, and building something special with family and friends.
What better way to begin the Windhover Concepts diary than by sharing thoughts of the importance of surrounding people and environment.
It is difficult not to slip into time worn sayings to express the joy and learnings gained from working and being together. Many hands make light work; or two heads are better than one, or it takes a village to raise a child … these sayings hold old wisdom that point to community where there is strength and kindness, compassion and support for reaching towards your best self and receiving from others.
This is what Windhover Concepts is all about – celebrating a place of beauty on a landscape where there is space for ideas and creativity with others. Windhover Concepts began as a heartfelt idea and has grown through community connections and activities.
The micro-brewing beer community; the hop growing community; the apple tree growing, hopyard building all with the support of the community of friends and family.
It is tough work because sometimes it is easier and simpler and maybe faster to do things alone. Who wants to do all that explaining!
And talk about talking!!
But the fascinating thing is that what is achieved will be much less than if you led with a curiosity for the joy that occurs when a community is involved.
This week, we are selling 75 organically grown baby hop plants!! Growing organic hops is one of the projects of the Windhover Concepts.
The hops – our Northern Girls, has been a journey involving a web of people. Whose idea was it to grow hops on Windhover?
Who thought this could be done so far north in Alberta? The lovely thing is that we can’t remember whose idea is was. What matters is that this project has created an energy and has reached out to create connections with others and an environment.
The idea and achievement is held by all those involved from the design of the Northern Girl logo, to the irrigation system set up; to the planting and re-planting and re-potting of the baby hops to the Village Brewery who will be planting the purchased Northern Girl hops.!
This week marks once again the wisdom that sits in community where by working together you can become more than you ever could by working alone.
With gratitude,
The Windhover Concepts Team
