Italy came to the Hinterland in the form of a group of 19 teenagers from the Steiner School in Padua. As part of a full programme in Ecovillage Findhorn, they shared some warm (despite the cold) experiences in the Hinterland. Here’s the story in their own words.
Love in Action
by Teresa, Clara, Agnese, Mia and Abramo
On November 17th, in the morning, we went to a building in the woods of the ecovillage with Jörn. There we met Jonathan, Andrew, George, Samuel and a boy called Ida. We had a circle together to tune into each other and with nature. We were asked to observe the nature around us and the beautiful lichens that spontaneously grow in the area, embroidering the ground with silver green decorations.
The area needed to be cleared from weeds that might burn in the summer, we therefore cut the infesting plant called gorse. Later these plants were burned in a big bonfire that also helped us to feel a little bit warmer. This was very hard but we collaborated intensely and we had a great result. We had a pleasant break in the wilderness with a good hot cup of tea and a delicious homemade cake.
After warming up we kept on working with new enthusiasm. Finally, we raised our heads from under the bushes, we looked around us and we realised the work we had done; there was much more light all around us! Our faces were red and tired but happy!
We will keep this experience in our hearts forever !
Sharing Games in Nature
By Celeste Boldo, Celeste Bernardi, Gloria, Ludovico Stona, Matteo Vedovello
On Friday 21st November, we met Roy, a very important person in the community, in the Legacy Room. We shared some funny games that helped make us feel in nature despite being indoors due to very Scottish challenging weather conditions! Thanks to Roy and his imaginative words and abilities we managed to tune into ourselves, our mates and the special place our class was in.
Luckily, it stopped raining and Roy invited us to go out and we were all happy to welcome his proposal. Once out, he asked us to walk in silence and to listen to the sounds of nature. Magically, our mouths closed and our ears opened to receive messages from the creatures of the forest.
While we were walking we felt enlightened by nature’s beauty. In the end we walked inside a cosy shelter and we sang a very peaceful song that Native Americans left us as a precious gift.
Beekeeping Workshop
By Ludovico Bresolin, Elia, Angelo, Filippo , Tommaso
On November 21st, in the morning, we met Jonathan, Martin, John and Mathjis in the Legacy Room for our beekeeping session.
They shared their project and explained the amazing life of bees. We were all very involved and surprised in listening to the extraordinary life of bees and to some curiosities. For example, the queen bee can lay up to 2000 eggs a day for all her life!
After that, we went out for a walk to the hives. Jonathan showed us the hives and shared a lot of interesting information about the bees. When he opened the hives we were able to see the bees that, due to the wintery atmosphere, were quiet and close to each other to keep warm and protected.
Then, we went to the woodland shelter where we learnt to repair and build bee frames. We really enjoyed it, actually we could not stop. The only thing that stopped us from working with our hands was the sound of the kettle and a delicious aroma….. a very good tea was ready for us with some delicious traditional biscuits and the marvelous Findhorn honey!
We feel privileged to have experienced this and for the honey jars that we brought back home with us.
Bees are among the most extraordinary creatures on earth and we will always be grateful to beekeepers for caring about them! We are bee-friendly and we’d love being beekeepers, one day!
A poem for Findhorn
By Dylan, Matteo Collavo, Leone, Giuseppe
Scotland, harsh and inhospitable land,
Cold, tormented by the wind,
Governed by the most powerful ruler: Nature
Indeed a small corner of paradise is there, a little village,
Where all this seems to calm down: FINDHORN.
There we lived, the most evolutive week of our lives,
The community who welcomed us and
The beautiful things we saw helped us
Grow spiritually and,
For some of us, this change was very strong.
The inhabitants of the village have an immeasurable love
And respect for their tiny, big, world.
We were amazed by this unknown land
That brought us great peace and beauty,
Which will always remain in our hearts.
Italy in the Hinterland
Italy came to the Hinterland in the form of a group of 19 teenagers from the Steiner School in Padua. As part of a full programme in Ecovillage Findhorn, they shared some warm (despite the cold) experiences in the Hinterland. Here’s the story in their own words.
Love in Action
by Teresa, Clara, Agnese, Mia and Abramo
On November 17th, in the morning, we went to a building in the woods of the ecovillage with Jörn. There we met Jonathan, Andrew, George, Samuel and a boy called Ida. We had a circle together to tune into each other and with nature. We were asked to observe the nature around us and the beautiful lichens that spontaneously grow in the area, embroidering the ground with silver green decorations.
The area needed to be cleared from weeds that might burn in the summer, we therefore cut the infesting plant called gorse. Later these plants were burned in a big bonfire that also helped us to feel a little bit warmer. This was very hard but we collaborated intensely and we had a great result. We had a pleasant break in the wilderness with a good hot cup of tea and a delicious homemade cake.
After warming up we kept on working with new enthusiasm. Finally, we raised our heads from under the bushes, we looked around us and we realised the work we had done; there was much more light all around us! Our faces were red and tired but happy!
We will keep this experience in our hearts forever !
By Celeste Boldo, Celeste Bernardi, Gloria, Ludovico Stona, Matteo Vedovello
On Friday 21st November, we met Roy, a very important person in the community, in the Legacy Room. We shared some funny games that helped make us feel in nature despite being indoors due to very Scottish challenging weather conditions! Thanks to Roy and his imaginative words and abilities we managed to tune into ourselves, our mates and the special place our class was in.
Luckily, it stopped raining and Roy invited us to go out and we were all happy to welcome his proposal. Once out, he asked us to walk in silence and to listen to the sounds of nature. Magically, our mouths closed and our ears opened to receive messages from the creatures of the forest.
While we were walking we felt enlightened by nature’s beauty. In the end we walked inside a cosy shelter and we sang a very peaceful song that Native Americans left us as a precious gift.
By Ludovico Bresolin, Elia, Angelo, Filippo , Tommaso
On November 21st, in the morning, we met Jonathan, Martin, John and Mathjis in the Legacy Room for our beekeeping session.
They shared their project and explained the amazing life of bees. We were all very involved and surprised in listening to the extraordinary life of bees and to some curiosities. For example, the queen bee can lay up to 2000 eggs a day for all her life!
After that, we went out for a walk to the hives. Jonathan showed us the hives and shared a lot of interesting information about the bees. When he opened the hives we were able to see the bees that, due to the wintery atmosphere, were quiet and close to each other to keep warm and protected.
We feel privileged to have experienced this and for the honey jars that we brought back home with us.
Bees are among the most extraordinary creatures on earth and we will always be grateful to beekeepers for caring about them! We are bee-friendly and we’d love being beekeepers, one day!
By Dylan, Matteo Collavo, Leone, Giuseppe
Scotland, harsh and inhospitable land,
Cold, tormented by the wind,
Governed by the most powerful ruler: Nature
Indeed a small corner of paradise is there, a little village,
Where all this seems to calm down: FINDHORN.
There we lived, the most evolutive week of our lives,
The community who welcomed us and
The beautiful things we saw helped us
Grow spiritually and,
For some of us, this change was very strong.
The inhabitants of the village have an immeasurable love
And respect for their tiny, big, world.
We were amazed by this unknown land
That brought us great peace and beauty,
Which will always remain in our hearts.