The second weekend of April, people gathered in Thomas Berry Hall to convene the Whidbey Spring Gathering, our first community program of this kind since the 2020 Winter Gathering. There were both returning and new faces; curious, excited, anticipatory, and in some cases wary, uncomfortable, not knowing what to expect, but drawn to the land […]
In-Person Gatherings Paused through March in Proactive COVID-19 Response Last night the leadership team of the Whidbey Institute made the difficult decision to pause all in-person programming in light of emerging data about the spread of novel coronavirus. This important decision feels aligned with what we’re learning about the projected course of this virus […]
The fourth annual Winter Gathering took place at the Whidbey Institute at the beginning of this month, providing an opportunity for play, learning, and growth. The theme was The Power of Creative Community in Decisive Times. Rick Ingrasci, Hollyhock Retreat Centre (Cortes Island, B.C.) co-founder, started this series at Whidbey Institute in an effort to bring […]
My Encounter with a Hawk by Tia Gschwind When I was at the Winter Gathering on Whidbey Island, I went out into the forest with Joanna (an adult) and two other kids, Mateo and Tobias, and we encountered a hawk. Here’s what happened: We were walking down a path in the forest when I heard a […]
[…] and the leaves from subterranean bulbs are bursting through the soil. Robin wakes up a whole dimension of perception. Flocks of siskins swirl in the sky all winter and startle suddenly out of trees in palpable whooshes. On one afternoon Thomas and I watched a hunting sharp-shinned hawk strike into a favorite fir of […]
Our Outlook for Winter and Beyond Effective November 16, we have paused hosting in response to new guidance from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. All in-person programs, including garden tours and volunteer work parties, are cancelled through the end of 2020. Our team continues to tend the land, and we are grateful for the […]
[…] Garden Apprentices, Alexa, Casey, Camille, and Lissa, throughout the 2013 growing season. As we harvest our gourds, mulch our beds, and tuck the gardens in for the winter we can look back on an incredible year of growth, friendship, abundance, and learning. Alexa MacAulay worked in our Whidbey Institute Westgarden; Camille Green worked in the […]
[…] social enterprise. Cole came into his relationship with the Whidbey Institute through a Hollyhock Summer Gathering and an ensuing invitation from Rick Ingrasci to attend our annual Winter Gathering at Chinook. “I felt really embraced, and excited about the people we were meeting,” he said. “I fell in love with the land and mission.” His […]
[…] takes place February 9—15. Since both building sites were selected for their minimal impact on the forest and because our team transplanted smaller trees and shrubs this winter, plant loss will be limited. Our campus is closed during this period for the safety of our crews and visitors. Site work is planned for February […]
[…] and the potential that he saw in each of us to fill the right role at the right time for the health of the whole organization. This winter, Jerry is following his heart’s calling and stepping into Thriving Communities Initiative (TCI) program leadership—a shift which brings to a close his four years of service […]
