Windhorse is an FSC-certified forest comprising a wood-products business, a conference centre, off-the-grid cabins, a restored 19th century farmhouse, organic gardens and, most surprising of all, a Burmese gong in the middle of the forest.
The name “Windhorse” comes from the Shambhala tradition and it means “unconditional confidence” or “the energy of basic goodness.” This ancient Tibetan term for “forward-moving energy” was brought to North America by Chogyam Trungpa, the Buddhist meditation master of Jim and Margaret Drescher, the current owner/stewards of Windhorse Farm.
Jim has been involved with forest stewardship for over 50 years. His meditation master taught him the profundity of earth stewardship and he and Margaret manage Windhorse Farm based on Shambhala principles.
“I got involved with FSC Canada, serving on its initial Board of Directors as well as on the Maritimes Standard writing committee. The motivation for all this activity was a love affair with natural ecosystems and a desire to demonstrate that commercial forestry can be ethical and sustainable”, says Jim. “Windhorse Farm has been my practice ground for the past 26 years.”
The woodlot has been harvested each year for the last 175 years, yet has the same volume of standing timber today as it had when the first axe bit wood in 1840.
Jim and Margaret continue to welcome individuals, groups, families and schools to soak in the beauty and magic of Windhorse. They have decided to expand the example of Windhorse Farm through the Windhorse Educational Foundation, a registered charity in Canada. Their aspiration is that magical lands in many places will become rich sites for those who want to learn, experience and teach sustainability for generations to come.
If you ever get the chance to visit this Windhorse, and walk beside the Sweetwater Brook, you will come upon a simple and elegant structure built in the tradition of Japan’s Kami shrines. Make your presence known in this sacred spot by ringing the gong and connecting with the unseen beings of the forest.