The Story of the Green Hummingbird

The name “Green Hummingbird” comes from an African story, as told by the Noble Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. The story takes place in the middle of a forest. One day the forest caught fire, and all the animals stood by, watching in horror as their homes slowly burned to the ground.

But a little hummingbird, determined to make a difference, started flying to a nearby stream, scooping some drops of water into her beak, flying back to the fire, releasing the drops in an effort to put out the flames.  She did this over and over again, until the other animals noticed what she was doing and chided her for it. 

“What are you doing?” they asked. “You are not doing any good, you are just a tiny hummingbird!” 

The hummingbird simply answered, “I am doing the best that I can.”

Our small business cannot create a better, more just world alone. But we can make a difference in the lives of our artisans and their families. When you shop at The Green Hummingbird, you are also making a difference. You aren’t helping a millionaire get a second beach home. You are helping real people with real hopes and dreams, both in Virginia and around the world. 

Thank you for visiting us.