Be a Hummingbird

What is a hummingbird - and why are
the 6th graders obsessed with them?
When our 6th graders were
learning about permaculture with
Papy Michel, he told them a story
from the Native American people
that had a profound effect not just
on our class but on some of the
greatest ecologists alive today.
Here is the English version as told by Pierre Rabhi (the
founder of The Hummingbird Movement”).
The tale goes as follows:
‘’One day, there was a huge forest fire. All the
terrified animals helplessly watched the disaster.
Only the hummingbird decided to take action,
going to get a few drops of water in its beak to
throw them on the fire. After a moment, the
armadillo, annoyed by his helpless actions, said to
him: "Hummingbird! Are you out of your mind? Do
you think it is with these drops of water that you will
extinguish the fire?
"I know that I am small and can only do a little”,
answered the hummingbird, but I have to do my
part"