Our Story
by Amber Adams
The Seed Of Inspiration
The idea of The Wander Trees was born on the Appalachian Trail in 2014. Inspired by time spent in nature and wondering “what if everyone could spend more time doing what they loved? What if all hikers, wanderers and curious souls, bravely trekked the path that only their heart knew? What would the world be like if we all cheered each other on to be uniquely and authentically OURSELVES? I was dreaming big, following my heart and trusting in the trail that my feet were on. I knew it would take me somewhere good.
A year was spent crafting a plan for a multi-faceted business that would serve as a platform for artists and eventually grow into a social hub for others who are inspired by nature.
SPROUTING
We launched in Asheville in 2015 and explored a few different paths. My dream of inspiring people to create and live passion driven lives has manifested in the form of a mobile shop, an art collective, a physical retail space with art gallery and an even an air bnb. Like anything else in life, it takes experimenting to learn what fits best. The creative process can be like that. It’s all about those layers, folks!
If it wasn’t for the support of the Founding Trees, I would have never gotten this thing off the ground.
Growing Pains
The Wander Trees quickly grew from a tiny seed of an idea to a small forest of other people who held the same passions of dreaming, creating and being a part of something greater. People came and people went, but a small core remained.
We worked together to renovate an old three story house in West Asheville that we turned into our home base. It took blood, sweat and tears to transform it into a work of art. We bonded during dinners, hikes and community nights that were held at our new space. The foundation was being solidified with the love of art and community. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to sustain the high rent and it wasn’t enough to patch the holes in my business plan. We needed time to work out the kinks.
So in 2016, I made the hard call to cut our losses. I knew The Wander Trees would be back, I just wasn’t sure when or how or even where.
Deepening Roots
If there was one thing I learned through the past few years, it’s the importance of growing deep roots during the quiet season. To live your dreams you must be rooted deep in the healthy soil. You must know what is most important and hold on to it tight.
During the long break, I did my best to trust the process through the sadness and stillness. I fought the emotions that came with a dream being put to rest and battled with the self-limiting beliefs that surfaced. I lost hope for a while, but found it again along with a new sense of direction.
I started to dream again after my son was born. The idea of The Wander Trees kept coming to mind. Is it time? I would think to myself. The soul searching journey began again. Once I got past the initial fears, insecurities, obsession over details and perfectionism tendencies that emerge with any creative endeavor, I decided it was time. The still small voice arose and my roots grew deeper. My soul was preparing for the inevitable self-sabotaging storms that were to come. (why do we do this to ourselves??)
Anyway, here I am. Trying to be an example of hope. Trying to keep the dream alive. Trying to prove to myself and others that you can always try again and again.