A dream is a goal with a timeline.

Rena Upitis had a dream...

Rena had a dream of building an off-grid retreat/learning centre. (Off-grid: does not rely on municipal water supply, sewer, electrical power grid or similar utility services.)

In 2008, Wintergreen Studios was born. We stayed at this unique centre north of Kingston, Ontario, during an artist education week. We had the privilege of being its very first guests (you can say the drywall was still drying!). The building is constructed using straw bales and has numerous unique features. Many hands were involved in creating Wintergreen.

We interviewed Rena in her beautiful wooded surroundings and asked her about the manifestation of her dream. The building of Wintergreen is proof that what your mind can conceive, you can achieve.

Rena is a real dynamo and is also the former Dean of Education at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

Watch, listen, be inspired and go for YOUR dream!

The music on this video is from the talented 3-woman band The Swamp Ward Orchestra from Kingston, Ontario.