Last night, I watched a comedy competition that left me laughing until my ribs ached. But amidst the punchlines, one contestant—stage name "Tudou," or "Potato"—delivered a line so quiet and profound it cut through the noise and stayed with me. He said:
"If you consider these past two years a harvest, then thank your past self for the sowing. If you see these two years as sowing, then I bless your future harvest."
As I sat there, the words echoed. They found their way into my climbing life, my training routines, and yes, onto my Two Stones hangboard.
The Hangboard as a Timekeeper
In climbing, we often talk about "harvest" moments—the send, the project conquered, the new grade unlocked. They're the visible peaks. But we spend infinitely more time in the "sowing" seasons: the slow, deliberate, and often invisible work.
A hangboard is the ultimate tool of sowing. It offers no instant gratification. No cheering crowd. Just you, a piece of wood, and gravity. It’s a dialogue with time itself. When you commit to a hang board protocol, you are making a pact with your future self. You are saying: I may not see the growth today, but I trust it will come.
The Two Stones wooden hangboard, with its beautifully milled edges and pockets, has become my calendar. Each session is a date I keep with a stronger climber I haven't met yet. The consistency of its grain, the unwavering solidity of its single-block construction—it’s a faithful witness to effort. It doesn’t care about my mood, only my commitment.
Tudou’s wisdom reframed my perspective. When I look back at the last two years of consistent—if sometimes sporadic—hanging board work, I can now see it clearly. Those 10-second deadhangs on the 20mm edge, those agonizing repeaters on the slopers… that was the sowing. The recent feeling of solidity on outdoor crimps, the unexpected ease on a steep project’s crux—that’s the harvest. And I’m quietly thanking that past version of me who showed up, even on tired days, and hung on.
But what about now? Right now, as I embark on a new cycle focusing on 4-finger pocket strength and open-hand sloper endurance, I am firmly back in the sowing phase. And that’s okay. Tudou’s blessing hangs in the air: I bless your future harvest. The climbing hang board is my seed drill.
The Importance of the Right Tools for Sowing
You wouldn't sow seeds with broken tools. The quality of your sowing determines the quality of your harvest. This is why I'm so deliberate about my tools.
The Two Stones hangboard is engineered for productive, sustainable sowing. Its R5 filleted edges mean I can train my tendons without punishing my skin. The smooth-polished pockets and slopes allow for long, focused sessions where the limiting factor is my muscular endurance, not skin pain. It’s designed for the long game—for the years of sowing, not just the weeks of peak performance.
And a crucial, often-overlooked tool in the sowing process? The humble brush.
Enter the Two Stones brush. Whether you prefer wood or durable polymer, this isn't just a accessory; it's a partner in your training integrity. Chalk and grease are the mud of our sowing field. They obscure the true texture of the hold, giving false feedback. A meticulous brush between hangs—on the climbing hangboard, and crucially, on your fingers—resets the interface. It brings you back to truth: the pure friction of skin on wood.
Brushing is an act of respect. Respect for the tool (your hangboard), respect for the process (clean training), and respect for your future self (by ensuring every second of your hang is yielding maximum, honest adaptation). It clears away the debris of past attempts, letting you sow each new hang with clarity.
The Cycle: Hang, Brush, Reflect, Grow
My evening ritual has evolved:
1. Hang. I engage with the specific edge or pocket, fully present. Is this a harvest of past work, or sowing for the next? Both.
2. Brush. I sweep the hold clean with my Two Stones brush. I sometimes even brush my fingertips. This is the mindful pause, the ritual reset.
3. Reflect. I take the 90-120 seconds of rest. This is where Tudou’s quote often visits. I think not in terms of "this is hard," but "this is an investment."
4. Repeat. For 6, 8, 10 sets. The cycle is the practice. The practice is the path.
This isn't just building finger strength. It’s building trust. Trust in equipment that won’t fail (the unibody hangboard), trust in process (the brush maintaining consistency), and ultimately, trust in the delayed reward. Climbers are farmers of their own potential. Our field is the hangboard for climbing, our seeds are the hangs, and our most vital tool is patience.
There have been weeks—months even—where life felt like one long, stormy season. Motivation was low. The "harvest" felt eternally distant. During those times, I lowered my expectations but kept the ritual. Just one set. Just maintaining. That, too, is sowing. It's sowing resilience. It's protecting the field through winter so it can bloom in spring.
The Two Stones hangboard, solid and silent on my wall, was a grounding presence. It didn't demand excellence; it simply offered constancy. And the simple, tactile act of brushing the holds became a form of meditation, a way to clear not just chalk, but mental clutter.
Your Harvest Awaits
Maybe you're surveying a recent harvest—a strength gain, a project sent. Look at your hangboard and thank it. More importantly, thank yourself for the sowing.
Or maybe you're deep in the soil of sowing right now. The gains aren't visible. The hangs feel brutal and endless. I see you. I am you. Let Tudou's gentle blessing be your mantra: I bless your future harvest.
And equip yourself for the journey. Choose a hangboard that supports your long-term growth, not just your short-term pain. Choose a brush that honors the purity of the work. Two Stones makes both, with the same philosophy: that the tools of our craft should be as honest and dependable as the work we put in.
So go on. Hang. Brush. Sow. The harvest is not a myth; it's a promise written in the calluses of your hands and the deepening grooves of your hangboard. Trust the process, and trust your own two hands to hold on long enough to see it through.
Two Stones: Tools for the Long Climb.
The Hangboards for Sowing Strength. The Brush for Cultivating Clarity.