First Adventure on Our Beautiful Property

Our property is a beautiful, elongated rectangle covering approximately 70 hectares. Our neighbor told us that the land was mainly a coniferous forest with a few deciduous trees and clusters of birches before the previous owner had about 25 hectares logged again by the Nova Scotia-based paper mill, Northern Pulp, in the winter of 2022.

All the logged areas look similar to this section here. We certainly have a lot of restoration work ahead of us.

We explored every accessible corner, imagining where we would establish our gardens and start our small building projects. The possibilities seemed endless, and we felt inspired and energized.

We are determined to bring this piece of land back to life while implementing our vision of a sustainable lifestyle. It will be a journey full of challenges but also filled with joy and discovery. Even though it looks quite barren and inhospitable at first glance, there are signs of new life everywhere. We were especially pleased to see that they made an effort to leave as many birches standing as possible during the logging.

Together, We Achieve More!

Explore more posts!

More from the Plant World

Our first visit was an exciting adventure. It was impossible to view the entire property, as some parts are still not accessible. The dense forest and underbrush make it difficult to get through. The trees grow very close together, and any open spaces are covered in undergrowth.

All the logged areas look similar to this section here. We certainly have a lot of restoration work ahead of us.

We explored every accessible corner, imagining where we would establish our gardens and start our small building projects. The possibilities seemed endless, and we felt inspired and energized.

We are determined to bring this piece of land back to life while implementing our vision of a sustainable lifestyle. It will be a journey full of challenges but also filled with joy and discovery. Even though it looks quite barren and inhospitable at first glance, there are signs of new life everywhere. We were especially pleased to see that they made an effort to leave as many birches standing as possible during the logging.

Together, We Achieve More!

Explore more posts!

More from the Plant World

During the logging, only the softwood suitable for paper production was removed. It’s not very visible in the photos, but the workers made an effort to protect the ground by laying down small trees on the access paths.

At the back of our property, there is a stunning wetland (a marshy area that is permanently or seasonally saturated with water and home to a wide variety of plants and animals). A stream crosses the land in the rear third, providing a natural water source. The front part of the property connects to the road, and we have a central driveway with about 400 meters of road and a turnaround point. This infrastructure will significantly ease access and development of the land.

Our first visit was an exciting adventure. It was impossible to view the entire property, as some parts are still not accessible. The dense forest and underbrush make it difficult to get through. The trees grow very close together, and any open spaces are covered in undergrowth.

All the logged areas look similar to this section here. We certainly have a lot of restoration work ahead of us.

We explored every accessible corner, imagining where we would establish our gardens and start our small building projects. The possibilities seemed endless, and we felt inspired and energized.

We are determined to bring this piece of land back to life while implementing our vision of a sustainable lifestyle. It will be a journey full of challenges but also filled with joy and discovery. Even though it looks quite barren and inhospitable at first glance, there are signs of new life everywhere. We were especially pleased to see that they made an effort to leave as many birches standing as possible during the logging.

Together, We Achieve More!

Explore more posts!

More from the Plant World

During the logging, only the softwood suitable for paper production was removed. It’s not very visible in the photos, but the workers made an effort to protect the ground by laying down small trees on the access paths.

At the back of our property, there is a stunning wetland (a marshy area that is permanently or seasonally saturated with water and home to a wide variety of plants and animals). A stream crosses the land in the rear third, providing a natural water source. The front part of the property connects to the road, and we have a central driveway with about 400 meters of road and a turnaround point. This infrastructure will significantly ease access and development of the land.

Our first visit was an exciting adventure. It was impossible to view the entire property, as some parts are still not accessible. The dense forest and underbrush make it difficult to get through. The trees grow very close together, and any open spaces are covered in undergrowth.

All the logged areas look similar to this section here. We certainly have a lot of restoration work ahead of us.

We explored every accessible corner, imagining where we would establish our gardens and start our small building projects. The possibilities seemed endless, and we felt inspired and energized.

We are determined to bring this piece of land back to life while implementing our vision of a sustainable lifestyle. It will be a journey full of challenges but also filled with joy and discovery. Even though it looks quite barren and inhospitable at first glance, there are signs of new life everywhere. We were especially pleased to see that they made an effort to leave as many birches standing as possible during the logging.

Together, We Achieve More!

Explore more posts!

More from the Plant World

aktuelle Beiträge / latest Posts

What It Would Take to Feed Yourself

This article shows, step by step, what it would take for two adults to feed themselves from their own land for a full year. We translate nutrient targets into concrete crop choices and areas: calorie staples (potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, roots), protein from dry beans, soy, lentils and lupins, leafy/brassica greens, sauce and summer vegetables, grains and pseudograins for bread and pasta, plus fat-rich seeds, berries, fruit trees and nuts. Realistic field and storage losses are budgeted; processing (canning, fermenting, milling, flaking) and storage needs are built in. The result is a practical, cool-climate-ready plan with total area requirements, seasonal workload, and resilient meal building blocks that keep plates filled year-round.

Year in Review 2025: Water System and Soil Health

2025 was a year of quiet but decisive changes on our land in Cape Breton: a new water system with a second pond, prepared beds, a polytunnel, first harvests and many hours of observation. Looking back, it becomes clear how closely water management, soil health and mental wellbeing are interwoven in our everyday life.

Planning your vegetable garden: goals and eating habits

Before you order seeds or design new beds, it helps to step back and ask two simple questions: what do you want your garden to do for you, and how does your household really eat? When you align garden goals with your everyday meals – instead of an idealised wishlist – planning suddenly becomes clearer, more realistic and far easier to sustain through the season.

Last Minute Gift

Still looking for a last minute Christmas gift that feels meaningful
Support the planting of fruit trees or the long term creation of a mixed woodland and help something real take root
And if the recipient wants, they can follow the learning journey through the blog and see how sustainable forest building works step by step

Leave a Reply Cancel reply