Permakultur und Homesteading

We are Tanja and Gernot. We are driven by the question of how to lead a good life that respects the soil, water, climate, and the people around us. Instead of forcing land into a specific shape, we work with what is already there—the slope, the rain, the wind, the existing flora, and the history of a place.

For us, permaculture and homesteading are tools to build systems that are meant to be sustainable and resilient in the long run. On this blog, we openly share what we learn along the way—from small everyday solutions to larger projects, detours included.

What we write here is intended to give you insight into how we work and to help you make your own decisions more consciously.

Our plant profiles go beyond traditional herbals. You will find identification features, habitat information, and details on active compounds—along with simple ideas for the kitchen, pantry, and daily life.

Whether it’s a wild herb, shrub, or tree: Our goal is to identify plants safely, use them meaningfully, and understand their place within the ecosystem. Many profiles are supplemented with recipes, personal experiences, and practical tips from our everyday lives.

This way, you can build your own practical botanical knowledge, step by step.

Bras d’Or – touch wood is our long-term project on the coast of Cape Breton Island. On a site that was previously depleted, we are planning a diverse ecosystem of fruit trees, wild shrubs, and habitat corridors that integrates yield, biodiversity, and soil protection.

This is where we implement much of what we write about on the blog: retaining water, building soil, selecting site-appropriate species, and creating structures designed to function for decades—for humans, animals, and plants alike.

Step by step, this is becoming a lifelong project intended to demonstrate how economic use, land stewardship, and a respectful approach to the site can be successfully combined.