AlpineRoots MapleBranches
Handmade. Sustainable. Free.
A blog for everyone who wants to shape a self-determined life with head, heart, and hands.
🌿 Why this blog? 🌿
How do you begin living more sustainably – without money, manuals, or a master plan?
That question has been with us since we first started trying to live with what’s already there.
On AlpineRootsMapleBranches, you’ll find practical, experience-based knowledge:
Permaculture, self-sufficiency, garden planning, plant knowledge, recipes, DIY tutorials, and zero-waste projects.
Things you can try yourself – even without prior experience.
We share what works – and what doesn’t.
So you don’t have to figure it all out from scratch, but can start with real ideas and honest lessons learned.
A blog for anyone who wants to live more intentionally – with head, heart, and hands.
Growing slowly, imperfectly, but with real value.
When the Soil Lives, Everything Thrives
Healthy soil is the foundation of every thriving garden. It stores water, supplies nutrients, and supports a resilient ecosystem. This article explains how living soil works, why humus matters, and how to care for and improve your garden’s soil in natural, sustainable ways.
Why Gardening Makes You Happy
Gardening is gentle medicine for body and mind—balancing hormones, reducing stress, cultivating mindfulness, and nurturing resilience. It offers a deep sense of self-efficacy and connection to nature. This article explores the science behind why working with plants, soil, and sunlight heals us—even when the harvest fails.
Not there yet, but already on the way
Immigrating to Canada isn’t just a process—it’s a test of patience, resilience, and hope. We share our story of trying to stay legally, facing visa changes and setbacks, while holding onto our dream. Between a work permit and startup visa, we keep reaching for something permanent.
🌿 Identify, use, and understand plants.🌿
Our plant profiles go beyond traditional herbalism. Here you’ll find practical uses, simple recipes, DIY ideas, and lived experience – for everyone who truly wants to make use of plants.
These profiles are more than just a collection of facts. They reflect a lifestyle that moves with the seasons, reconnects old and new knowledge, and approaches nature not only with admiration, but with respectful, creative, and meaningful use.
Here you’ll find inspiration for a sustainable life shaped with head, heart, and hands – growing slowly, not perfectly, but with true value.
🌿 Support our work – so knowledge can keep growing. 🌿
Behind every post on this blog is time, research, and hands-on experience. We test, fail, learn, and write – so others can benefit from our journey.
If you like what you find here, you can help keep this project alive:
- by sharing our posts with people who might benefit from them
- by offering a small contribution through a direct donation, subscription, or support of our passion project
- by mentioning us, linking to us, or spreading a kind word out there in the world
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AlpineRootsMapleBranches is meant to grow – slowly, independently, but with depth.
Every bit of support helps us create more content, improve our tools, and pass on what we’ve learned.
🌿 Our passion project: Bras d’Or – touch wood 🌿
Alongside our blog, we’re committed to a second, very hands-on project: On bras-dor.com, we document our reforestation and restoration work on Cape Breton Island.
There, we plant fruit and nut trees, support long-term forest structures, and create habitats for insects, birds, and small animals.
We believe that regeneration only has real impact when it becomes tangible – in the soil, in the local water cycle, and in the climate. That’s why we take small but direct steps into the landscape: with trees, blossoms, refuges, and time.
Bras d’Or – touch wood is our attempt to give biodiversity space again. No romantic illusions – but deep roots and a clear goal.
🌿 Let’s stay connected 🌿
Want to walk a part of the way with us?
Feel free to sign up for the newsletter, browse our latest posts – or follow along on social media:
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Facebook: AlpineRootsMapleBranches
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Instagram: @alpinerootsmaplebranches
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TikTok: @alpinerootsmaplebranches
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X (Twitter): @alpinerootsmaplebranches
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Pinterest: AlpineRootsMapleBranches
There, I share glimpses into our everyday life, new projects, and the little moments that shape our days here.
If you’d like to be notified about new blog posts, sign up for the newsletter – or reach out directly at info@alpinerootsmaplebranches.com.
I’d love to hear from you!