D.I.Y

Like pioneers and homesteaders of old, our sustenance and living come primarily from our small patch of ground. We strive to live simply, make or make do when we can.

Learning new skills raises our awareness and self-worth. Knowing that wherever we might be we can make a life using our two hands. Each year, if we can, we try to learn or try something new – it’s fun and challenging. Sometimes it’s as simple as revisiting a skill we learned years ago.

IMG_5057

Over the years, we’ve seen aspiring homesteaders succeed but some have sadly failed in their efforts. Many commit for the long haul, whilst others have ridden the self-sufficiency wave for awhile and have neither the time nor energy to continue.

Commitment to such a lifestyle is one of the challenges that we all face.

Our mantra is: “Living a simple, self-sufficient /self-reliant life is not always simple!” It takes sacrifice, hard work and the willpower to see it through the hard and challenging times.

IMG_8762Having said that, we also believe it requires one to adapt to changing times. Sometimes it’s just not possible to DO everything and one has to be willing to admit that.

One can swap bread for services or trade a bag of lettuce for a jar of someone’s homemade soup. Self-sufficiency is not individualistic – it takes a community of like-minded folks.


Learning to “re-skill” or “new skill.”

IMG_6478(1)

  • Survival Skills & Forging
  • Hair cutting
  • Sewing
  • Fiber Crafts
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Food Preservation
  • Carpentry
  • Bike & Auto Repairs
  • Soapmakings
  • Candlemaking
  • Website, Graphics, Video
  • In 1984, trading 10 acres in the countryside for this 1/5 acre uncared for lot with a fixer upper house and garage that looked dilapidated – one had to see past all the flaws for potential. Where others saw a “dive,” we saw potential for a garden and play space. Looking back at the photos, one has to admit our friends and family were right – the place was “a dive.” Before we owned it, the house had been rented for 20 years it certainly needed A LOT of TLC.

    It’s been a slow transformation that’s taken many years. The transformation didn’t happen overnight, nor could we afford to hire help. In fact, we did most of the work ourselves, on the cheap.

    Change takes time and one learns you can’t listen and rely on the skeptics who didn’t have the vision to see the potential of “a sow’s ear.” We learned to labor…. and to wait.

    IMG_1732

    • Solar Ovens
    • Depaving
    • Installation of Solar Panels
    • Greywater
    • Roofing
    • Simple Construction — sheds, chicken coops, etc
    • Edible Landscaping
    • Urban Farming