More of your Questions Answered!

In Part 1, we shared a bit about who we are and why we chose this path. In Part 2, your questions went deeper — into land use, food, animals, access, and the practical realities of living in Northern Ontario.

So let’s pick up where we left off.

Hunting and Trapping on the Land

Yes — eventually, we do intend to hunt and potentially trap on or around our property.

Our land is bordered on three sides by hundreds of thousands of acres of Crown land, making it an ideal long-term possibility. However, there are legal requirements involved, including licensing and courses we haven’t yet been able to complete.

Originally, the plan was to stay in Calgary longer and use that time to obtain our licenses. Life had other ideas, and our timeline shortened dramatically. At the moment, the cost and travel required (including a 5-hour drive to Sudbury and multiple overnight stays) makes this something we’ll need to delay.

That said, it’s very much still part of the bigger picture — especially with licensed friends and family who may visit in the future.

Pets and Animals

Absolutely — animals are not optional for us.

Right now, being without pets has been one of the hardest emotional adjustments. While staying on a friend’s property recently, we took care of their dogs and cats… and let’s just say someone became very attached to a certain cat.

Long-term plans include:

Chickens (for eggs and sustainability)

At least one cat

Dogs — because life feels incomplete without them

Fish, as we’ve learned, don’t really fill the same role.

How Much Land Do We Actually Have?

We own 80.25 acres.

On one side, the land borders a privately owned parcel of similar size. On the other three sides, it’s all Crown land. No immediate neighbors, no development, and a whole lot of quiet.

Privacy wasn’t just a bonus — it was intentional.

Growing South African Gem Squash

Yes — and this one made us smile.

We saved seeds from gem squash we bought last year in Calgary, and they’ll absolutely be planted. We’re growing food we actually eat, not just things that look good on Instagram.

(Some crops didn’t make the cut. Kale, for example.)

Roads, Snow, and Winter Access

Short answer: no, the township won’t be plowing our road.

We’re in an unorganized township, and the final stretch of road to our property is currently maintained by a forestry company — but only when they’re actively logging in the area. Right now, they aren’t.

Next winter, we’ll need our own solution, which likely means investing in plowing equipment so we can reliably get in and out.

Root Crops and Long-Term Food Storage

Yes, yes, and more yes.

Plans include:

Lentils and beans

Carrots, potatoes, garlic, and onions

Lettuce varieties

Tomatoes (lots of tomatoes)

Our focus is practicality — growing foods we cook with regularly and that store well. Potatoes are especially important (and homemade chips may make a return once propane use isn’t such a limiting factor).

Winter-Capable Greenhouses

This is very much on our radar.

We follow other creators living in similar climates (Zone 2B) who’ve built passive, super-insulated greenhouses capable of growing food year-round — including things you wouldn’t expect, like bananas.

While that level of build won’t happen immediately, research and long-term planning are already underway. Right now, the goal is functional, affordable, and survivable — then we build up from there.

Why We’re Not on the Property More Yet

This comes down to strategy and cost.

We’re currently about an hour north of the land. Each round trip uses roughly half a tank of gas — and fuel prices are no joke. On top of that, there’s very little physical work we can do on the property right now until access improves.

For now, trips are planned carefully and only when they serve a clear purpose.

We’re incredibly grateful for the thoughtful questions and interest in this journey. These conversations help us slow down, reflect, and reconnect with why we’re doing this in the first place.

More updates are coming soon — there’s a lot starting to sprout, both literally and figuratively.

Thanks for being here with us.

This post is directly related to the following YouTube video: