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# OUR BETTER LIFE

Living Off-Grid

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://ourbetterlife.ca/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://ourbetterlife.ca/blog)
- [A lesson in patience](https://ourbetterlife.ca/a-lesson-in-patience) - It's been almost a week since we returned to the property. And already, Mother Nature has provided us lessons in patience.It was after 8pm when we finally arrived at the camper after the long drive from Toronto. And while we were happy to be back, there are always things which hamper a smooth transition. That
- [Coming Home](https://ourbetterlife.ca/coming-home) - Every journey, no matter how brief, carries with it an element of stress. From planning to execution, there is an underlying stress of the possibility of something which could go wrong. In some ways this is true of everything new to us. As humans we think into the "what ifs" and worst case scenarios.It's a
- [The Bitter-Sweet end of a Chapter](https://ourbetterlife.ca/the-bitter-sweet-end-of-a-chapter) - It's been almost 3 weeks of stress about the truck. From discovering that it needed far more work than originally thought, and failing safeties, to being left with complete strangers for body work. I won't bore you with all the details, but I'll skip to the end. Perhaps when I expand this story into book
- [Could this Truck ruin everything??](https://ourbetterlife.ca/could-this-truck-ruin-everything) - Sometimes you get tired of lemonade. Look, I'll be the first to admit that life isn't fair. And sometimes you win, and sometimes you end up making lemonade from scraps you find lying around, and it tastes ok. Sometimes it just doesn't taste good no matter what you throw at it. So we've been radio
- [Stone Soup...a lesson for 2026](https://ourbetterlife.ca/stone-soup-a-lesson-for-2026) - At the beginning of a new year where things are already tumultuous and overwhelming, and many folks are feeling the economic burdens of our current situation, this story seems more than relevant.Stone SoupOnce, a hungry traveler arrived in a small village where everyone was struggling. Each household had only a little food, and fearing there
- [Closer Than Ever to Our Property](https://ourbetterlife.ca/closer-than-ever-to-our-property) - For the first time since purchasing the land, we came closer to our property than ever before — not by vehicle, but on foot.With temperatures climbing to around 8°C and snow beginning to melt, we decided to see how far we could get down the access road. Unfortunately, the road itself hasn’t seen any traffic
- [Getting to know us part 1: Your questions answered!](https://ourbetterlife.ca/getting-to-know-us-part-1-your-questions-answered) - After weeks of cold, breakdowns, repairs, and survival mode, we decided it was time to slow things down a bit and do something different.A few days ago, we asked our followers if they had questions for us — about the journey, the land, our plans, and how we even ended up here in the first
- [More of your Questions Answered!](https://ourbetterlife.ca/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 LandYes — eventually, we
- [The Beginning](https://ourbetterlife.ca/the-beginning) - Before we set off for the wilderness — Before we sold everything and walked away from jobs and city life — Before we made the bold leap out of our day-to-day — We had a desire.
- [The Great Canadian Trek: Our Journey Across Canada](https://ourbetterlife.ca/the-great-canadian-trek-our-journey-across-canada) - In hindsight, we probably should have left earlier in the day.By the time we had the camper hooked up (and had CAA come add air to the tires), it was nearly 5pm on January 3, 2024. But we were just done.The last few days had been uncomfortable, stressful, and emotionally draining. It was past time
- [Frozen Lessons: When the Furnace Goes Quiet](https://ourbetterlife.ca/frozen-lessons-when-the-furnace-goes-quiet) - It was 4am, and the cold woke us before the light did.The kind of cold that doesn’t knock — it barges in and takes the air with it.The furnace was silent. No warning, no final groan — just… off. And with that silence, the temperature inside the camper plummeted.We didn’t know what was wrong. We
- [Storms, Space Heaters & Survival](https://ourbetterlife.ca/storms-space-heaters-survival) - It’s Saturday — at least, I think it is.Time starts to blur when you're pacing between a flickering furnace and a snowstorm that won’t quit. Last night, the temperature outside dropped to -22°C. Inside our camper? Not much better.The furnace — that finicky, fragile lifeline — gave us about five minutes of heat before sputtering
- [Plans, Predicaments, and Propane – Surviving One Cold Decision at a Time](https://ourbetterlife.ca/plans-predicaments-and-propane-surviving-one-cold-decision-at-a-time) - It’s day four without a working furnace.But it’s not all gloom — we’ve got layers, barn heaters, and just enough stubbornness to keep going.We started this morning bundled up like marshmallows, half-laughing and half-freezing as we tried to figure out whether the floor was 16°C or our toes just gave up trying to feel.Turns out…
- [6 Days, 4 Provinces, and a Fifth Wheel Full of Dreams](https://ourbetterlife.ca/6-days-4-provinces-and-a-fifth-wheel-full-of-dreams) - If you’ve ever moved in winter, you know.If you’ve ever moved across Canada, you really know.If you’ve ever done both, towing a 26-foot fifth wheel packed with your entire life...Welcome to the club.We left Calgary on January 3rd — later than planned, stressed to the max, but holding onto the dream with white knuckles and
- [Still No Heat, But Not Broken](https://ourbetterlife.ca/still-no-heat-but-not-broken) - It’s been eight days.Eight days of waking up to 10°C inside the camper — or colder.Eight days of resetting a broken furnace by hand. Of tracking down motors, models, and maybe-fixes. Of booting up candle heat before coffee.But we’re okay.We’ve found ways to make it work:Sleeping bags that feel like small miracles.A barn heater that,
- [Frozen Fingers, YouTube Fixes, and Facing the Furnace](https://ourbetterlife.ca/frozen-fingers-youtube-fixes-and-facing-the-furnace) - We’re ten days in now. Ten days with a furnace that won’t stay lit.Ten days of scrambling for parts, patching things with makeshift heat, and trying to think straight with frozen fingers.But today… we tried something different.We decided to fix it ourselves.We knew the issue wasn’t propane, or wiring, or the switch that kept tripping.
- [Short Sleeves and Long Delays](https://ourbetterlife.ca/short-sleeves-and-long-delays) - Today, I woke up and didn’t see my breath.No candles needed. No icy shock stepping out of the sleeping bag.The inside of the camper was 18°C.I’m wearing a short-sleeved shirt. In January. In Northern Ontario.The weather broke — just a little — and suddenly, everything feels more possible. The milk barn heater, our DIY flower
- [Two Weeks Without Heat, and Somehow… We’re Still Here](https://ourbetterlife.ca/two-weeks-without-heat-and-somehow-were-still-here) - It’s been 14 days without heat in our camper. Not off-grid heat. Not flickering. Not unreliable.None. Outside: sub-zero Northern Ontario cold.Inside: survival. Every single day.At this point, it isn’t just about enduring. It’s about adapting.We’ve gotten better at it — not by choice, but through sheer necessity. We’ve layered up, boiled water on the stove
- [When It Rains, It Pours — Literally](https://ourbetterlife.ca/when-it-rains-it-pours-literally) - By Day 16 of this off-grid camper saga, we thought we’d seen the worst.No furnace? Been there.Frozen boots? Survived that.Mental unraveling? Flirted with it.But rain?In January?In Northern Ontario?Come on.---It started as a light drizzle tapping the roof. We welcomed it, briefly — anything but snow felt like a reprieve. But that reprieve didn’t last.Soon, we
- [Treading Water](https://ourbetterlife.ca/treading-water) - There comes a point in every journey where you’re no longer fighting to move forward — you’re just fighting to stay afloat.That was this week.Not drowning. Not thriving.Just… treading water.---The furnace? Still silent.The cold? Still lingering.But now — boredom, claustrophobia, and cost started creeping in.We were stuck.Too cold to work outside.Too wet to make real
- [And Then There Were Three](https://ourbetterlife.ca/and-then-there-three) - One of the most exciting things for us about moving out of the city and away from rented houses was the prospect of let ownership. I have since childhood always been a dog person, and frankly, since being in Canada, I've had the longest periods of my life without the companionship of dogs. Sandy is
- [Truck Trouble](https://ourbetterlife.ca/truck-trouble) - In my entire lifetime I have ever only owned one brand new vehicle. Second hand has always been pretty much all that was in my budget or price range. And I've always sought to buy the vehicle cash up front to avoid payments over an extended period of time.Our current truck is no exception. We
- [23 Days Later — The Furnace Lives](https://ourbetterlife.ca/23-days-later-the-furnace-lives) - After 23 days of deep-winter survival with no heat, the part arrived.One single part. A tiny metal piece. A quiet, stupidly unremarkable object.But in our world?It was deliverance.---The waiting had warped time.We’d adapted, sure — the layers, the stove boils, the cramped camper rituals — but this wasn’t how we were meant to live. This
- [Did We Make It to the Land?](https://ourbetterlife.ca/did-we-make-it-to-the-land) - With the furnace humming and the frostbite threat dialed down, it was time for something different:A mission.A drive.A first glimpse at what we’d really come here for.We set out toward our new town — that mysterious dot on the map near the land we bought, sight mostly unseen, in faith and fire.It was… surreal.After all
- [One Month In – The Cold, The Cracks, and the Clarity](https://ourbetterlife.ca/one-month-in-the-cold-the-cracks-and-the-clarity) - 30 days.One full month of living inside a camper.In Northern Ontario.In winter.Off-grid.No furnace for most of it.Let that sink in.When we arrived, we were hopeful. A little naïve, maybe. Definitely tired. But there was still this shimmer of optimism beneath the snow.And now?We’re tired and wise.It’s hard to capture the shift that happens when every
- [The Dog Days of Summer...](https://ourbetterlife.ca/the-dog-days-of-summer) - It hasn't really felt like a summer. Most of May, June and July were a few warm days, between bouts of rain. And more rain. More than we had last year for sure, but so much that even at the beginning of August, the ground of the trail leading to our property, and the spot
- [A Significant Day for us](https://ourbetterlife.ca/a-significant-day-for-us) - It may not sound like a big deal, but moving the camper is a multi-day ordeal. It's unpacking, repacking, moving loose items and clearing and cleaning around where the camper has been sitting. We've done this process now a few times, and, frankly, it never gets easier. It's always a lot of work, and quite
- [A New day...](https://ourbetterlife.ca/a-new-day) - It's almost the end of August, and it feels like the clock is ticking faster towards winter. While we have had some days higher than 33c, we have also had days as low as 16c this summer, some nights as low as 3c or lower. And definitely more rain than we wanted or expected.Over the
- [August Roundup](https://ourbetterlife.ca/august-roundup) - As the temperatures continue to drop, and leaves are slowly starting to change colour, the end of August approaches. While July ended with such sadness and the passing of Pollock, we found ourselves a little out of sorts at the beginning of this month. But life must continue, even after loss. And we set ourselves
- [Someone turned on Autumn...](https://ourbetterlife.ca/someone-turned-on-autumn) - It's the first Friday of September, and it feels a bit like late October. Temperatures have dropped significantly, as if switch operated. The forecast shows over a week of cloudy, rainy and cool conditions. The highest forecast temperature for the next week is 14c, and lows as low as 4c.The rain has returned and slows
- [Gloomy days in September](https://ourbetterlife.ca/gloomy-days-in-september) - Well one thing we can say with some certainly about living in Northern Ontario is that the weather is unpredictable, and subject to extreme changes in a short space of time. It's barely mid September, and we've already had frost warnings, and nights as low as 3c. And oh, so much rain.It reminds us how
- [Building Community](https://ourbetterlife.ca/building-community) - A big part of choosing an off-grid life is the notion of self sufficiency. It's the concept of being responsible for ones own 'everything' without relying on someone to provide it. Be it food, clothes, building or mechanical repairs.The reality is it's a lot less attainable than one would like to believe. While you can
- [We Built a Woodshed!](https://ourbetterlife.ca/we-built-a-woodshed) - What a week it's been. The weather has been wholly unpredictable and strange. And I get that it's Autumn, and that the weather is transitioning to Winter. But there have been drastic changes that happen overnight. From a cold wet weekend last weekend, Wednesday saw us peak at 27c, with a lot of humidity. Thursday
- [It doesn't have to be pretty, just...better.](https://ourbetterlife.ca/it-doesnt-have-to-be-pretty-just-better) - Over the last week we have been focused on the next phase of our winter preparedness. Now the woodshed is completed, our next major task is insulating the camper and creating a build out room on the side of it to house the woodstove. While these may sound like simple tasks, they require a lot
- [It's the little things....](https://ourbetterlife.ca/its-the-little-things) - If you've been following our journey for a while, you will know that often it's small things that bring simple joy to us.In the past week, we have both celebrated our birthdays, me my 54th, and Sandy his 43rd. These occasions were marked by the outpouring of so many kind messages and words to us
- [Winter is coming...](https://ourbetterlife.ca/winter-is-coming) - Winter is coming. It's inevitable, but it still seems to take one a bit by surprise. Temperatures shift from erratic to cold in a flash. And so far, we've seen a few frosty mornings.A day of heavy rain set us back considerably in our lumber work this week. And it's pooled and settled in the
- [It's all about attitude.](https://ourbetterlife.ca/its-all-about-attitude) - Sometimes a small change makes all the difference.This is true of many things in life. Making a small change can have a huge effect on so many things. A change of habit or ritual or simply attitude. One of my favorite 'inspirational quotes' is: "It is your attitude, not your aptitude that gives you altitude."
- [Thoughts on Winters approach](https://ourbetterlife.ca/thoughts-on-winters-approach) - There are sides to this life that many many do not consider. Some have a larger impact. The change of seasons is a big one. Especially*this* change. There is snow in the forecast. More precisely, a few continuous days of snow, with accumulation of up to 9cm on some days. In fact, it's supposed to
- [Winter arrives in full force.](https://ourbetterlife.ca/winter-arrives-in-full-force) - As predicted, it has snowed. Not a light dusting, or freezing rain type snow or the snow that melts on impact into water. Wet, heavy snow almost 15cm deep in a short space of time.Overnight, the bleak brown grey of the forest around us has turned into a stark black and white landscape, almost devoid
- [A sense of relief...](https://ourbetterlife.ca/a-sense-of-relief) - Today was a day we both had considerable dread over. With the heavier snow last week, we were deeply concerned that we could already be cut off from access to town and supplies, and most importantly, our final winter food supplies, which, in typical fashion arrived the day of the heaviest snow so far.Waking up,
- [Mid November.... already.](https://ourbetterlife.ca/mid-november-already) - It's hard to believe it's already mid November. We just blinked and the summer was gone and now we're decidedly in the middle of winter. While last week's snowfall was relatively big (15cm or so), we have had about 1-2 cm every few days this week. And while we were fortunate to have been able
- [A Day of Sunshine](https://ourbetterlife.ca/a-day-of-sunshine) - If there is anything I miss from my time living in Calgary, it is simply that, even in winter, the sun is frequently visible in the sky. That's not to say there aren't gloomy, grey days, but they are usually broken up by days of sun every few days. It's rare for the grey to
- [And still it's snowing...](https://ourbetterlife.ca/and-still-its-snowing) - Winter has certainly come in like a lion this year. The snow started on the evening of November 6, and as I write this, we have literally had two days where it hasn't snowed or rained since. That's 20 days. In those 20 days, we have had 40cm of snow, some of which has melted
- [A most difficult decision.](https://ourbetterlife.ca/a-most-difficult-decision) - We have decided to evacuate again, but this time under somewhat less stress and urgency. Last year, we struggled and fought to not have to evacuate, frankly, endangering ourselves. We waited until temperatures were dangerously low, and we couldn't get heat above 0c before we called for help. We cannot and will not go through
- [Leaving Paradise...](https://ourbetterlife.ca/leaving-paradise) - Leaving our property is never easy. Especially when we have now twice had to leave via snowmobile with only essentials and the kindness of others.It's traumatic for anyone to have to be rescued, and certainly we have a unique perspective for those who have to evacuate for natural disasters or other calamities. It's gut wrenching

## Pages

- [Home](https://ourbetterlife.ca/) - Our Better Life documents two men building an off-grid homestead in Canada—sharing honest stories, lessons learned, and a slower, more intentional way of living.
- [Support](https://ourbetterlife.ca/support) - You Keep Us Going!! This off-grid life isn’t just ours — it’s something we’re building together with you. Every message, every share, every dollar keeps the firewood stacked, the lights on, and the dream alive. Free Ways to SupportYour support doesn’t have to cost a cent — these small acts mean the world to us.Follow
- [Resources](https://ourbetterlife.ca/resources) - Quiet tools for slower living.Writings, guides, and documents from what we’re learning as we build Our Better Life. Products by Category
- [Contact](https://ourbetterlife.ca/contact-2) - Mailing Address Want to send us something the mail? Our Better Life P.O. Box 24Matheson, ONP0K 1N0CANADA Email UsYou can drop us an email at:ourbetterlifeoffgrid@gmail.com For business or collaboration inquiries, please use the subject line ‘Collaboration’ in your message.
- [Wear The Journey](https://ourbetterlife.ca/wear-the-journey)
- [Checkout](https://ourbetterlife.ca/checkout) - paypal.me/OurBetterLife
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- [My Account](https://ourbetterlife.ca/my-account)
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- [Thank you](https://ourbetterlife.ca/thank-you) - Thank you so much for your donation. Your gift will help us live sustainably and provide support for others to live like us as well. Please keep in touch. Watch out updates on Youtube. Follow us on Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram. Send us an email to let us know how you are doing.
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- [About](https://ourbetterlife.ca/about) - Journey Into The Wild Our Story:Starting FreshWe, two middle-aged men, once faced the hustle of the city life. Yearning for simplicity, we made a bold decision to leave it all behind and embark on a new journey into the unknown. Off-Grid LivingWith nothing but a trailer in a vast wilderness, we embraced the challenge of

## Products

- [Still the Beginning: Notes from the Edge of the Life we are building.](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/still-the-beginning) - A quiet reflection from the early days of our off-grid journey — honest notes from the edge of a life still taking shape.
- [Miss Pollock Greeting Card](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/miss-polly-greeting-card-2) - Sending a Miss Polly greeting card is one way to combat the extortionate price of cards these days. For a modest cost you can download and print out a very special card to send for any occasion. Miss Polly greeting cards are formatted to print on 8" x 11" printer paper or card stock. A
- [Life Is A Journey Greeting Card](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/life-is-a-journey-greeting-card) - This is a meaningful card. Send it to anyone who is embarking on a journey. Keep it for yourself as a reminder of your focus. We here at Our Better Life are on a journey too, as are you. Happy trails!
- [Northern Sunrise Greeting Card](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/northern-sunrise-greeting-card) - Send some positive thoughts with our Northern Sunrise greeting card. Our Better Life has created an opportunity for you to create your own message, your own card and your own envelope with our peaceful statement of what life can be like when we decide to live more simply. Download today this picture of dawn from
- [The Forest Green Greeting Card](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/the-forest-green-2) - We are all in Nature together. This card reminds me of what we have to preserve and how we are all connected. It says so much.
- [Donation $50.00](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/donation-50-00) - Thank you so much for helping us out. Ultimately, we will be self-sufficient, however, your generous contribution will help to get us over some unforeseen hurdles. We are determined to live off-grid and to show others how to live minimally, as well. You have brought us closer to our goal. Again, Thank you. Please download
- [Donation $250.00](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/donation-250-00) - Thank you so much for helping us out. Ultimately, we will be self-sufficient, however, your generous contribution will help to get us over some unforeseen hurdles. We are determined to live off-grid and to show others how to live minimally, as well. You have brought us closer to our goal. Again, Thank you. Please download
- [Donation $25.00](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/donation-25-00-2) - Thank you so much for helping us out. Ultimately, we will be self-sufficient, however, your generous contribution will help to get us over some unforeseen hurdles. We are determined to live off-grid and to show others how to live minimally, as well. You have brought us closer to our goal. Again, Thank you. Please download
- [Donation $500.00](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/donation-500-00) - Thank you so much for helping us out. Ultimately, we will be self-sufficient, however, your generous contribution will help to get us over some unforeseen hurdles. We are determined to live off-grid and to show others how to live minimally, as well. You have brought us closer to our goal. Again, Thank you. Please download
- [Donation $10.00](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/donation-10-00-2) - Thank you so much for helping us out. Ultimately, we will be self-sufficient, however, your generous contribution will help to get us over some unforeseen hurdles. We are determined to live off-grid and to show others how to live minimally, as well. You have brought us closer to our goal. Again, Thank you. Please download
- [Donation $5.00](https://ourbetterlife.ca/shop/5-00-donation) - Thank you so much for helping us out. Ultimately, we will be self-sufficient, however, your generous contribution will help to get us over some unforeseen hurdles. We are determined to live off-grid and to show others how to live minimally, as well. You have brought us closer to our goal. Again, Thank you. Please download

## Categories

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## Product categories

- [Cards](https://ourbetterlife.ca/product-category/cards) - Sending one of our greeting cards is one way to combat the extortionate price of cards these days. For a small contribution you can download and print a very special card to send for any occasion. Our greeting cards are formatted to print on 8″ x 11″ printer paper or card stock. A second page of instructions shows how to fold your card and create an envelope. Each blank greeting card has ample space to write your own personal greeting.
- [Donation](https://ourbetterlife.ca/product-category/donation) - Thank you so much for helping us out. Ultimately, we will be self-sufficient, however, your generous contribution will help to get us over some unforeseen hurdles. We are determined to live off-grid and to show others how to live minimally, as well. You have brought us closer to our goal. Again, Thank you.
- [Digital Resources](https://ourbetterlife.ca/product-category/digital-resources-2) - Digital Documents, How-To Guides and Publications from our Homestead