Our Family's Story
Why we decided to move to acerage and why we are developing the programs we are.
Both my husband and I grew up in Hervey Bay, leading lives characterized by unsustainable consumerism and a disregard for the environment. Once we became parents, our perspective shifted dramatically as we began to contemplate the world we were bringing our children into and the legacy we would leave them. We realized that we wanted more than the traditional 9-to-5 grind, trading our time for material possessions.
Our journey to change began small, transitioning to eco-friendly products, raising chickens, and growing what food we could on our urban block. However, we longed for a larger space to expand our vision. So, we made a bold decision: we sold our five-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a pool and purchased a bare piece of land 35 minutes away.
In April 2019, we arrived at our new adventure with two shipping containers and a caravan, ready to embrace the beauty of our land by the tranquil river. Yet, we faced the reality of no power, no internet, and no running water. Daily trips to town for water, cooking with a generator, using a laundromat, and living in close quarters without luxuries tested our resilience. It was challenging for everyone, with tears shed not only by the children but by us as well.
Despite these hardships, we persevered. Friends lent us a water tank, and we built a chicken pen, a shed, and eventually added a washing machine and a bathroom with a flushing toilet and a larger shower. Five years later, we continue to face challenges, but our passion for growing our own food, raising our own meat, and living sustainably fuels our progress.
While we may not be fully there yet, and it might take another five years, we make strides every day. The greatest reward is seeing our children immersed in nature, climbing trees, whittling, learning to grow food, and simply playing.
Our mission is to share our journey, including the challenges and triumphs, while promoting the philosophy of child-led, risky play in nature, infused with creativity and innovation. We believe that while you don’t have to start from scratch like we did, many of the permaculture principles we apply to our land can be adapted to your urban home, fostering a more sustainable lifestyle for everyone.
