Still living the dream in Eastern Ontario

We are still living close to the land in lovely E.Ontario.
Have you ever tried to break the land in this part of the world? It cannot be done. You have to live with it.
After 25 years here we've managed to build a lovely post and beam house and clear about 5 acres of land for sustainable agriculture.
The sad part is that the CONSUMERS around here are raping and pillaging the forest at an alarming rate. It is truely heartbreaking.
Now that we have reached a certain age, the kidlets have moved along and our time is our own, we can really get down to living life the way WE want to do it.

 

all right ! way to go !.is it land development and insensitive use of the forest that is ruining nature up there?

 

Unfortunately the government of this province has "rented" forestry rights to private companies on crown land. I live very close to a magnificent provincial park, Algonquin Park....it is just being DEVASTATED by these practices.
In the private sector it is unscrupulous individuals pulling sneaky deals.

 

I'm wondering what the difference is between You clearing forest ( we clear cut 5 acers and built a post and beam house). Isnt development the same if you do it or they do it. I hate clear cutting, but isnt it just as bad for you to cut down trees so You can develope the land for your own use, depriving the generations to come the beauty and usefulness of the trees.

Five acers is a lot of land to cultivate for growing food for two ppl. If you plan to sell produce, your doing the same thing they are. Making money off the distruction of the forests.

 

We didn't actually clear five acres...we selectively cut a plot about 50x50 feet for our house. We chose the location that would require the least clearing. The rest of it is a natural meadow. We had to cut ONE tree to put a septage bed.
I get right ticked off when the government lets logging permits for alleged nature preserves.

 

Well that's not what you said in your first post, you said you cleared about 5 acers, now it's 50X50, there's a lot of difference in 50X50 and 5 acers. Now it's natural pasture, do you even know what you have bc you are quiet confusing.

 

There was/is a natural meadow on the northeast corner of our plot of land. Rising above this was a hill. Most of the pasture was clear grassland but there was scrubby brush...nettles, bushes and the like, on the corner where we wanted to build the house. We had to clear that scrubby stuff out. We only cut ONE mature tree. It is a FAR CRY from what these loggers are cutting out. They just flatten everything in their path. It makes a person physically ILL to see the aftermath of these operations.
We continue to honor the land and allow nature to do as she will. I wish we didn't have to cut the grass, but that isn't an option in the province where I live. If you don't cut your grass on a residential plot, the municipality will come and DO IT and bill the owner of record!
The spring after my husband passed away I had a real problem with that. I'm a very small person and as a result I couldn't run the mower. (The land is to uneven to use a push mower, I've tried) Rather than help out, several of the neighbouring residents had the audacity to COMPLAIN to the township that there were weeds growing tall on my patch. I just don't understand their thinking. The area that they consider my "lawn" is now being turned into a garden bit by bit. If I can't let it return to nature I'm going to nurture it my own way. There were some small saplings that are starting to grow into thriving adult trees now that they aren't having to compete with the scrubby stuff!

 

Your a Widow and your neighbors treat you like that, what a bunch of jerks. .I'm sorry your having so many problems. Have you thought about smudging your place. If I were in your place, I think I might rent/trade for work a room to someone with a strong back to help with the more difficult work. Or even asking the crappy neighbors if they would be interested in participating in a community garden.. maybe you can intise a few of the teenagers with some cookies or something, in trade for their help.

I would try to get in the good graces of my neighbors, have a get together and invite them all. Let them get to know you and endear yourself to them. Offer to clean their house in trade for help with your yard or babysit or wash their cars, whatever you can think of.

If nothing worked, I would consider selling or trading for a more manageable plot of land. If you cant afford to keep up the land, you probably cant pay the taxes ( if you are required to) and you will eventually lose your property to the state or whatever you call it there. You could also remarry if that is an option.

BTW, you mentioned a 'WE' in your OP, you also mentioned your kids were grown and moved and that your husband passed away. I was wondering who the other part of 'We" was. And if there is a we, why arent they helping you.

sh

 

I now have a friends son living with me now which is a big help. He does the heavy work around the place. The neighbours are just funny here, as they are in a lot of places. They don't take well to an "outsider". They have always been critical of the way we were farming and our ethical animal husbandry. They thought the house was down right ugly in the early days (it was built like a barn and doesn't look much like anyone elses around here) but I guess they have gotten used to that by now!
Fortunately (after years of living like paupers) we have managed to pay the place off and I now own it free and clear. Taxes aren't to bad here. I'm very frugal with my consumption and there is plenty of dead wood on the place to keep us in firewood for a LONG LONG time. Once again, I am now thankful for Mike for being around to look after that end of things.
I just wish people would be more tolerant...things were different when we all had little kids running around...now we're all old and crotchety, haha.
We have some friends who have recently moved into the area who are like minded souls. We are starting to share in our resources and contacts to keep things together for one and all. The old neighbours are on their case too but maybe they are just a little more outspoken about telling them to mind their own damn business.

 

yeah i can't figure out neighbors like that sometimes but like you said they're like that most everywhere.that house sounds pretty interesting to me.well keep the faith up there.hang in there.

 

It will take more than unforgiving neighbours to drive me from my land! I would probably decide to move along if the gov't reversed it's decision to allow development in the township...but it's doubtful if that will happen in this lifetime!
Say what you will, I'm Still livin' the dream...