Caitlin and I visited our homestead on Cape Breton Island this morning, under the blessing of the good omen of a fresh snowfall making it absolutely dreamlike — as if stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia…
The property itself, located about ten minutes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island and just off the Mira River, is about thirty acres with a large clearing at the northern end. Covered in smaller clearings with well-defined trails connecting them, it is fully treed with mature pine and birch (as well as an abundance of moss, lichen, and rabbits), and a trout-filled brook flows through the southern section. It has significant road frontage on an all-season maintained road and is on grid (including cell phone coverage)… and we got it for pennies via Dignam.
Some photos from our walk:
Our home will surely contain a good supply of rubber boots for guests who want to explore (the property is high and mostly dry but like I said, a brook flows through the lower section at the southern end). We can’t wait to see it in the summer, and over the winter will explore our requirements for building permits and so on.
Finally, a few more pictures from the surrounding landscape:
Oh yeah, and we need to come up with a name… Maybe one of my winter projects back in Toronto will be carving an entry gate, piece by piece in small sections, that I can reassemble on location this upcoming summer.
48 Comments
those photos are amazing! Its snowing here on Vancouver Island to and my backyard looks like that as I look out the window. Thank you for bringing Dingam to my attention, my spouse and I are now receiving their cataloge and we plan on going this route rather than the enslavement of a morgage!
I bet there is good fishing there .. both salt water and in the streams for trout… When can I bring my fly rod?
*yay* love that last photo of you guys!!
the property looks incredible…i am jealous, but you’ve motivated me to stop being so passive and we’ve started looking at property ourselves!
Narnia indeed. I always thought Cair Paravel sounded interesting… Please consider a randomly placed lamppost. :)
love caitlin’s hat.
i’d love such a place but maybe not somewhere cold, i’m hating the cold here and it’s only been hanging around less than a week :(
I’m jealous for several things, namely the beautiful property and also the snow. It’s done nothing but rain all day here :(
Beautiful, cheap, private, and yet connected with the outside world … sounds like paradise to me! (I’ve always wanted to visit Cape Breton for the music.)
Congratulations!
Absolutely goregous Shannon.
I wish it was snowing here (central KY), all it’s done the past few days is rain, which is not nearly as fun as snow.
And I second whoever said that they love the last photo of you and Caitlin, it’s adorable. :)
looks like cb got hit worse then halifax with the snow. travel safely
Wow. That is literally a winter wonderland!
Rabbits are usually good neighbours. Please post a few sketches of what you want to build there.
oh my goodness it looks so amazingly beautiful. i’m so excited for the both of you. i just got my dignam catalogue in the mail!
I want more grand-children.
Do your duty. Love you both.
wow, Shannon, you were right, it is gorgeous..Congrats..I cant wait to hear all about the trip…It looks so beautiful even on the drive up there..
And you better have remembered my birthday rock pal
Again, someone else posting who is jealous. If Mr. Allahkat and I can figure out a source of income we totally want to do this as well.
chop wood
carry water
Dig a well!
Truly a winter wonderland scene. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Oh and please repost snail mail addy if you desire holiday greetings from ‘Bama.
We have room on the property for anyone willing to help out, and help themselves.
Slow down, Richard. We love you too. :)
Are you guys any closer to deciding what types of housing, barns and such to build? I bet a sod barn would be awesome, very toasty and what with the short life span of cattle and the like, no worries of radon poisoning. If there is a concern about radon poisoning with sod structures…
Absolutely INCREDIBLE. I’m entirely too jealous for my own liking.
I’m leaning toward earth bag construction personally…
What’s with our suggestive dots? Oh yeah, always fun…
Anyway, yeah earth bag construction would essentially be the same as a sod structure but with a great deal more simplicity and neatness.
Good linkage
i second richard…babies now!!! i’m a great nanny and my hubby is strong and can lift and build stuff :)
There’s an ever-increasing part of me that wants to run away from here to somewhere semi remote…On the grid with cell coverage, enough land to grow food, hunt, BUILD A PLACE and maintain healthy sustainance…
I envy your chance to chase your dreams.
Best of luck, dude.
*n
ok
Do you have to worry about building codes there? Or would the place be small enough that it’s not an issue?
Thats a really nice piece of land and the scenery were so beautiful!
Hope you’re up for visitors! Congrats for finding such a gem. :)
It’s beautiful there! I can’t wait to see what the two of you accomplish with that land.
And that last photo is so sweet. :) made me all smiley :)
Damn. I said I was jealous of Gillian and Clive and now I’m REALLY jealous. Oh boo!
CJ:
I
oops.
CJ:
I LOVE the hat and shades. Such a snow bunny!
Nicole: I believe the new term all the kids are using is “Snoho” :P
And, to go along with the randomly-placed-lampost idea (which I totally think is an EXCELLENT idea -says the girl with the Narnia sleeve) you need a wardrobe. Somewhere.
There’s one in Ari’s room. It’s kinda little kid sized though, and I think it might just lead to a greenhouse.
Here Shannon, you need these guys to build the house:
https://www.thepeacock.com/Front_View_of_Rock_House.htm
(just kidding, sort-of. it’s probably one of the crazier websites i’ve run across)
And I definitely want to come see your land!
I don’t know why, but when I see the picture of Caitlin in the Welcome picture, I think of Mrs. Olsen :
https://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/images/lowrez/folgersbbq212.jpg
forgive me!? Please!
Gorgeous! Congratulations. I love the “Narnia” look! It all looks so peaceful…
Wow this is beautiful. My Fiance and I are very much looking into homesteading as well but have been VERY discouraged by land prices. This is encouraging, how do I become a canadian citizen?
Hey, don’t advertise it too much. We don’t want to draw too many people here.
I’m so jealous. You guys are living my dream.
So anyway…
I will bring a fly-rod when I come to visit (the brook) :P When I am down to my target of 77KG I will be able to fly again and you may just see me again.
I am so jealous. It is most dramatic and so beautiful…no better words than to use plain language! Best of luck!
Looks like you have done well, especially if you got it for pennies! Congrats it looks very beautiful, all the best with the development.
I found your website as I looked and looked and looked for a Canadian blog or website dedicated to Canadian homesteaders. My husband and I are soon buying in the Interior of BC and because we are middle aged would like to link up with others–younger stronger older wiser, who may want to join us for a time or maybe for their life time….We think more and more people are going to be joining forces, and talents and dreams to make their dreams come true..anyone out there know of such a place..??? or want to start one???
If so write canukpeach@yahoo.com
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