Regenerative Farming on an Old Log Homestead Step 1: Restoring the Pasture on my Sister's Homestead

After decades of decline, this old homestead is in need of restoration and regeneration so that it can once again provide sustenance to a family and a community. Step 1 includes building up organic material in sections of the pasture and converting the remainder from sedges, blackberries and ferns to a biodiverse blend of grasses and forbes that are nutritious for cattle, goats and fowl.
Welcome to our self reliant homesteads! Join us, Shawn and Dervla, as we create a resilient, abundant and sustainable ecosystem that feeds our families from the land in Ontario Canada. Using permaculture and regenerative farming as our guide, we strive to become independent in water, food, energy and shelter, focused on beauty in form and efficiency in function.
Our Self Reliance is a life of compromise between my two daughters and my wife's preference for culture, comfort and formality, and I, with my love of chaotic and beautiful but challenging and often uncomfortable wilderness living. The resulting homesteads are an eclectic blend of modern with traditional, whimsical with practical, formal with informal, civilized with rustic.
Over the last five years, my wife and I designed and built our dream homesteads from scratch with very little outside help; from undeveloped, declining forest to a comfortable home and cabin with a prolific edible landscape for people and wildlife equally. For many years, we have strived to lessen our burden on others by taking full responsibility for the health and welfare of our immediate family while building a strong community around us, both online and offline. Now that the infrastructure is in place here, we will be spending more time working cooperatively with community members, including extended family, to collectively become more resilient while living a deeply satisfying and meaningful life. Thank you for being part of that!

#homestead #sustainability #farming #offgrid #selfreliance

[wu]

Families working together. Beautiful..can't wait to see how sisters farm works out. Thks

[jennstuart]

I am enjoying this new branch of your self-reliance program! Thanks so much for documenting and explaining the journey.

[anniebelle]

Would love to have your sister give us a tour of that lovely old farmhouse and barns.

[BillGornicki-qjmk]

You sir are on the right track. I envy the opportunities you’ve created with and for your family. You have a full and rich life.

[marygordon]

Hey Shawn, with your knowledge that beautiful property will be just fine and thanks for sharing! 👍👍👍🍀🌿🌱🤩🤩🤩💯💯💯

[xltranger]

This is awesome that you’re going to have a family operation. Love your pup. It’s great to have a good dog as a family member.

[marianfrances]

That is a beautiful old farm! Awesome family cattle adventure and Cali gets to play with her cousin. Good luck with it all. 👍😎🇨🇦🐾🐂

[milkweeddreams]

Awesome...now I'm missing my lil' 6 acre homestead, but retirement in Florida keeps me busy in the gardens all year long in my mini-food forest...this had always been a dream until my husband passed...now alone I still manage on a tiny scale in a huge city...I'll live my dreams through your family saga...take care and be well...!

[vintagemoss]

Cali is living her best life ❤ This is great. Such a beautiful property. I’m looking forward to seeing what will be made of it. Congratulations to your sister

[Theboysselfreliance]

I am following my friend from Vietnam hello and good health to everyone

[freelanceminddrift]

Thank you for showing us how IT CAN BE DONE. Your families future for generations to come.
Spreading your subs through your channels is a smart way to ensure your income too. Thank you again.

[earlshannon]

Good for you guys Shawn I started prepping in 1978 I was 22yrs old and I'm still at it! I especially believe this is important we have no idea what they're putting in our food now a days. Looking forward to watching more videos

[jilbertb]

Goats milk is a great addition to homemade soap!
❤Callie❤

[Victorialands]

Wow, your sisters place is beautiful. I think thats such a wonderful thing that you are both close and can homestead together. Just like the way things were back when life was simpler and healthier. The best of luck to you all on your future endeavours.

[lindapetersen]

SHAWN & OUR CALI !!! Great to see you again !!! Rewatched the building a firewood storage shed again !!! This is going to be helping on out here for goats & Cattle !!! Hope you get some cows for Milking with several families it will give you butter ice cream milk cheese to be made with all of it !!! You will be able to make Greek Yogurt also with it that is like sour cream for things like chili soups or tacos if you want those !!! I have made Greek Yogurt with store bought milk it turns on out great also with peppers that I have harvest as the starter it is found on line for you !!!

[stevenkukene]

You and your Family are such an inspiration. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the clan. Thanks for sharing!

[marla]

glad to see you on your new channel, will watch faithfully of course

[LiveAlohaOhana]

Good morning Shawn and Cali 🌲Really cool farm ❤This is so awesome youre getting this put together! 💪 🐄 🐮 🐖 🐑 🐏 🐐

[danieloliver]

This will be an awesome transformation of the farm land! 💪🏻🐕

[haroldfoust]

Good morning, glad you showed it. July 29th.