Home is where the heart is.
I fell in love with this land from the moment I first set foot on it, in the year 2000. It was rough and wild and certainly not a practical place to access, build structures, etc. But we went with that heart lure, and here we are.
The land has been good to us.
It provided the rocks, clay, and wood portion of our building materials. Along with our sweat equity, it has provided the soil to grow fruit and vegetables, supplying that part of our diet for most of the year. And it has provided food for the Spirit, which nurtures the growth of my roots.
We consider ourselves to be stewards of this land, rather than owners.
The original inhabitants on Pender Island (as settlers know it), are the W̱SÁNEĆ people of the Coast Salish First Nations. They had a small footprint and took care of this place. It is called S’DAYES in their SENĆOŦEN language, which means “wind-drying” – a reference to how they preserved the seafood they acquired while living here
We know we have benefitted from their care and lifestyle, and will always be grateful.