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This is a work in progress! An aspirational page, for a real project I am working on, that is still in the planning phase. Details may change as I learn.
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A proposed land-based education and community gathering place in Big Harbour, where people can go to learn resilience skills and the value of the forest ecosystem to host events related to:
Cape Breton is a place of extraordinary natural beauty, and some environmental challenges. Indiscriminate forestry practices, food insecurity, and increasing drought are reshaping life here, while declining pollinator populations threaten the agricultural ecosystems many depend on. At the same time, many local spaces are oriented toward tourism, leaving full-time residents with fewer places to simply gather, learn, and belong.
Education is one of the most powerful tools we have. Much of the destructive forestry happening across Cape Breton stems not from malice but from a lack of accessible knowledge about sustainable alternatives and the benefits of an intact ecosystem. A dedicated space for environmental learning, surrounded by living examples of permaculture, food forests, and ecological stewardship, makes that knowledge tangible and local.
There is also something that cannot be measured in policy reports: the benefit of simply being in nature. Time in natural settings restores attention, reduces stress, and reconnects us to something larger than ourselves. When people feel that connection, they tend to care for the land differently. A gathering space fostering connection to nature is part of how communities find their footing in uncertain times.
Communities across Cape Breton are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and connection to flourish in the face of a changing world — growing food, tending forests, and caring for one another.
With deep respect for the earth and all beings, we build resilience and strengthen the relationship between people and land by providing hands-on learning, community gathering, and contemplative space to connect to nature, support ecological health, and build food security across Cape Breton.
Baddeck in Winter
The milestone will be a multi-use community hall with a kitchen to support events, surrounded by forest trails and landscaping including permaculture food forest, and sustainably managed forest that can be used for educational and social events.
Activities hosted in the hall will include both educational and contemplative events organized by the cooperative; and events organized by the community for workshops and gatherings.
Working up to a larger gathering space, we will start with a small cabin using bentwood construction method, which is an affordable building method that uses mostly trees from the land and local materials.
Other possibilities to support the mission, and generate funding for the project include:
This is Long Cove Studio, by Richard Kroeker. An example of the style of bentwood construction we plan to use for this project.
2026
create master plan
find collaborators for worker-owned cooperative
start publicity
put in driveway
build first bentwood cabin
Aspirations for environmental, practical, and contemplative events*.*
FOREST STEWARDSHIP & NATURE RESERVE
We are situated within a mixed forest ecosystem and close to the Bras D’Or Biosphere reserve, and hundreds of acres of Nova Scotia Nature Trust conservation land. The surrounding forests have patches of un-cut forest and a variety of bird species, making it an excellent place to learn about our native forests.
DEVELOPMENT OF TRAILS
Establishment of the walking trails on the land is a priority in these early stages, allowing for educational and healing forest walks such as
TRADITIONAL SKILLS
CONTEMPLATION & COMPASSION
Since the root cause of many environmental problems can be traced to problematic human behaviour, programs that evoke mindfulness, awareness and inner balance will always be a part of the programming here. Connection to nature supports well-being and contemplative practices.
GREEN BUILDING TECHNIQUES
Buildings will be build using natural materials, and off-grid where possible, enabling the place to double as a demonstration site of alternative building methods.
PERMACULTURE
Permaculture is a method of food production inspired by forest ecology that is much less damaging to the environment than monoculture.
POLLINATORS
The majority of our food crops rely on pollinators, which are threatened by agricultural and gardening practices that damage their habitat. We maintain a pollinator garden, and educate about how to keep their population healthy.
SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS
Grounded in non-sectarian earth-based spirituality, we host community celebrations on the solstices and other seasonally significant days.
COMMUNITY-LED EVENTS
The space can also be used as a venue for other groups for classes and workshops such as:
KARMA SAMADHI LING