We didn’t start with ducks. Like many new homesteaders, we thought we’d raise chickens—but as time went on, we realized chickens weren’t the right fit for us. Between the predators, the noise, and the behavior we saw with our young kids around, it just didn’t feel like the right match for our homestead.

Maple syrup has long been a staple of North American life, with deep roots in Indigenous traditions and centuries of adaptation by European settlers. While modern production methods often rely on evaporators, pipelines, and high-tech filtration, we still embrace an older, time-honored method—boiling sap over an open fire and carefully condensing it into golden syrup.

Beeswax has been treasured by humans for thousands of years. Produced by honeybees to build their hives, this natural substance has been used far beyond its role in honey production. Historical records show that:

Five lessons we learned in our second year of sugar making.

Our first adventure year in making maple syrup.

What are the benefits of beeswax candles?

How did we get here? Our journey to owning land and building our dream.