By The Green Parent
23rd August 2023
“When our fourth son, Eivin, was born, we felt a call to change direction. We dreamed of an environment where we could learn life skills of building and making things, to grow and preserve food, nurture the soil, and appreciate wildlife. We sold our home and now live in Lithuania in a wooden cabin surrounded by woods and a river.
A typical day includes feeding and caring for our animals, tending to our kitchen garden, and preparing firewood, and tackling bigger projects together. We forage for plants and herbs, to use medicinally and for making soaps, creams and tinctures.
It took our sons time to embrace all of the changes. They appreciate having space and opportunities, but they miss things back in UK, like watching football in a stadium! However, they have learned to appreciate and care for the natural world. They are in tune with the seasons, and learn first-hand where their food comes from.
Some of my most joyous moments have been sapping a birch and tasting that refreshing drink, Eivin’s face when he picked up the first egg laid by our hens, going swimming in the lake, walking barefoot on the softest carpet of white flowers which cover the forest floor in spring.
We would encourage other families to make the leap! It will be very stressful, intense, scary and it will stretch you. But you will grow beyond what you thought possible and be wildly rewarded.”
