Why we built Haven
The idea arrived during maternity leave with our youngest. Between a newborn, work, and everything else that running a house involves, I (Dana) realised how many of our homesteading projects had quietly slipped through the cracks. The garden, cooking from scratch, the things we’d half-started and lost track of. When I say quietly slipped through the cracks, I mean loudly slid right off the countertop and smashed on the floor. I wanted one place to hold all of it so I didn’t have to carry the mental load of trying to remember it all, and so getting back into it felt possible instead of like starting from square one.
Nothing out there fit the way we actually live, at least not in one place. I’ve tried keeping paper journals, spreadsheets, and apps. In my postpartum haze, I dreamed up something that did. Then, when things started getting less foggy, we built it. Haven keeps our projects, our pantry, and our garden in one place, so nothing falls through the cracks when life gets hectic. As it came together, I knew I couldn’t be the only person trying to homestead around a busy modern life.
The family behind it
Garrett is an American who works full-time and I’m a New Zealander that has called Australia home for the last thirteen years. I have been working for myself as a communication coach for the last few years, but with a newborn, I knew that continuing my business the way it had been built wasn’t going to work and have turned that creative entrepreneur energy towards Haven. Between us we have three kids who are learning right alongside us — hand crafts, the thrill of a good second-hand find, and a real appreciation for the old-fashioned way of doing things while also navigating the ever growing presence of screens in our day to day life.
I’m the maker of the family. Over the years I’ve taught myself candle and soap making, making salves and balms, knitting and crochet, spinning and sewing. You know, the kind of skills that are half hobby and take up all the room in the house, and half self-sufficiency so we have an excuse to justify the amount of room my supplies take up. While sometimes it feels like we’re starting again, those are skills that I’ve spent years learning and don’t just disappear because I let the garden go to seed for a season.
Living it now, not “one day”
We’ve always loved tiny houses, debt-free living, and being close to nature. The plan is to eventually move off-grid onto our own land one day. Until then, we’re saving for our acreage and growing what we can in a rented backyard in an expensive city, one imperfect project at a time.
What we didn’t want was for it to stay a “one day it’ll be nice” dream, because that’s a trap that is so easy to fall into. We’re living it now, as best we can, and using this season to learn the skills we’ll need later. We’re hoping that will help us to avoid the huge overwhelming learning curve when the land finally comes. That’s exactly why Haven has quests and a skill tree: a path to keep learning and growing, one skill at a time, wherever you’re starting from.
Why we’re sharing it
We built Haven for ourselves, but we always meant to share it. Wherever you are — a windowsill, a rented backyard, or acres of your own — we hope it helps you grow, the same way it’s helping us.
Our story isn’t the polished middle, where everything’s established and photogenic. We’re near the beginning, trying to be honest about where we are and what we’re learning along the way. The posts we share aren’t because we’re experts trying to tell you how to do anything, they’re reminding you that we all start somewhere and making mistakes is half of the fun. If that sounds like you, welcome to the chaos. We can’t wait to see what you build!
— Dana, Garrett & the kids