Well, we did it!  After years of passively searching and over six months of actively seeking property in northern Minnesota, we closed on 40 beautiful acres of wooded high ground not far from Canada.  Yup.  It’s cold.  It’s REALLY cold sometimes.  Yup, there’s a lot of snow.  But it’s our cold, snowy dreamland now.

It will be a pretty big process.  There is an old logging path so that job is already done, but there is no well or septic, and no dwelling at all.  There is a natural clearing we plan to use as the homesite, but it will probably be at least late April, maybe later until we can start that preparation.

And then there is the garden.  So far we have seen A LOT of deer and snowshoe rabbit tracks and some tracks that look like moose tracks.  Plus lots of field mice.  So a tall gated garden lined with chicken wire will be necessary.  We also know that composting would not be wise (bear yummies).

Some of my favorites from years ago are probably going to make a comeback.  It sounds like bearded iris, daffodils, and grape hyacinth are deer resistant.  I know from experience they naturalize beautifully!

We never dreamed we’d do something this big.  Well, my husband hoped …  We still plan to keep our townhome for at least the foreseeable future, but who knows.  God may have plans we could never imagine!  Can’t wait to share this wild adventure between our townhome and the woods with you all!

Please share any zone 3 woodland gardening expertise that may be helpful ☺