200 feet from an off-grid cabin where they do their laundry and cleaning, a family of four is sitting outside their tent on a wooden platform.
The cabin in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, overlooks the stream that gave rise to it and is powered by solar and hydroelectric.
Except for the sound of water splashing against rocks, nocturnal nature waking up, and thousands of stars twinkling above them, there is no light pollution or noise.
This is the ideal opportunity for Jessica MacKenzie and her family of four to decompress and re-connect while getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life. "Watching my children autonomously explore the outdoors brings tears to my eyes. There are no laptops, phones, or televisions. Instead, the kids are happy and appreciating the beauty of nature," says MacKenzie, a lifelong camper.
Helping my children develop a deeper love, appreciation, and understanding of nature is one of my top priorities.Her father constructed the off-grid cabin and tent platform over ten years ago. It runs on rainwater, creek water, and electricity generated by a tiny hydroelectric dam.