As we spent more time on the land, reality caught up with us.
This wasn’t just a place to enjoy.
It needed care.
The Fire Risk
In this region, fire prevention is not optional.
It’s mandatory.
Trees must be trimmed:
- up to around 2 meters from the ground
- or about one-third of their height
The goal is simple:
limit the risk of wildfire spreading.
So we started cutting.
The Unexpected Problem
Very quickly, we were surrounded by piles of branches.
Huge ones.
More than we expected.
Burning them was not an option:
- not allowed
- not safe
- not aligned with what we wanted to do
So we had to find another solution.
Building a Dry Hedge
Instead of removing the material, we reused it.
We built a dry hedge — a loose structure made of stacked branches and organic matter.
Simple. Efficient. Alive.
It serves multiple purposes:
- natural wind protection
- shelter for insects and small animals
- gradual soil improvement
- first step toward a self-sustaining ecosystem
Letting Nature Take Over
Since then, we’ve been feeding it regularly:
- green waste
- cuttings
- organic leftovers
And slowly, something is happening.
Life is returning.
We don’t always see it —
but we notice the signs.
Our dog does too.
Suddenly alert, focused on something moving inside the branches.
That’s when we know:
it’s working.
Shaping Without Forcing
This phase changed how we see the land.
It’s not about cleaning everything.
It’s about guiding.
Helping natural systems reappear.
Working with what’s already there —
instead of against it.
This is just the beginning.
We are still waiting for the land to officially become ours.
But step by step,
it’s already becoming alive again.
← Previous step:
Building Without Buying
← Start from the beginning:
The Day Everything Began
