At Home in Nature: A Life of Unknown Mountains and Deep Wilderness

by Rob Wood

Overview

The compelling story of one family’s life among the rugged landscapes of the Coast Mountains, converting youthful ideals, raw land and a passion for the outdoors into a practical off-grid homestead.

Rob Wood grew up in a village on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, where he eventually developed an obsessive preoccupation with rock climbing. After studying architecture for five years at the Architectural Association School in London, England, and becoming an architect, he made his way to Montreal, then to Winnipeg and ended up in Calgary. During his time in Canada, Rob became a pioneer of ice climbing and posted numerous first ascents in the Rockies.

Eventually, life in corporate Alberta proved unfulfilling and Rob realized that he needed to find a place where he could reconnect with nature, which brought him to the remote reaches of Canada’s West Coast. Settling on Maurelle Island, he and his wife built an off-the-grid homestead and focused on alternative communities and developing a small house-design practice specializing in organic and wholesome building techniques.

At Home in Nature is a gentle and philosophical memoir that focuses on living a life deeply rooted in the natural world, where citizens are connected to the planet and individuals work together to help, enhance and make the world a better – and sustainable – place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771602501
Publisher:	Heritage Group Distribution
Publication date:	11/10/2017
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Rob Wood has been a professional architect, pioneering mountaineer, organizer of ocean-to-alpine expeditions, instructor of wilderness self reliance at Strathcona Park Lodge and a founding member of the Friends of Strathcona Park, a protest group that helped stop logging and mining in the park. He and his wife, Laurie, still live on Maurelle Island, British Columbia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 9

Introduction 11

1 Leaving the Old Country 19

2 Allegiance to Nature 33

3 Settling Down 47

4 Cosmic Shack 63

5 Back to the Land Community 75

6 Island Schooling 91

7 Domestic Animals 99

8 Wild Animals 121

9 Fiordland Boat 133

10 Mystery Mountain 145

11 Deep Wilderness 159

12 Cancer 169

13 Aorta Attack 181

14 Outer Islands Community 195

15 Off-Grid Homestead 203

16 Organic House 221

17 Heavy Weather 231

18 Flight of the Imagination 247

19 Legend of Kayak Bill 257

20 Whirlpools in the Tide 267