Get the chaos out of your head!
Welcome to this evolving storehouse. I’m here, building a resource library to help you manage the challenging mess of raising kids, modern homesteading and growing an off-grid business without losing your mind in the process!
From a mother who has spent over a decade navigating the steep learning curves of off-grid living; raising children whose primary classroom is the forest floor; and building an off-grid business from the soil up. These are the insights I’ve discovered along the way…
Hi! I’m Kirsteen 🙂
Twelve years ago, we stood on a wild hillside in the Marlborough Sounds with a toddler, a caravan, and a vision that felt dangerously out of reach. The ‘dream’ of self-reliance met the brutal reality of untamed bush, no power, and a mental fog of “how do we actually do this?” We weren’t just starting a project; we were confronted with the noise of a thousand moving parts—homesteading, parenting, and surviving—with no roadmap to follow.
We had to treat our life like a design problem. We’ve learnt that the secret to thriving isn’t just hard work and grit—it’s structure and having a plan! Alongside my husband Ryan, we’ve combined our skills to build every system from scratch. We’ve ‘nearly’ mastered the art of unpacking the chaos, turning a wild hillside into a functional family home, a thriving forest classroom for our two children, and a profitable market garden business.
I started The Off Grid Canvas to help you clear the clutter from your own head, and to also work through my own! Whether you’re juggling solar arrays, homeschooling, or running a remote business, I’m here to help you unpack the ‘how’ so you can focus on the ‘why.’ Follow my journey as I share practical insights and honest truths from our decade in the bush. If you’re about to embark on your off-grid life, it’s a blank canvas—let’s stop the overwhelm so you can start creating your masterpiece.