Bear Necessities – Bread, Barters & Breaks

A community hub built from resilience, love, and prairie grit.

I came to Saskatchewan from Ontario with nothing but determination and three little girls who depended on me. I had to rebuild my life from the ground up — learning to farm, drive heavy machinery, survive exhaustion, push through PTSD, and figure out how to stand on my own two feet again. It hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has shaped me into the woman I am today.

My daughters kept me going through weather, longer hours than most men haul and learning to wield power tools to our benefit. I built a small business doing renovations and redecorating for people but my pull is towards our land and my love is, truly, for the farm. My girls are no different.

- My oldest dreams of farming.

- My middle daughter wants to bake.

- My youngest is an artist with a heart for animals and a passion for the outdoors, in all weather.

So I decided to build something for them — not for an employer, not for someone else’s dream, but for our family and for our community. It means so much to give back to the people and the place that took us in and helped mend my broken soul, making me whole again. Something that gives my daughters a future rooted in purpose, creativity, and connection with others. I hope they keep these things long beyond my years with them.

Bear Necessities – A place for Bread, Barters & Breaks will be a one‑of‑a‑kind farmstand and community hub offering:

- Fresh produce, eggs, meats, flowers

- Baked goods and one daily hot lunch special, with sandwich options!

- Coffee, tea, handmade candles and personal care products

- Glass art, Indigenous art, textiles, and handmade crafts

- A trading post where neighbours can barter goods and services!!

- A warm, welcoming space for meet‑ups, workshops, and community connection

To make this dream real, we need help securing a building that can serve as our starting point — something with:

- A functional kitchen

- Running water and power

- Space for a few patrons at a time

- Room to grow

My eventual dream is to turn that small base into a pumpkin patch, event venue, and future community centre where everything for a major function can be found and done in one spot! I have the land. I've even got it fenced! Now I just need help holding onto it and making a go of something bigger where we are. Anything helps.

This isn’t just a business — it’s a give‑back project.

If Bear Necessities becomes a reality, I will launch Barter Bears, a women‑led volunteer circle where once a month we:

- Share a meal

- Choose someone from the barter book

- Clean their home, tackle a yard project, or help with a task that requires many hands

Because community care is powerful- and rural women, especially, are absolutely unstoppable when we work together.

We also plan to create:

- A community garden where anyone can gather free produce

- A free library inside the farmstand. As a librarian prior to this, it's extremely important that we pair with the local branch to encourage sign ups, patronage and classes attented

- A barter book for people who need goods or services when money is tight, trade what you've got or can do for what you need!

- Local artisan showcases

- Seasonal events, workshops, and gatherings

- A future pumpkin patch and event space for weddings, celebrations, and community nights

This is about building something that feeds people, connects people, and gives people dignity. I know first-hand how it feels when you're alone, struggling and stressed. I want to help others alleviate the feelings I have struggled with while building on my own for years.

It’s about creating a place where my girls can grow into their dreams.

It’s about giving back to the community that helped me rebuild my life.

It’s about creating a hub where neighbours can gather, trade, learn, and belong.

Help us build Bear Necessities — a homegrown hub for bread, barters, and breaks.

Every dollar plants a seed.

Every share spreads the word.

Every act of support helps us build a future for my daughters and a gathering place for our community.

Thank you for believing in us and helping me do something for everyone!