Is acreage living right for you?

Growing up on acreage in Surrey shaped many of my happiest memories. Today, I own acreage on Pender Island, so I’ve experienced this lifestyle both as a child and as an adult.

Because of that, I often find myself drawn to acreage properties. I understand the appeal. I also understand the realities that come with owning them.

If you’ve ever found yourself dreaming about more space, more privacy, and a little more room to breathe, acreage living may be worth exploring. But before making the leap, it’s important to understand both the rewards and the responsibilities that come with it.

What People Love About Acreage Living

For many people, the biggest draw is the space and privacy.

Growing up, we had neighbours, but they weren’t looking into our backyard. Noise was rarely an issue, and there was a sense of peace that’s difficult to recreate in a traditional neighbourhood. You could spend an entire afternoon outside surrounded by gardens, birds, mature trees, and wildlife without seeing another person.

My parents created a beautiful property with extensive flower gardens, a vegetable garden, a greenhouse, and a water feature. There was always something blooming, something growing, and plenty of birds and squirrels to enjoy. It felt like living in our own private park.

As a horse-loving kid, one of the greatest gifts of acreage living was being able to have horses. It’s a part of my childhood that I will always treasure.

The space also allowed us to create experiences that simply wouldn’t have been possible on a typical residential lot. We hosted birthday parties with pony rides, giant slip-and-slides, and enough room for family and friends to spread out and enjoy themselves. We even hosted a large family reunion where relatives were able to gather and stay on the property.

At one point, my dad was able to operate part of his business from the property before eventually moving it to an industrial location. It showed me how versatile acreage living can be when zoning and regulations permit.

Whether it’s gardening, keeping animals, hosting family gatherings, building workshops, or simply enjoying the privacy, acreage gives people the opportunity to create a lifestyle that’s often difficult to achieve in more densely populated areas.

Things to Consider

As wonderful as acreage can be, there is another side to the story.

The first consideration is often cost. Particularly on the mainland, acreage properties can require a significantly larger investment than a traditional residential home.

Then there is the maintenance.

Large lawns need mowing. Gardens need weeding, watering, pruning, and seasonal cleanup. Trees require maintenance. Fences need repairs. Driveways need attention.

On our Pender Island property, every spring there seems to be a moment when I walk outside, look around, and think, “Oh my goodness, where do we even start?”

The gardens need attention. The lawns are growing. The trees need pruning. Winter debris needs to be cleaned up. The project list can feel endless.

Then you roll up your sleeves and start working.

If you’re someone who enjoys being outdoors and caring for a property, that work can actually become part of the lifestyle. If you’re only interested in the beauty of acreage without the responsibility, it can quickly become overwhelming.

We also have apple trees on our property. Some of the apples go to Twin Island Cider www.twinislandcider.com, and in return they help by pruning and maintaining the apple trees, which is a tremendous benefit. We still have to deal with the fallen fruit, however, and during apple season there are plenty of trips to the compost pile. The good news is that we receive quite a bit of cider in return, so it’s not a bad arrangement. It’s one of those little acreage realities that you don’t necessarily think about when you first buy a property.

Many acreage owners also need to consider systems that suburban homeowners may never think about.

For example, when we purchased our property on Pender Island, we eventually replaced an aging septic system as part of our long-term plans for the property. It was a significant investment and a reminder that rural properties often come with infrastructure costs that buyers should understand before purchasing.

Another consideration is drainage. When we purchased our property, we bought it during the spring and summer when everything looked beautiful. What we didn’t fully appreciate was what happened during the winter months.

During our first winter, parts of the property became incredibly wet. At times, it felt like there were small streams running through sections of the yard, and water would collect in areas we hadn’t anticipated. In particularly heavy rain, it would even affect parts of the driveway.

Over the years, we’ve made significant improvements, including installing additional drainage, which has helped tremendously. It has improved the situation dramatically, but it was a valuable reminder that acreage properties can change significantly from season to season. It’s always worth asking questions about drainage, water management, and how a property performs throughout the year.

Depending on the property, you may also have a private well, water testing requirements, outbuildings, fencing, wildlife concerns, or internet and utility considerations.

Over the years, we’ve dealt with deer eating plants, raccoons, rats, watering challenges, and finding help when we’re unable to be on the island regularly. These aren’t deal-breakers, but they are realities of acreage ownership.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Before purchasing acreage, I think it’s worth asking yourself a few honest questions:

• Do I enjoy outdoor projects and property maintenance?
• Am I comfortable learning about septic systems, wells, and other rural property considerations?
• Do I want privacy and space enough to justify the extra work?
• Do I have the time—or budget—to maintain a larger property?
• Am I attracted to the lifestyle itself, or simply the idea of it?

The answers will be different for everyone.

My Take

Personally, I will probably always gravitate toward acreage.

Some of my best childhood memories happened on acreage. Today, some of my favourite moments happen on our property on Pender Island.

I love the privacy. I love the connection to nature. I love the gardens, the wildlife, and the ability to create a property that reflects your lifestyle and values.

But acreage living isn’t just about enjoying the view from the deck. It’s about caring for the land, maintaining the property, and accepting that there will always be another project waiting.

There have honestly been moments when I’ve stood outside in the spring, looked around at everything that needed to be done, and wondered where to start. A few hours later, I’m usually dirty, tired, and completely happy to be there.

Acreage gave me horses, family gatherings, unforgettable childhood memories, and a lifelong appreciation for outdoor living.

For the right person, it’s absolutely worth it.

The key is making sure you’re buying the lifestyle—not just the dream.