"In rural-speak: head out of the city on 22nd Street and stay on Highway 14 for about 10km."

This is how Katie Suek started an email this summer when we were coordinating this podcast episode. Despite the fact that it's a short drive from Saskatoon to the Suek acreage, as soon as you step foot on Restoring 71, you do feel like you are light years away from the city.

In 2015, the Suek family purchased an 80-acre acreage west of Saskatoon as a way to reconnect with nature and offer their children the opportunity to spark a love for the natural world. They used nine of those acres to build a home and left the remaining 71 in the hands of mother nature. 

Today, those 71 acres have become an incredible conservation and restoration project, and the really cool thing is that Katie wants you to come visit her backyard for free! Since the Covid-19 pandemic started in March of 2020, Restoring 71 has hosted hundreds of visitors, including elementary and high school students, seeking to connect with nature in a meaningful way. 

What I love about Katie's story is that she is encouraging people to come visit her home; to visit Restoring 71; to learn about conservation and simply enjoy a space that nature has reclaimed after generations of farming. 

I feel very lucky to have spent a beautiful August evening with Katie and her husband, Aaron, exploring the trails of Restoring 71 and hearing their passion for this unique project. I think what they are doing with Restoring 71 makes them community leaders when it comes to understanding our relationship with nature, and I hope you are able to experience their 71 acres and soak in its beauty. 

A big thank youto Saskatoon's Escape Sports for supporting this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for outdoor gear in Saskatoon, be sure to check out Escape Sports. 

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast. If you like what you hear, don't forget to tell a friend and leave a 5-star podcast review. 

Follow and listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your podcasts. 

Thank you so much for listening and I hope you enjoy your time at Restoring 71.

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis