Who is behind this
One trade, three materials
We are a collection of community developers, change managers and restoration carpenters who work together to create thoughtful plans for moving your home, your business, or your community forward into the ecosystem of your dreams.
That is the whole method. We assess before we act. Whether the material is a timber frame, a team or a printed page, the work begins with listening, measuring and reading what is already there.
It is why renovation, change and community live under one roof. They are one trade practised in three materials, and each one teaches the others how to pay attention.
Our working belief is simple: affordability, ecological care, and design sense are the same decision. Keeping what is sound, repairing what is not and wasting nothing is cheaper for your wallet and kinder to the ground and energywe share.
How we work
Assessment comes first
Every engagement follows the same sequence, whatever the discipline. The assessment is paid, standalone work, and you can take it without commissioning anything further.
01
Walkthrough and listening
We visit, look closely and listen to how you use the place. No quote is issued at this stage.
02
Written assessment
A clear report on what needs work and what should be left alone, with reasons.
03
Scoped plan
Costs, materials and a programme set out in plain terms, so you know what happens and when.
04
Work and handover
Our crew does the work, then we hand over and return for a check-in after one year.
Community Consulting
Change Your Board Can Actually Carry
We work with co-ops, nonprofits and municipal departments across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, helping them steer organisational change with clear heads and honest paperwork.
A typical engagement opens with a listening round with staff and members, moves to a written findings note, and ends with a plan your board can carry. Day rates and multi-month retainers are both available.
Organisational change
Strategic planning
Board facilitation
Governance reviews
The Broad Board
Essays from the practice
The Broad Board is our editorial arm. Essays and interviews on cooperative community life, housing, repair culture and local governance, published every fortnight.
A Broad Board podcast is planned for 2026. Until then, the latest posts are listed below.
Practical Questions
Answers Before You Ask
Why do you insist on an assessment first?
Every honest quote starts with knowing the house. An assessment from $450 for a single dwelling covers moisture, structure, energy and access, so the plan and the price rest on facts rather than guesses.
What areas do you serve?
We work across HRM and the South Shore, and make a monthly round to the Fundy side of New Brunswick. Outside those areas, ask us anyway and we will tell you plainly whether we can help.
What makes a renovation ecologically responsible?
We repair before we replace, reuse sound materials, choose low-toxicity products and keep waste out of landfill. The best saving is the wall we did not need to tear out.
How do you keep work affordable?
We scope tightly, phase the work so you can pace the spending, and share the ordering of materials with you. Nothing is added without your agreement, and every change is priced in writing.
Do you take on small jobs?
Yes. A stuck door, a rotten sill or a bathroom fan is worth doing well. Small jobs are often how we meet people we later work with on larger projects.
Can an organisation hire you for facilitation only?
Yes. Community groups, co-ops and councils can bring us in to run planning sessions and workshops without any building work attached.
Who writes the Broad Board, and can I pitch?
Our own crew and neighbours write it, and we welcome pitches. Send a short outline of your idea and what readers would learn from it.
When is the podcast coming?
We are recording the first season now and will announce the launch on the Broad Board first. Early episodes cover repair, money and the craft of finishing.
Start a conversation
Tell us what you need
Say which practice you are writing about: renovation, consulting or the Broad Board. Add the property or organisation, and your rough timeframe. Assessments are booked a few weeks out; the first conversation is free.