Almost a hundred years ago, my ancestors built a smallholding in Salaspils with the unusual name of «Mīliņi». The home established by my great-great-grandparents, of which not a single photograph remains, was demolished by the Soviet authorities; the pastures and wheat fields were turned into experimental plots for the National Botanic Garden, and apartment blocks were built in the yard between the oaks and jasmines. As compensation in the 90s, we recovered land in the rural territory of Salaspils, where we are rebuilding «Mīliņi». It is unknown what materials our ancestors used to build with, but the 21st-century version of «Mīliņi» is being created to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Although there is a gypsum mine next to the property where explosions rumble every afternoon, we decided against using plasterboard.