Thank you to everyone for your helpful advice on my previous blog post!
I've come to the conclusion that The Things Network is still relatively new and not quite widespread enough to just connect to it from anywhere.
So, as is often the case in the world of tech, I need to make things work with the technology available to me at this time.
That leaves me three options:
1. Set up my own The Things Network Gateway
2. Set up a local point-to-point Lora connection from the sensor to an internet connected board
3. Use something other than Lora
Given that options 1 and 2 require a second Lora enabled board, I will have to choose what's behind door number 3! 
I think the most logical option for my project is to just use the WiFi capability that is already built into the Nicla Vision board. Most of my backyard has WiFi coverage, so that should work well.
Unfortunately it does not lend itself well to deployment into the field, but if that ends up being a reality we will have to factor in the cost of possibly setting up a new The Things Network Lora gateway at that time.
I wonder how far that little WiFi antenna is going to be effective at 
