We are a farming couple in our early 40s looking for a long-term registered farm or land lease opportunity on the Sunshine Coast. We will need a small home or cabin/cottage/mobile home for rent on the property, in a rural setting, preferably in the Madiera Park, Garden Bay or Pender Harbour area, or anywhere north of Sechelt. We are very clean, quiet and organized by nature, and we both come from very diverse farming backgrounds (goats, chickens, vegetable market gardening, horses, and dairy cows).
Our intention is to raise a small herd of heritage breed goats and sheep, for preservation, for invasive vegetation management and fire-line maintenance and for meat, fibre and dairy. We would like to establish a CSA or herd-share program in the local community. We are former hobby farmers from a seven acre farm in Kelowna and have relocated to the coast since early spring. We have established excellent local references (landlord and off-farm employment ) in our short time here, and have additional professional and personal references as well.
We have researched farm and ALR land availabilities on the Sunshine Coast and although there is a healthy percentage of ALR land here (relative to population), less than 60% of it is currently being farmed. We are searching for 2-3 acres, preferably fenced already, but we will build out-buildings and fencing on the farm property as needed.
Land Seeker Details
Training
Farm management (3 years+) - Seven acre mixed (livestock, poultry and organic vegetables) farm in SE Kelowna.
General farming (3 years+) - Dairy Farming
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - Currently being drafted for CALA loan application. Meat, and dairy goats with dual use for land management contracts.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - Savings
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - Farming grant and or/loan under CALA.
Project
Farm Name
Full Circle Farm
Farm Project Description
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Duration of the desired agreement
2-5yrs
Ideal date to obtain land by
March 2018
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
2-10 acres.
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
3-5 acres
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
No
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Prefer fenced, with on farm housing as we intend to raise livestock (sheep and goats). State of cultivable area n/a as we can use our livestock (goats) to clear the land.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - We will require on farm housing. If landowner lives on farm we would prefer to live in separate, detached housing for privacy,
Need farm buildings
Yes - Any out buildings will help, but we can build our own.
Need fenced land
Yes - Preferred. We can cross fence ourselves to suit our rotational grazing plan.
Need farm machinery and tools
No
Need established water source and infrastructure
Volume not important, but we do require a reliable water source for watering our livestock on farm.
Need on-site housing
Yes - On farm housing required as we intend to raise livestock.
Production type
Livestock - Goats, Sheep
Mixed - We are interested in maintaining a small organic vegetable plot and to grow lavender as well.
