Agriculture-related degree - one year of agricultural sciences (BSc degree in Natural Sciences)
Apprenticeship - Equine facilitated wellness credentialing with Sandra Wallin, Chiron's Way, Maple Ridge
General farming (3 years or less) - management of own horses, goats, poultry, kitchen garden
Other experience/agricultural/business training - Education and experience as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and therapist in private practice (doctoral degree); life long horse owner raised on small farm with poultry, kitchen garden, other livestock; my husband is a registered beekeeper, a Masters prepared teacher and experienced in special education
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - therapy and wellness work on a working farm, with farm/farmers market sales of eggs, herbs, edible flowers, vegetables, coarse-filtered honey
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - have off site employment and limited savings
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - loan/grant for capital costs (raised beds, two additional coops, additional hives)
Project
Farm Name
Fox Song Farm
Farm Project Description
Preferred Arrangement
Duration of the desired agreement
ongoing
Ideal date to obtain land by
spring/summer/fall 2018
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
4-12 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
Yes - 1-3 acres ideally for ecotherapy and for horses and goats to roam/forage
Cultivable Area (acres)
3-4 acres ideally for hay, free range layers, herbs, edible flowers, vegetables
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
No
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
horse and goat-ready fenced pasture/hay meadows with access to irrigation or water source for livestock such as creek bonus would be some existing raised beds, poultry fencing, barn with electrical and plumbing
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - separate access would be ideal
Need farm buildings
Yes - barn for livestock at certain times; storage of hay/feed; storage of product (fridges)
Need fenced land
Yes - fenced areas for horses, goats, chickens; perimeter fencing a bonus
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - disk, plow, tiller attachments for our tractor; will need to add haying equipment if this is a possibility with the land
Need established water source and infrastructure
water source for livestock, irrigation for raised beds
Need on-site housing
Yes - Need small home for 2 people with office space and bathroom for clients
Production type
Vegetable - green beans, snap peas, herbs, edible flowers, squash, salad greens, chard, kale
Livestock - free range eggs
Hay & Forage - meadow mix/orchard grass hay
Orchard/Fruit - rhubarb
Mixed - kitchen garden vegetables/herbs/edible flowers, free range eggs, honey, potentially hay (depending on land)
Other - we are considering adding fiber goats for future sales of kids and fiber
Type of agriculture
Organic -
Soil needs
I don’t know
Will acquire commercial insurance
Yes - I am already required to have insurance for equine-facilitated therapy and farm insurance is included
