Agriculture-related degree - MSc in Plant Science (Agronomy), BSc in Global Resource Systems (Sustainable Agriculture)
Other experience/agricultural/business training - We are a couple, one of us has a research background in developing sustainable growing practices for grain crops and vertical vegetable production. Through this research work as well as WWOOFing, projects at UBC Farm, and working as an integrated pest management consultant, we have about 15 years of experience working with vegetables, herbs, berries, and grain crops. Between the two of us we are comfortable with small tractor, implements, small loaders, telehandler, and forklifts. Our special interests are sustainable practices, organics, vertical farming, and fungi.
Do you have a business plan?
No - Not yet. We are open to working with the landowner to participate in their existing operations, and to collaboratively develop new ideas that complement existing activities and fully utilize the land and its assets.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - We could potentially access equity through sale or refinancing of our house. Our house is in Saskatchewan and we are planning to relocate to Vancouver Island to start our farm.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - We are interested in grants, loans, joint venture partnerships, or earning equity in the farm over time through our work.
Project
Farm Name
D & L Farms
Farm Project Description
We are interested in developing a year-round operation that grows leafy greens and specialty mushrooms. To do this we would like to work with an existing farmer to integrate these crops into the activities that are already on the land over time. Our goal is to utilize the outputs of the existing operations as inputs for new activities, and vice versa. We would grow greens outdoors in raised beds in a market garden. We would sow continuously and select varieties to extend the season as long as possible. Outdoor mushroom production would be done in the spring and fall in a wooded area, and we would selectively harvest and inoculate hardwood trees on the property. Greenhouse structures or under-utilized buildings would be very useful for indoor mushroom production in the summer, and vertical greens production in the winter. Properties with existing cold storage, drying or processing rooms are also particularly of interest, to do value-added processing and market direct to consumers through a CSA/subscription model. We are also interested in developing agri-tourism opportunities on the farm in the longer term. One of us has experience woodworking and could build alternative lodging opportunities. Ideally, we would like to transition towards ownership of the farm, or work collaboratively with the existing landowners over the long term.
Preferred Arrangement
Lease -
MOU -
Transfer / Succession -
Business Partnership -
Other - Sale of land could be of interest if it could be done over a longer period of time
Duration of the desired agreement
5+ years
Ideal date to obtain land by
January 1, 2022
Participant in BC Land Matching Program
Yes
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
10+ acres
Wooded Area (acres)
Yes - 5+ acres
Cultivable Area (acres)
3+ acres
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - Let's discuss! It will depend on what is available
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes
Need farm buildings
Yes - We would prefer to have existing structures available, or the ability to build them
Need fenced land
Yes - Deer fencing ideal
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - We would like to make an arrangement with the landowner to access tractor and implements if they are available.
Need established water source and infrastructure
We will require access to water for irrigation. We will use water conservation techniques to minimize the volume needed.
Need on-site housing
Yes - Housing on the property for the two of us would be ideal if possible
Production type
Vegetable - Leafy greens, herbs
Grain - We could potentially integrate specialty grains and legumes as rotational crops in the medium to longer term
