Farm management (3 years+) - Owner/operator of West Coast Garlic - 6 years
General farming (3 years+) - 15 years of certified organic farming experience in various settings and systems
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - have been in operation for 15 years and have a very good idea of this without an actual written business plan
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - Savings and operating capital of my current business
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
No
Project
Farm Name
West Coast Garlic
Farm Project Description
My project goal is to continue growing and preserving the 170 strains of garlic that I currently work with and grow. This also includes breeding new strains of garlic. Ideally I will commit up to 1 acre to garlic production.
Following good crop rotation practices, garlic needs 3 years before being planted back in the same spot. I am planning on rotating with potatoes, squash, beans, winter veggies and cover crops. With this and mulching I hope to feed and grow the soil while lowering weed pressure in the field.
A few other ideas I would like to incorporate are:
- Food plant nursery
- Personal veggie garden
- Perennial herb area
- Flower and pollinator plantings for increasing biodiversity
- With the right lease length and field location I would like to plant a mixed orchard including citrus trees
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Lease -
Transfer / Succession -
Duration of the desired agreement
minimum 5 years
Ideal date to obtain land by
Spring 2024 (at earliest)
Participant in BC Land Matching Program
Yes
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
2-5 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
2-5 acres
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
No
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Looking for cleared land previously farmed or used for hay/livestock
Full sun exposure
Excellent drainage
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes
Need farm buildings
Yes - Barn for drying, processing and storing crops and equipment
Need fenced land
Yes - The crops I plan on growing are sensitive to deer and other animals.
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - Open to leasing or renting equipment or purchasing my own.
Need established water source and infrastructure
access to high pressure water source suitable to run either drip irrigation or overhead sprinklers.
