Yes - We currently have a farm and forage company on the Sunshine coast for the last 2 years and we currently supply 2 markets year round. We forage heavily within our season for mushrooms, wild greens and berries to sell fresh at market as well as dry for our wild tea and salt lines. We also carry a supply of different dried mushrooms that we stock for when the foraging season is complete.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - We do have a small amount of money saved along with our infrastructure and implements previously purchased.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - At this point we have not signed up for any grants or loans but are open to exploring the idea in the future
Project
Farm Name
Refuge Farm
Farm Project Description
To create an organic market garden that can supply 2 weekly markets year round as well as possible CSA boxes. We will be growing a variety of greens and vegetables and are very interested in greenhouse space for propagation and warm weather crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers. Our fertilization will be a mix between rotational cover crop, compost created on site, and worm culture teas to get the most out of compost. We will keep watering low through the extensive use of mulch. If we stay local, all of our market infrastructure is already in place. As we have 2 years of running an eighth of an acre market garden, we fully understand our labor load!
Preferred Arrangement
Lease -
Duration of the desired agreement
We are looking for at least a one year lease and possibly longer
Ideal date to obtain land by
Oct 1
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
1/2 acre to 2 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - We are open to expanding in the future
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
We don't mind starting from scratch
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes
Need farm buildings
No
Need fenced land
No
Need farm machinery and tools
No
Need established water source and infrastructure
We have currently been working off rain water collection and hand watering methods but are open to ideas
Need on-site housing
Yes - Much preferred
Production type
Vegetable - A wide variety of organic greens and vegetables for market and potential CSA sale and would love a greenhouse/polytunnel for winter and warm weather crops such as a variety of tomatoes and cucumbers
