Farm management (3 years or less) - two years running a market garden on leased land (1/2 to 3/4 acre)
General farming (3 years or less) - Working 1/2 to 3/4 acre market garden for two years
Other experience/agricultural/business training - Both of us grew up on a farm (horse boarding and a u-pick berries farm)
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - Business plan is in progress
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - Savings and already have most tools and equipment to run a market garden
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - grants and loans
Project
Farm Name
Vandeligt Farm (name will need be changed once on a new property)
Farm Project Description
-Continue market gardening on ½ an acre to start and work up to a 2 acres production within 5 years
-Have a Community Support Agriculture membership. Starting with 25 members the first year and working up to 200 members within 5 years
-Maintain and grow our small flock of ducks for egg production (20 to 40 birds)
-Expand my season using a hothouse and/or warmhouse. Would like to include a winter growing season by at least the third year of production.
-Our marketing goal is to start with direct sales via farmers markets, farm gate sales and CSA. As the business (production) grows we would like to include wholesale sales to restaurants, local shops and grocers.
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Transfer / Succession -
Sale of Land -
Duration of the desired agreement
2 years minimum
Ideal date to obtain land by
March 2024
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
2 to 10 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
at least one acre
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - up to 3 acres
Zoning
ALR
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
already cultivated for vegetables or field. Some grazing for ducks (1/8 to 1/4 acre).
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - As long as we are able to maintian privacy between both parties
Need farm buildings
Yes - For storage of farm equipment and housing for ducks.
Need fenced land
Yes - We can bring some of our own for the duck pen (t-post and hardwire)
Need farm machinery and tools
No
Need established water source and infrastructure
Water for irrigation system (we have our own irrigation) and water for ducks
