Agriculture-related degree - Agriculture-related degree - Mandy graduated with diplomas from both St. Clair College for Horticulture and Landscape Design and Dominion College for Herbalism.
Farm management (3 years or less) - Farm management (3 years or less) - Mandy managed Organic Farm to Table farm on Salt Spring Island called the Harbour House Farm. We did daily harvests, sowing and crop tending in order to supply the restaurant daily with fresh farm produce. Constantly rotating crops to always have harvestable produce year round.
Apprenticeship - Mandy did a 1 year apprenticeship in The Alchemy of Herbal Medicine, as well as 2 years studying Holistic Nutrition.
General farming (3 years+) - General farming (3 years+) - Mandy grew up on a conventional farm that grew apples, tomatoes and potatoes. Mandy also started an Organic Market Garden on Saltspring Island with 2 other farmers. We sold produce at the Tuesday Farmer's Market and the Saturday Farmer's Market as well as a weekly CSA program and supplying local grocers with weekly produce. The farm is still running today.
Other experience/agricultural/business training - Eric grew up on a Homestead. His experience includes a wide range of practices such as animal husbandry, timber harvesting, the construction of various structures, engine mechanics, fence installation and many other varied skills that come with surviving and living in an isolated setting. Eric has almost 2 decades of experience working in a retail environment both in a sales position as well as inventory management. This experience has given him the skills needed to successfully project sales and manage inventory according to present as well as future demands. Working in sales has given him experience reading a customer base as well as adapting and relating to the needs of various changing industries. In addition to his already varied skill set, Eric also worked in Landscaping, with a focus on sod and fence installation.
Do you have a business plan?
No
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - - savings as well as current income. we both plan to continue working our current jobs until the farm provides a liveable income.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
No - while not needed, we will be applying for grants to help us grow the farm faster
Project
Farm Name
TBD
Farm Project Description
We want to start an Organic Market Garden. The goal is to have many income revenues which to begin with will be;
- vending at both Whistler Farmer's Market and Squamish Farmer's Market each week (Year 1)
- offering a weekly CSA program (add Year 2)
- supplying local (Sea to Sky) restaurants with seasonal veg (offering extra produce year 1, moving to dependable standing orders year 2)
- supplying local grocers and health food stores with regular produce to carry (offering extra produce year 1, moving to dependable standing orders year 2)
- various seasonal offerings such as plant starts in the spring, fruit and veg through harvest season, seeds, canned produce, dried herbs etc.
The farm will use organic agriculture practices combined with permaculture and biodynamic farming practices.
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Lease -
Duration of the desired agreement
3-5 years
Ideal date to obtain land by
fall/winter 2023
Participant in BC Land Matching Program
Yes
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
1/2 acre min, up to 2 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
1/2 acre minimum
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
No
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
preferred previously cultivated are, pasture, cleared land.
will break ground if necessary.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes
Need farm buildings
No
Need fenced land
Yes - if not fenced, we will fence it
Need farm machinery and tools
No
Need established water source and infrastructure
Water source to pump from, well, pond, river .... will set up irrigation as well as using permaculture methods to keep water use at a minimum.
Need on-site housing
Yes - We have our own trailers and would prefer to live on site. Whether that is off-grid or on-grid, it doesn't matter.
Production type
Vegetable - Vegetable - A large variety of market produce. Tomatoes, summer squash, winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, radishes, lettuces, kale, collards, chard, celery, peas, beans, cucumbers, garlic, etc.
Seed - will harvest and sell seed from all open pollinated plants grown for veg
Greenhouse - To start seeds in early spring and grow all plant starts, as well as for plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, melons etc. to extend growing season and increase production during peak season
Type of agriculture
Organic -
Soil needs
whatever the soil is we plan to build the soil regularly to cultivate a healthy growing medium
