farmers looking for land
Umap content title
Go to map

Seeking Land-based Cidery

Located in
  • Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands -
07481045 4434 4866 8318 744f6a1eacb1

Land Seeker Details

Training
  • Farm management (3 years+) - 5 years building and managing a homestead
  • General farming (3 years+) - Paid and volunteer farming for permaculture farms and market gardens
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - Land-based Cidery
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - I have capital and possible investors.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - I am interested in Angel investors, grants, subsidies, anything to help afford farm real estate.

Project

Farm Name
The Family Band Farm
Farm Project Description

Loni and Kyle would like to create a farm together, centered around home-grown food, delicious fruit cider, and the love of gentle music-making. Loni is an aspiring cidermaker, and farmer- hoping to start a land-based cidery in the Comox Valley. She has 6 years of professional experience wine and cider making with soft fruit, apples and pears. She also has 10 years of experience working on organic farms. For the past 5 years, Loni has been developing a homestead on Cortes Island where she established 20 fruit trees, as well as vines, and hundreds of berry plants, native fruit, perennial vegetables, herbs and flowers. She currently has cider on sample from her own grown orchard. She has a specific affinity for soft fruit like native berries, raspberries, and black currents. Loni is currently developing a business plan for a land-based cidery, as she completes a Brewery Operations Program at North Island College for the rest of 2023. Kyle is a full time working engineer, with a passion for growing veggies and herbs, using no dig permaculture principles. He would love to grow enough food for himself and Loni. He also dreams of maintaining a hay field one day. Xusum [Hoh-shum] is an athletic 5 year old garden-trained canine. He protects crop from ravens, rats, and racoons, with non-violent communication. He requires a fenced in area to call his own. The trio dreams of expanding their 'Family Band' in the near future to create a loving space with farm-based food, drink, and family-made tunes.

Preferred Arrangement
  • Transfer / Succession -
  • Sale of Land -
Duration of the desired agreement
We are hoping for a permanent farm and living arrangement.
Ideal date to obtain land by
2024

Land & Features Desired

Total Land Size (acres)
Minimum 3 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
2 Acres of Orchard is required to qualify as a land-based Winery/Cidery
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - We would be happy to grow at a sustainable rate, expanding into a larger orchard, especially berries.
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area

Ideally their is already a fruit orchard of pear, apple, black currant, and/or raspberry. If not, land with quality, slightly acidic soil is optimal. Ideally the land is close to the farm accommodations.

Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - We are happy as long as we have housing on the farm and a fenced area for our dog. We would love to have farm neighbors, community, and/or mentorship.
Need farm buildings
Yes - Ideally there is a sealed and insulated outbuilding with power, water, and septic. This would be for the winemaking. Multiple rooms is also ideal.
Need fenced land
Yes - Fenced land is necessary for the fruit orchard and the dog.
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - Orchard equipment is great but we are willing to invest in any needs relating to this. If there is a hay field to maintain we would require the equipment to maintain, harvest, and move the hay. We are not willing to invest in Hay infrastructure initially.
Need established water source and infrastructure
We will use permaculture principles for our water management, so whatever is available, we will work within those limits, employing techniques like rainwater collection, mulching, hugelkulture, and swale-building. We have experience building water systems.
Need on-site housing
Yes - Housing for a couple and one dog, a fenced area for the dog.
Production type
  • Vegetable - A garden for self sustaining including a wide range of vegetables, fruit, and herbs.
  • Orchard/Fruit - pear, apple, currants, mulberries, raspberries, and native berries.
  • Greenhouse - If there is a greenhouse available we would love to utilize it for fruit, veg, and year-round growing.
Type of agriculture
  • Organic -
Soil needs
Acidic soils are great for the fruit and berries. Ideally pesticides have not been used on the land in recent years.
Will acquire commercial insurance
Yes - We are willing to consider this.
Last modifed about 1 year ago; never expires.