Most of our land is classified as dry shale loam but there are alternating swales of heavy black silt soil. The uncultivated 30 acres is a mix of young forest and browse.
Description and historical use of land available for farming
The majority of the 10 acres of cleared land is currently in use for gardens, orchards, nursery, infrastructure and pasture but within this there is the potential to use and improve several acres of underutilized rough pasture and claim more of the young forest for additional forage.
Road Access
Yes
Electricity
Yes - Denman Island
Cell Service
Yes
Long-term goal or vision for land
We are looking for ways to expand the productive capacity of the land by having other parties pursue complimentary projects. Our primary interests is in facilitating/hosting a goat (or sheep and/or compact cattle) forage system for milk and/or meat. The property has a well established edible plant nursery that is open to collaborators. (Outside of physical farming we also offer educational programming and are interested in expanding the scope of this. In addition we have a small-scale forestry business that does lumber split rails and firewood from the surrounding forest). Bees would do really well here with the diversity of the trees being grown.
We are limited by restrictions in arable soil and summer water capacity and for this reason we are not interested in taking on people who are interested in vegetable growing.
Overall we want to continue to build a community and education hub around local responsible land use and food production.
Known environmental hazards (wildfire area, flooding, etc.)
Yes
Current residents living on property
Yes - 1 extended family and a separate rental household
Availability of farm buildings
Yes - Barn. Other infrastructure as context specific
Land is fenced
No
Availability of farm machinery and tools
Yes - context specific
Water source
Well -
Pond/lake -
Irrigation system -
Water rights to these sources
Yes - mixed
On-site housing
Yes - Rental cabin - $1,000/month!
Restricted access of visitors
Yes - This could be discussed but we don't want a ton of traffic
Types of production you are open to
Livestock - Cattle -
Livestock - Sheep -
Livestock - Goats -
Greenhouse -
Bees -
Nursery -
Practices preferred
Certified Organic -
Organic -
Other - non-industrial as much as possible. no chemical sprays
Agronomic potential
Good
Soil details
Texture - shale loam generally on the highground. silt in the swales
Rocky soil - fractured shale on the highground
Sloping - generally sloping everywhere
Slope orientation and degree of slope (specify) - quite varied
Good drainage - good drainage on the highground
Preferred arrangement
Lease -
License -
MOU -
Would you be willing to mentor or advise the entering farmer(s)?
