General farming (3 years or less) - Tending/harvesting vegetables at Seiffert's Farm
Other experience/agricultural/business training - Complete Beekeeping Course, Honeybee Centre; Hands-On Mentorship, Urban Bee Supplies
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - Available upon request
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
No
Project
Farm Name
Aine's Apiary
Farm Project Description
Hi! My name is Maya. I grew up on Vancouver Island.
In May 2022, I graduated from UBC with a degree in Critical Indigenous Studies where I learned about my relationship to this land as a settler. Throughout university, I worked at Sieffert's Farm tending/harvesting vegetables and volunteered at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm garden tending/harvesting medicinal plants.
Since graduating, I've been fortunate to find opportunities to pursue my lifelong interest in beekeeping such as 1) taking Honeybee Centre's 'Complete Beekeeping Course' and 2) receiving hands-on mentorship from Julia Commons at Urban Bee Supplies.
I'm currently looking for land on which to keep my own bees, starting small and eventually expanding to a semi-commericial beekeeping operation. Initially, I would plan to sell honey and beeswax products. With time, I would also plan to sell nucs and pollination services. Additionally, as I become more established, I hope to learn more about the practice of apitherapy.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my project! :)
Preferred Arrangement
License -
MOU -
Transfer / Succession -
Business Partnership -
Duration of the desired agreement
5 years
Ideal date to obtain land by
Spring 2025
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
5+ acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
NA
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
No
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
3 kms seasonal bloom/forage ideal for honeybees surrounding, fresh water source (e.g. stream, creek, lake, etc.) nearby, able to secure hives with an electric fence (to deter bears), year round vehicle access, southern exposure
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes
Need farm buildings
Yes - Place in which to process/store hive products (honey, wax, etc.)
Need fenced land
No
Need farm machinery and tools
No
Need established water source and infrastructure
Fresh water source (e.g. stream, creek, lake, etc.) nearby for bees to drink
