General degree - I have diploma in Ecosystem Management and an Honors B.Sc. in Environmental and Natural Resource Science
General farming (3 years+) - I have worked as a general farm laborer on three types of commercial farms: vegetable, cut- flower, and medicinal herb farm. This experience spans 5 years, with 4 of those seasons being on Salt Spring Island.
Other experience/agricultural/business training - I work part time for a local agriculture based not for profit on Salt Spring Island
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - I have begun pricing out all of my costs for infrsastuture, amednements, seeds, and market goods and will soon begin working on pricing out projected sales. I have a small but established sales base.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - I have savings for investing in basic infrastructure
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
No - I plan to start small by only cultivating 1/4 acre with minimal infrastructure and use revenue from the farm saved over time to pay for additional costs
Project
Farm Name
I am still deciding on a name, as I would like it to represent the land that I choose to farm
Farm Project Description
With over a decade of experience working with the natural world, and 4 years farming experience on Salt Spring, I am ready to take my passion for growing plants to the next level. This season I would like to cultivate 1/4 acre farmland to supply produce and flowers for wholesale and the Tuesday farmers market on Salt Spring. In my farming I practice permectulre principals such as biodiversity, companion planting, seed saving, no- till, and only use organic soil amends like compost, biochar, compost tea, and organic fertilizers. Biodiversity and bioregional seed use will be the key principal for my farm venture. I will grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers that I have selected over the years for being good to grow in our climate, as well as profitable. My plan is to start with around 20 beds at 50ft each that will be on drip irrigation. The first season will require an initial plow to the land by renting a tractor, but then I would like to manage to crops so that I do not have to continue tilling each year. For a portion of the remaining 3/4 acre I will lay a silage tarp for cultivation the following season, and consider planting field crops like garlic or squash in other areas. The impetus for me starting this venture is my proven love for growing happy and healthy plants, and my desire to share this with the Salt Spring community.
Preferred Arrangement
Lease -
MOU -
Duration of the desired agreement
1 year probationary and then renewable longer term
Ideal date to obtain land by
As soon as possible
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
1 acre, with 1/4 acre in cultivation first year
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
1/4 acre in first year, potential to expand to 1 acre total
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
No
Zoning
ALR
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Flat ground with a fair amount of loamy top- soil, fenced in, access to a good supply of water, and vehicle access. A greenhouse would be a bonus.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - I have my own secure housing on Salt Spring and would not be seeking to live on the Farmland
Need farm buildings
No
Need fenced land
Yes - I do not have the capital to invest in fencing infrastructure at this time
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - I only need to be able to rent a tractor to do the initial plow of the land. Otherwise I have all my own tools.
Need established water source and infrastructure
Sufficient amount to water 1/4 acre mix- crop production. I am willing to invest in water infrastructure, such as main lines, headers, and drip lines, so long as there is reliable access.
Need on-site housing
No
Production type
Vegetable - Focus on peppers and tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, brassicas, garlic, root vegetables, onions, squash, and more
Seed - I have already purchased a variety of heritage seeds and would like to save seeds from these mature plants to resale to the seed distributor
Flower - I have purchased a variety of flowers that I know to grow well on Salt Spring and are loved in the cut- flower industry, and I plan to sell these fresh at market and to dry them for winter market
