Agriculture-related degree - Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture
Farm management (3 years or less) - Farm Manager at Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Teaching and Research Farm
General farming (3 years+) - Farming since 2020
Do you have a business plan?
No - I'm just starting to put myself out there so I haven't developed a business plan yet.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - I have a credit line and some savings
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - I'd definitely like to pursue some kind of loan or grant.
Project
Farm Name
Unnamed
Farm Project Description
My farm plan is to grow organic vegetables (at least in practice, perhaps not certified) and explore growing cut flowers to partner with my wife's passion for floral design. I'm passionate bout incorporating livestock into vegetable production systems and also would love to set my farm up as minimal-till/no-till. I plan to sell mostly direct to-consumer including community members through CSA and restaurant customers. My degree has trained me to understand soil health management practices, pest management practices as well as to engage with the food system beyond food production.
My plan for the land would include setting up 1 acre of vegetable and flower production in my first season as well as some laying hens, 50-99. I've learned to farm efficiently through being understaffed at my current farm and would plan to manage 1 acre of vegetables with an off-farm job for the first season. My plan would be to build strong sales channels in my first year and expand the farm to a 2 acres of vegetable/flower production over a few years.
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Lease -
MOU -
Transfer / Succession -
Duration of the desired agreement
2-5 years
Ideal date to obtain land by
Spring 2026
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
2 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
No
Cultivable Area (acres)
1 acre
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - up to 3 acres
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Ideally the land would be ready to grow vegetables have been used for organic mixed vegetable production with limited/no chemical use. Having a portion of the land in pasture or hay would also be good.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - Good communication and a clear agreement would be necessary as well as a certain level of agency over the land I would be managing.
Need farm buildings
Yes - some sort of processing area/storage would be ideal but not 100% necessary.
Need fenced land
No
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - If machinery and tools were available that would make starting easier but again this is not a requirement.
Need established water source and infrastructure
2-5L/minute to drip irrigate or use Sumi soaker (15-30psi). Any water hook-up would be sufficient if I could install a simple irrigation system.
Need on-site housing
Yes - Housing on-site would be ideal.
Production type
Vegetable - Organic mixed vegetable production
Poultry - Layers - chickens integrated into production system
Flower - Flowers mixed into vegetable production
Type of agriculture
Certified Organic -
Organic -
Soil needs
A loamy soil would be ideal but I'm happy to work on amending any type of soil
Will acquire commercial insurance
Yes - would need to know more information about this, but I'm definitely open to it.
