Farm management (3 years or less) - Yes—planning and launching a 2-acre garlic seed pilot (2025/26): crop plan, soil testing & amendments, irrigation (drip), mulch, labour scheduling, curing/storage, budgets and procurement. I also run a service business (Exterior Elite Maintenance), so I’m comfortable with operations, scheduling, budgeting, client comms, and QA.
Farm management (3 years+) -
General farming (3 years+) - Being belonged to farming family i have been helping my family in farming all my life
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - A concise 1-page production plan (pilot 2 acres → 10 acres seed expansion) is ready to share; a full business plan is in progress and I plan to complete YA’s Farm Business Basics to finalize financials and risk plan.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - Personal savings and cashflow from my service business will fund the pilot; open to a small equipment/operating line if needed.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
No - Pilot is primarily self-funded, but I may use a small operating line to manage timing of larger purchases (seed, irrigation, curing/storage)
Project
Farm Name
True North Garlic Seed
Farm Project Description
Hardneck garlic seed enterprise building a clean, disease-free planting stock program. Pilot 2 acres (drip + straw mulch) this season, scaling to ~10 acres next season by saving graded seed. Focus on drainage, rotation (no Alliums 4+ years), careful curing/storage, and direct/wholesale markets in BC. Raised in a farming family; lifelong hands-on farm experience.
Preferred Arrangement
Lease -
Duration of the desired agreement
3-5 years
Ideal date to obtain land by
As soon as possible; ideally by Nov 10, 2025 (or earliest date available).
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
5–20 acres total property
Wooded Area (acres)
Yes - Up to ~5 acres (windbreak & biodiversity fine)
Cultivable Area (acres)
2 acres in Year 1 (pilot); expandable to ~10 acres in Year 2
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - Up to ~10–15 cultivable acres over time
Zoning
ALR
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Previously cropped or hay/pasture that can be tilled; well-drained loam/sandy loam, minimal rocks, no Alliums in last 4+ years; access for tractor/implements.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - Clear access/parking and farm area boundaries appreciated; good communication on schedules.
Need farm buildings
Yes - Simple barn/shed for garlic curing/storage & equipment; power for fans/ventilation preferred.
Need fenced land
No
Need farm machinery and tools
No
Need established water source and infrastructure
Reliable irrigation water (well or licensed surface). Target 20–30 gpm (or equivalent storage) May–Aug; filtration + pressure regulation for drip. Potable water access helpful. Open to water testing.
Need on-site housing
Yes - Prefer on-site RV parking with seasonal permission to live in an RV; 30A/50A electrical and potable water hookup ideal (we can be self-contained if needed). Simple farm housing also welcome if available.
Production type
Vegetable - Garlic (culinary bulbs)
Bees - Possibly small apiary in future for pollination/side revenue
Other - Cover crops for soil health (e.g., oats/pea, rye/vetch)
Type of agriculture
Organic -
Conventional -
Other - Sanitation-focused seed program (white-rot/nematode avoidance, clean seed, rotation)
Soil needs
Will acquire commercial insurance
Yes - Well-drained loam/sandy loam, pH 6.2–7.2, low salinity, good winter drainage; avoid flood-prone pockets; no recent Alliums (4+ years).
