Looking for farmland in Nanaimo/Parksville area to build local food security

• Farm management (3 years or less) - Have been running a vertical, aeroponics farming operation for almost 3 years.
• General farming (3 years or less) - Vertical, aeroponics farmer for nearly 3 years.

We are looking for a partner who sees and shares our vision and has a suitable property they would love to see bring it to fruition. We grow leafy greens and herbs for our local customers in vertical, aeroponic towers in a greenhouse. Our immediate goal is to find a small parcel of land (around 0.5 acres) to build a new, solar greenhouse for our operation. This property will require electricity for the pumps, lights, fans, etc. which we will look to have brought in if not available. Longer term (2nd year and beyond), we are looking to build a mid-island farm/garden school. The farm school will be modeled after the Richmond Farm School and will seek to train the next generation of farmers on Vancouver Island. The goal is not only to train aspiring farmers how to farm; but to show them how to launch and build a thriving farm business. Ideally this will include having leasable land, as well as shared farm buildings and tools available for them to launch a successful farm business upon completion of the farm school. The garden school will be geared to supporting local gardeners in successfully growing more of their own food and increasing their food security. Ideally this will include leasable community gardens and/or private garden plots. Our vision is a property that: * reclaims idle agricultural land for local food production * provides aspiring farmers with the training and resources they need to launch and build a thriving farm business * provides local gardeners with training and resources to grow more of their own food * develops greater food security in our area * helps address climate change through carbon sequestration, improved water retention and increasing local food production through regenerative agricultural practices Ideally, this site would become a "one stop shop" for learning many different ways to grow food: * regenerative, soil-based agriculture * livestock (goats/sheep/pigs) * poultry * bees * fruit trees/orchards * vertical farming * aeroponics * hydroponics * aquaponics * small scale garden plots/community gardens We are looking for leased land (0.5 acres for the vertical farm greenhouse and 3-10 acres for the farm/garden school) to start. However, we are also open to the possibility of purchasing now or down the road.

• Registered Lease on Title -
• Lease -
• MOU -
• Sale of Land -

Farmland that was recently used for food production would be ideal. If not, farmland that could be brought into cultivation within 1-2 years.

• Vegetable - Leafy greens, herbs, produce
• Greenhouse - Looking to build a new, solar greenhouse for our vertical, aeroponics farm.
• Other - Our intention is that the farm/garden school will attrract a variety of new farmers looking to raise livestock (sheep/goats/pigs), raise poultry, or keep bees; grow crops and/or cultivate an orchard/fruit trees.

• Other - Our vertical, aeroponic towers are a soilless system that uses no fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, etc. The farm/garden school would employ regenerative agriculture and we could possibly seek to be organic/certified organic.