Hi there, we're Caity and Kyle! We're moving north from Oregon and are very excited to get started farming on Vancouver Island during the 2027 growing season. I'm a companion animal emergency veterinarian and Kyle is a mechanical engineer, but our other full-time occupation is farming at home. We are pretty easy going (too busy to sweat the small stuff!) and love all things gardening, foraging, and made by hand. We've been growing food for about 3 years here, and currently have a 3 acre farm with 2 acres of pasture and a 1/6 acre no-till, organic garden producing salad greens, snap peas, artichokes, herbs, squash, corn, beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic, strawberries, sweet potatoes, cane berries, and blueberries as well as some fruit trees. We have a carniolan honey bee hive, 8 heirloom sheep, 2 kune kune pigs, and about 40 laying hens, along with 7 runner ducks and 2 guardian geese. We're interested in permaculture and regenerative agriculture, as well as learning dry farming methods to reduce our water usage. Currently, we feed ourselves and sell eggs at a local farmer's market. Our primary objectives are a) an organic vegetable and fruit market garden, b) chicken and duck egg production, c) beekeeping and honey production, d) heirloom sheep breeding and milk production, and e) oyster and shiitake mushroom cultivation. I went to Oregon State college of veterinary medicine, and the program covers both small and large animal medicine and includes a lot of information regarding livestock husbandry and food production. I'm also a spinner and knitter, and want to produce my own yarn from our fiber flock. Kyle grew up on a 34-acre grass hay farm and helped his parents maintain the farm, harvest hay, and raise welsh ponies. He has experience building fence and using tractors, backhoes, skidsteers, etc. I plan to continue working as a veterinarian in the Nanaimo area, but Kyle would like to transition to farming full-time when that is possible. Because we're moving up from Oregon, we'd ideally like to find somewhere to live in our RV and set up barn/shelter space for our animals, including setting up some kennels and a dog run for our six rescue dogs. We also have three horses but could board them if needed. I would possibly be willing to trade some veterinary services as part of our arrangement if negotiated ahead of time (things like vaccines, wound care, laceration repairs, etc as permitted by BC veterinary licensing and within the limitations of the knowledge, supplies, and tools I have -- I am definitely not able to do pregnancy checks and do not own an ultrasound). We would need to have at least a two-year agreement given the difficulty of moving internationally and finding pasture for the animals, as well as the fact that we're still learning, and it takes time to establish perennial crops like cane berries/asparagus/etc. Eventually, we would like to purchase our own acreage (ideally 15+ acres) and build or restore a house. My classmate from veterinary school is also planning to move up from Oregon, and we'd like to find property where we can build a second dwelling for them and share the acreage. If you have any questions, please just ask.
- no pesticide use (especially glyphosate) in the past 12+ months - accessible by vehicle or tractor - accessible water spigot and water license - electricity or solar available if possible - compost bins or space to build them - mulched garden plots or raised beds if possible - high tunnel if possible