You’re invited to an outdoor Land Social at Wild Bee Florals in Courtenay, B.C.! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about – or just want to check out what your local farmers are up to – join us for the event.
Come learn from leasing farmer Thanu about Wild Bee Florals, a cut flower operation on two neighbouring properties in Courtenay, on a total of one acre of leased land.
Thanu reached out to start a conversation about a search for land through the B.C. Land Matching Program in 2019 when she was planning her flower farm business and looking for land in the Comox Valley. She ended up connecting with a landholder on her own, and received support from the Vancouver Island land matcher in developing a lease in the summer of 2020. Soon after that agreement was signed and Thanu had moved to the land and started her business, Wild Bee Florals, she connected with a neighbour to lease additional space, and the land matcher supported the development of that second lease agreement in the winter of 2020.
Wild Bee Florals is now in its third year of production and flowers are available primarily through her online store, for events such as weddings, as well as through her CSA and at the farmers’ market.
We’ll tour the farm, network, and look at the steps to building a successful land sharing relationship. Your regional Land Matcher will share information about how the B.C. Land Matching Program can help you find the perfect farmer for your land – or farmland where you can build your dream farm business.
Land Socials connect farmers and farmland holders, and set them up to receive ongoing support through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about sharing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 2022 • 1-4pm
LOCATION: Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. 5259 Stapley Road, Courtenay, BC V9J 1P5
REGISTER: We are serving some delicious local snacks/refreshments from a few local businesses after the tour. To have a better idea of how many people will join us, PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
DIRECTIONS/PARKING: Enter via the main farm driveway off Stapley Road and park on the left side of the driveway. Additional parking along Stapley Road if needed.
SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
1-2 Farm Tour
2-3 Introduction circle & B.C. Land Matching Program Overview
3-4 Refreshments & Networking
BRING: Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on and sturdy shoes for walking the farm. Refreshments will be provided with vegetarian and vegan options, and if you’d prefer you can bring your own. Optional: face mask.
CARPOOL INFO: If you are looking for or can offer a ride to or from the event, please post in the Facebook event discussion to connect with others,
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS: Please stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms, OR if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are completing a period of self-isolation as mandated by public health, OR if you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. Refer to the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool for more information.
We welcome cancellations at any time – you can do so through Eventbrite, through the link in your registration confirmation email, or by contacting community@youngagrarians.org. Please let us know if you aren’t able to attend. If provincial health guidelines for events change, we may cancel the event and you will be notified by email.
AVIAN FLU PROTOCOLS: To prevent the spread of the current avian flu, if you keep chickens or have visited a farm or household that does, please wash your boots before coming onto the property.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This event is free and open to everyone! Children are welcome but please leave furry friends at home. Join our Young Agrarians Vancouver Island Facebook Group to stay up to date with all events. Sign up for our e-newsletter to get events and opportunities for your region delivered straight to your inbox.
SHARE: Planning on joining us? Invite your friends and share the Facebook event!
ABOUT WILD BEE FLORALS
Local, seasonal and sustainable blooms for every occasion.
Established in 2020, Wild Bee Florals is Thanu’s creative pursuit in connecting science, art and culture together as an offering to her community. With regenerative farming guiding our growing principles, we aim to be an ethical brand that doesn’t compromise on style and focuses solely on flowers grown in BC.
Our main goal with floral agriculture is to inspire our local community with the many possibilities of seasonal flowers grown right here on Vancouver Island.
Check out WILD BEE FLORALS online:
Website: https://www.wildbeeflorals.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildbeeflorals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildbeeflorals/
UPCOMING VANCOUVER ISLAND EVENTS
Not able to join us for this event? Fear not! Save the date for a farmer social coming up earlier in August:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022
FARM TOUR AND POTLUCK AT PEAS AND CARROTS FARM, SAANICH
If you are interested in hosting an event at your farm and bringing together the farming community in your area, please reach out to azja@youngagrarians.org with your idea!
GOT LAND? WANT LAND?
Through the B.C. Land Matching Program, Young Agrarians offers support to farmers looking for land for their farm business, and landholders looking for farmers to farm their land. We’ve made more than 204 matches on over 9,100 acres to date! The Vancouver Island Land Matcher will be attending the event to answer any questions the B.C. Land Matching Program. For those unable to join us, you can send a message to azja@youngagrarians.org for more information.
The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded on Vancouver Island by the Province of British Columbia, with support from the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
