Business Mentorship Network – Ikagi Farm and Florals

Young Agrarians is celebrating the twelfth year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program in BC and the fourth year of the BMN in the Prairies! The BMN offers a year-long farm business mentorship to a diverse array of new and young farmers. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer networks, and online workshops, new farmers develop the skills necessary to operate ecologically sustainable and financially viable farm businesses.

Applications for mentees open in October 2026. Click below to be notified when applications open!

Mentor applications are accepted year-round. Check out the Business Mentorship Network page for more information!

Meet a mentee from the current cohort and learn about their farm and why they joined the Business Mentorship Network. Want more? Head over to our BMN Blog for more mentorship stories.

Meet a Mentee: Ikagi Farm and Florals

Hello! My name is Maasa LeBus (she/her), and I farm on the unceded territories of the SENĆOŦEN and Hul’q’umi’num’ speaking peoples, here on Salt Spring Island, BC. My farm and floristry business, Ikigai Farm and Florals, is a humble patch cradled in a quiet valley, where I grow cut flowers for my community. So far, I have about a quarter-acre under cultivation, but this year, I’m reaching to double that space.

Guided by no-till, regenerative practices, my farming aims to provide not only for the people nearby, but also the frogs, birds, snakes, pollinators and every living thread that weaves our little ecosystem into a richer, more resilient tapestry. My floristry practice blossoms from the same soil as my farming – a deep respect for nature’s rhythms and a joyful celebration of beauty that honours our planet’s health.

While I originally entered farming with a focus on food systems, I was pleasantly caught off-guard by the world of flower farming and the immense joy and delight it brought me. With each arrangement I create, I feel a deep sense of connection, inspired by the seasonal cycles and vibrant life around me. It feels to me to be a beautiful practice of not only bringing joy to others but also nurturing the delicate balance of our ecosystem, reminding us all of the joyful harmony between creativity, beauty, and stewardship.

My inspiration to farm first took root while taking Environmental Studies at university. Early on, I learned how much agriculture has contributed to the climate crisis, but also how it holds a significant opportunity to heal, such as with sequestering carbon in the soil, depending on the methods used. Looking back now, more than a decade later, I realize how much I romanticized farming back then. Yet, so many of the values I held then still guide me today.

For me, it was important to find a vocation that allowed me to live a life embodying my beliefs in my daily actions, and farming became exactly that. After graduating, I did some WWOOFing and then completed my first farming apprenticeship. That’s when the rose-colored glasses came off. Farming is incredibly demanding – both physically and mentally – and I witnessed farmers, worn down by pressure, lose sight of why they began in the first place. While the rewards of farming can be deeply fulfilling, I saw firsthand that many farmers face overwhelming challenges that sometimes overshadow those rewards.

Still, through all these experiences, I felt a deep certainty that honouring the land and living in reciprocity with it would be a pillar of my life. Farming has remained a vital part of that journey. Over the past eight years, I’ve been humbled and inspired, worked tirelessly, and found deep satisfaction. I know I’ll always be a student of the lands I grow on – and that suits me just fine.

Recently, an exciting opportunity came up when our landlords offered us the use of the plot right across from our tiny house, where my partner and I rent. Last year was my first season running my own farm and floristry business – and wow, I quickly realized that knowing how to farm and arrange flowers is just one part of the equation. Running a business is a whole other challenge! Trying to figure out how to register my business and become a Sole Proprietorship had me thinking, “Okay, going forwards I definitely could use some extra guidance.” I wanted more than just online research – I wanted a real, supportive way to learn. A couple farmer friends recommended the Young Agrarians’ Business Mentorship Program, and I’m so grateful to have access to this incredible resource. As someone starting a business with just my savings and no loans, I’m eager to build strong financial tracking, budgeting, and income systems that will help me thrive both as a farmer florist and as a business owner.

What excites me most about the BMN Program is the chance to work closely with a mentor. My mentor, Kailli Piggot from Dancing Dandelion Farm, has already been incredibly helpful, and I’ve learned so much during our weekly one-on-one sessions. Just knowing I have someone to turn to with all my weird farm business questions is such a relief and encouragement.

I’m immensely lucky to be part of a wonderful, supportive farming community here on Salt Spring Island, and on Vancouver Island. We share lessons, ask each other questions, and offer a trusted sounding board for ideas. I’m also deeply grateful to my partner, Jade – an amazing farmer and land steward – who has been my biggest support throughout this chapter of my farming life.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my journey! I’d love to connect and hear from you. If you’d like to follow along, you can find me on Instagram @ikigai.florals or sign up for my newsletter here: Newsletter Sign-Up

For more about working together, visit my website at www.ikigaiflorals.com

Feeling inspired and ready to dig into your business with a mentor? Mentee applications open in October 2026. Mentor applications are open year-round. Click below for more information!