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Are you an aspiring ecological farmer who wants hands-on experience on a mixed vegetable and flower farm at the edge of the city? City’s Edge Farm in Victoria, BC, might be the place for you!
About the Farm
City’s Edge Farm is located on the traditional territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, in Victoria, BC. The land they farm on has been managed for food production and harvesting since time immemorial.
City’s Edge Farm is a mixed-vegetable farm, just outside the growing city of Victoria, BC, on the fertile soils of the Saanich Peninsula, at the intersection of urban and rural land uses. Situated at the edge of the city, City’s Edge Farm has grown from a tiny, yet ambitious urban farm on less than an acre to a 3-acre farm in Central Saanich.
The farm produces over 40 varieties of vegetables, herbs, berries, and cut flowers, all for their local community through CSA, on-farm market, or online store.
City’s Edge Farm is always changing and trying out new and old ideas. Each year they try out new techniques or new crops to find what works best. Next season they will be focussing their efforts on increasing crop quality and yields by tightening up their weed, pest, and nutrient management strategies. As an example, for the last 2 years, they’ve been experimenting with cover cropping as a way to manage perennial weeds. They have found some success in that and will be continuing to tweak their methods in the coming season.
City’s Edge Farm is dedicated to continually learning how best to nurture the land, capture carbon as we build up the soil, and create a healthy agro-ecosystem that can be resilient in the face of so many challenges to come. We are also currently in the application process for Organic Certification.
Website: citysedgefarm.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/citysedgefarmvictoria
Instagram: www.instagram.com/citys_edge_farm
Workplace Culture
The farm is currently operated by 3-5 people. Sol is both the owner and operations manager, and the crew of employees and apprentices work directly under her guidance. As the business grows, there will be opportunities for returning employees and apprentices to work towards becoming farm managers.
The guiding principle for City’s Edge Farm’s operations is “continuous improvement” and everyone working on the farm, including apprentices, are included in that effort – both for their own farming journey and in creating and shaping the farm as a successful enterprise. Farming is a journey, especially in a world that is constantly changing all around, so farmers need to be observant, flexible and humble. The crew tries to take time to assess what’s working and what’s not, and make little changes throughout the season to improve overall operations.
Most importantly, everyone on the farm is expected to treat one another with kindness and respect. All individuals are at different stages in their farming journeys, and everyone can help each other through positive and open communication as they work toward the common goal of making City’s Edge a great farm and a great place to work.
About the Farmer
Sol’s journey to farming started in the city, with a passion (or an obsession?) for turning monoculture lawns into thriving food gardens. She dabbled in agriculture through collective self-sufficiency growing and working in agriculture in Cuba. She made farming a career when she co-founded an urban farming co-op, growing in other people’s backyards for restaurants, CSA and farmer’s markets. Since 2015, Sol has been leasing land just outside the city and has now arrived at her final farming destination in Central Saanich.
Sol says, “What I love most about growing food is that it offers endless opportunities for learning and experimentation—not just in how to grow healthy food, but in how to restore and nurture healthy soil.” Even after 25 years, she reflects, “I feel like I’m just beginning to understand the complexities of working with soil and the cycles of life.”
About the Apprenticeship
The coastal climate allows City’s Edge Farm to operate an extended season—from early spring through November—giving apprentices the chance to experience the full rhythm of the farm year.
Spring time brings a variety of tasks including nursery work, preparing the fields, planting, and seeding.
Summer will include tending to vegetable beds, weeding, succession planting, soil building and monitoring, harvesting and packaging for sales.
Fall is for harvesting of storage crops, cover cropping, farm season review, building compost piles, cleaning up the fields and planning for the year ahead.
The ideal duration of employment is March 1 – October 31, 2026.
The job requirements are:
- At least one season of experience on a market farm, in vegetable/flower production, or in outdoor manual labour is an asset.
- Kitchen or restaurant experience is also valuable.
- A willingness to accept feedback and to test your own abilities, pushing yourself to become better at each task throughout the season.
- Curiosity, adaptability and flexibility, and a strong interest in organic or regenerative agriculture are key for a successful apprenticeship.
- Being physically fit and able to lift 30-50 pounds are essential for performing farm work on a day-to-day basis.
- Ability to make decisions, carry out tasks, and support others in a dynamic work environment.
- After training and onboarding, the ability to work quickly, efficiently and calmly in physically challenging contexts for long hours in variable weather is essential to enjoying work on the farm.
Apprentices are willing to learn these skills:
- Greenhouse management
- Seeding & transplanting
- Setting up irrigation
- Identifying desirable & undesirable plants
- Techniques for managing fertility
- Implementing weed control strategies
- Cover-cropping
- Assessing crop health
- Harvesting crops
- Walk-behind tractor basic operation & maintenance
- And more…
Compensation
Pay will be $19.00/hour for 40 hours per week, plus 4% vacation pay.
*wage is negotiable if the apprentice comes with more than a full season of full time farm experience or is eligible for wage subsidy grants.
About the Community
The farm is located just outside the city of Victoria, offering easy access to all the amenities of urban life. At the same time, it’s only a 5–10 minute drive to the ocean, swimmable lakes, and scenic hiking trails—an ideal blend of city and nature.
The farm is a 25 minute drive from downtown Victoria, with public transportation available directly to the farm or anywhere in greater Victoria.
Accommodation
Accommodations: no
Accommodation details:
Apprentices and employees are responsible for finding their own housing. A good place to look for rental housing is through online listings, including the University of Victoria’s off campus housing listings. Please be cautious if looking to rent through online listings, and meet the landowner in person. Keep in mind that renting in Victoria is competitive – attaching a letter about why you would make a good tenant can be helpful!
City’s Edge Farm looks forward to seeing you!