Business Mentorship Network – Fireweed Farmstead

Posted by Kristen Nammour on April 03, 2018

Name? Fiona and Jens at Fireweed Farmstead

Where do you farm? Merville, Comox Valley, BC

What do you farm? Currently veggies (greenhouse and field), pork, eggs. Really round rocks.

Fireweed - Farm Sunset Over Greenhouse

What type of business structure is your farm? Partnership

What is your land tenure? We own our land.

What inspired you to get into farming? Jens – stupid youtube videos. Fiona – I have always enjoyed gardening. Both – we are too grumpy to work for other people J. And the serious (no, I was being serious) answer is we both enjoy many of the aspects of farming that make it a natural fit. We value locally grown food, love working outside and the satisfaction of completing projects. It appeals to our science sides (Jens is an engineer, Fiona is a geologist). The ability to work from home and call the shots.

Why did you apply for business mentorship? To make the stupid youtube videos make sense (that was Jens again). We recognized enthusiasm can only get you so far. It becomes necessary to have a mentor to get to the next level.

Fireweed - Family Farm KidsWhat is the greatest business challenge you face as a young farmer? Having young children, not enough money.

What is your primary business goal for the season? Make money to pay off some of the larger investments and infrastructure costs this year.

What business tools could you not live without? A computer!

If you had a farming robot what would it be? Babysitter. Massage therapist. Post pounder. Did I mention babysitter?

How can we find out more about you, your farm, and its products? The best place right now is our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FireweedFarmstead/) . The most interesting place is Instagram (@fireweedfarmstead) The website is not even close to what I want (yes I am a graphic designer and yes I know it does not look like it) (https://fireweedfarmstead.com/)

Funding for the Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Network in 2018 has been provided by Vancity, the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia, and the Governments of Canada and British Columbia through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Thank you to our funders.

Fireweed - Community Involvement