You’re invited to an outdoor Land Social at Hayward Farms in Mill Bay, 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 farmers Ron and Morgan about Hayward Farms, a mixed livestock and vegetable operation on 22 acres of leased land. Established in 2017 in Sooke, the business is now in its sixth year.
Ron and Morgan were looking to relocate their business from their original site when they reached out for support in finding a new farm through the B.C. Land Matching Program in 2019. They were introduced to the land holders of their current farm in the fall of 2019, and were on the land for the 2020 season. Now in their third season on this land, the farm is established and growing! Meat and produce from the farm are available at the farm’s online and on-farm store, and product is also sold to an island distributor and the restaurant at Mill Bay’s Unsworth Winery.
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, June 5, 2022 • 1-4pm
LOCATION: Quw’utsun Territory. 765 Kilmalu Road, Mill Bay, BC, V0R 2P2
REGISTER: We are serving some delicious refreshments after the tour. To have a better idea of how many people will join us, PLEASE REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE.
DIRECTIONS/PARKING: Enter via the main farm driveway off Kilmalu Road and park to the right of the mobile home in the large parking area.
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 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 azja@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 HAYWARD FARMS
Our Story
Ron Hayward is a generational farmer well-versed in traditional farming and steeped in passion. He grew up farming on family farms in both Canada and Scotland and developed a passion for sustainable local foods through his career as a fine-dining chef and restaurant owner.
Morgan Hayward was born on Vancouver Island and has been an avid gardener, with a long-time career specializing in produce, with an equal passion for local and sustainable food. She brings to the table over 20 years of experience in product management, sales, and gardening.
The two met on Pender Island and started with only four chickens, a dozen fruit trees, a few garden beds, and a small greenhouse before moving to a larger property in Sooke, where they began their first family farm.
Expanding again and launching Hayward Farms in Mill Bay, the husband and wife team Ron and Morgan Hayward believe in providing the best local produce as possible, and providing clean healthy food for their two children – and sharing that wholesome, family farm-to-table enthusiasm and top-quality product with the rest of the world.
Our Farm
Our 22-acre family farm has a rich agricultural history in the Cowichan Valley.
We breed, raise, and grow a variety of crops to maximize the health of our animals but also grow seasonally available products that are available in our beautiful market store.
All our animals are raised with love, outdoors, and on pastures. They are continually rotated for optimal soil and nutritional health.
Check out HAYWARD FARMS online:
Website: https://www.haywardfarms.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haywardfarmsbc/
Instagram: @hayward.farms
UPCOMING VANCOUVER ISLAND EVENTS
Not able to join us for this event? Fear not! Here’s a quick look at the dates and places we’ll be visiting this season.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022
FARMER SOCIAL AND POTLUCK AT PEAS AND CARROTS FARM, SAANICH – 5pm-8pm
(more info coming soon!)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2022
LAND SOCIAL AT WILD BEE FLORALS, COURTENAY – 1pm-4pm
(more info coming soon!)
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.