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ABOUT THE LAND
Nestled in a valley beside the pristine Deadman River, a fenced one-acre garden – part of the Deadman Acres Farm – lies full of potential, awaiting a new farmer. Deadman Acres operates on unceded Secwepemc territory and landholders Natalie and Tanner would like to respectfully acknowledge the local Skeetchestn Band who have called this area home since time immemorial.
Deadman Acres is an 80-acre farm set within a magnificent BC landscape between Savona and Cache Creek, with fascinating historical and geological features dotting the surrounding area. Deadman Vidette Road begins in the Skeetchestn Indigenous Band and emerges into the valley bottom, where the farmland is situated. The winding road and parallel river are sandwiched between a backdrop of colourful volcanic rock formations and hoodoos on the slopes above. Relics of the Western frontier (old pioneer homesteads, remnants of the fur trade and gold mining industries) stand abandoned, speckled amidst the ranches and cabins that serve the local population.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Natalie has been a steward of this land for five years. Motivated by the ambition to be directly involved with ecological advocacy, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable food systems, Natalie moved from Vancouver with only minimal farming experience to buy this stunning rural property. She met her husband, Tanner, in the area – a neighbour who lived just up the road. Sadly they lost their shared home on Deadman Acres to the 2021 Sparks Lake Wildfire and are immensely lucky that the farm was only singed and the farmhouse spared, allowing them to stay in the valley and rebuild.
Since the fire, Natalie has focused her efforts on raising livestock (poultry, goats, pigs, rabbits), running two farm-stay rentals, and selling a variety of goods from the farm including eggs, meat, tea, jam, soap, candles and vintage Western wear and art. Tanner has started milling, reclaiming burnt timber, and creating rough cut lumber. From this lumber, Tanner and Natalie have built the Horse Hill Cabin Rental, Deadman Acres Barn, shop and outbuildings over the past two years.
As Natalie and Tanner focus on rebuilding their farm, they want to offer out some of the areas of the property that are bursting with potential and have been under-utilized to date. Natalie and Tanner are looking for a farmer who practices regenerative, permaculture or ‘whole-systems’ farming, to be the missing link in their bountiful operation.
The available one acre is fenced (needs a few repairs), and the garden was used for a certified organic cut flower business from 2005-2010. In recent years, a small section has been used by Natalie and Tanner to grow vegetables. There are also other flat areas, about 2 acres total in size, that could be fenced and developed.
The installation of a pump house on the river or a water tower connected to the existing gravity feed line will be necessary for irrigation. The owners are looking for independent farmers who will take initiative on things like fencing and irrigation, but are open to planning and working together as needed, and potentially sharing costs of permanent infrastructure. Natalie and Tanner can provide use of the barn and machinery as well.
ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
This opportunity would suit an enterprising farmer looking for an off-grid project. The farmer should be knowledgeable not only in growing veggies or flowers, but also be handy with infrastructure projects.
Kamloops or Cache Creek are an hour commute from the farm, and prospective farmers should take this into account. Savona is the closest town, about 30 minutes away, and occasionally rentals do come up nearby. There is a private section of the property (on the other side of the road) that could house a 5th wheel or mobile home seasonally (in summer). The area is currently off grid: septic, water and power will all be at the expense of the occupant.
As others are living on and working at the property, this farmer should be a strong communicator who enjoys working cooperatively with others.
GET IN TOUCH!
This land is available through the B.C. Land Matching Program. If you are interested in this land opportunity, please contact the Okanagan Land Matcher, Pascale, at pascale@youngagrarians.org with the link to this post, any relevant photos, and a paragraph or two on each of the following:
- About you
- Your farming experience
- Your plans for the land
For more details, check out the UMAP Listing for this property.
To learn more about the BC Land Matching Program and other land opportunities, visit youngagrarians.org/tools/land.
The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded in the Okanagan-Thompson by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, with additional support from the Real Estate Foundation of BC.