FILLED – LAND OPPORTUNITY: 1-Acre Incubator Plots at Haliburton Community Organic Farm – Saanich, BC

Posted by Kiyomi Ito on September 20, 2023

 We have more land opportunities than what is listed here! Get in touch with a Land Matcher at land@youngagrarians.org to access our full land inventory and B.C. Land Matching Program support in your region.

Two farm units are available at Haliburton Community Organic Farm. This is an amazing opportunity for someone with previous farming experience or education to build a farm business in a community of new farm businesses.

About Haliburton Community Organic Farm

Haliburton Farm is an incubator farm in Saanich, on the traditional unceded territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ nation. It was cultivated in 2002, and is managed by the Haliburton Community Organic Farm Society. Haliburton includes 4 farm units provided through 4-year land agreements to new farmers of all ages to build their farm businesses in a low risk, community environment with established infrastructure before moving on to permanent land.

About the Farm Units

Farming at Haliburton includes access to well-established marketing channels, access to a shared walk-in cooler, indoor dry storage space, wash and pack, and a propagation greenhouse.

FARM UNIT A: available January 1, 2024

The plot available is 0.9 acres of certified organic land which has been managed intensively for many years by multiple farmers. It has been cultivated in mixed vegetables, perennial herbs, medicine cane fruits, vegetables and flowers. It has an established apple orchard. The loamy, well-drained soil allows year round growing. It is deer fenced and includes municipal water access.

Assets and Infrastructure are for sale from the current farmer.

FARM UNIT B: available September 1, 2023

The plot available is 0.7 acres of certified organic land which has been managed intensively for many years by multiple farmers. It has been cultivated in a mix of vegetables, flowers and poultry. It has an established pear orchard that produces heavily. The loamy, well-drained soil allows year round growing. It is deer fenced and includes municipal water access.

Requirements

These are proven farm units with the capacity for robust, intensive business. Although this is an incubator opportunity, applicants must have farming experience, farming education, or a combination of both to be considered. Final applications must include a business plan for a vegetable farm business (mixed food/livestock options can possibly be discussed) that outlines proposed strategies for production, operations, marketing, and financials.

Farmers must be able to work collaboratively with other farmers to maintain established marketing channels and to have effective cooperation in shared spaces. Farmers participate on the Society’s Board of Directors on a rotating basis.

Farmers at Haliburton Farm are expected to be engaged in all aspects of the farm and societies mandate, including biodiversity stewardship, education, and community engagement. All of our leaseholders and Society board members work cooperatively to steward this special piece of land for the next generation of organic farmers, including participating in shared space maintenance, and community education.

The entire farm is certified organic by the Islands Organic Producer Association. The incoming farmer must apply for and maintain organic certification for the entirety of their land agreement, and maintain their farm unit and business according to the organic standards.

Land Agreement Terms

The land agreement term is 4 years with availability of an additional 1 year extension based on business review at end of year 3.

The lease rate for the available units range from $2,500 to $3,500/year, including direct and shared costs. Costs include municipal water fees, hydro, organic certification fees, Moss St market fees, internet, marketing, Haliburton Farm Society membership.

Get in Touch

Apply directly to Haliburton Farm. Application information is available by emailing: halifarms@haliburtonfarm.org. 

Reach out to the Vancouver Island Land Matcher at kiyomi@youngagrarians.org to access business support and other services that are available for new farmers through B.C. Land Matching Program.

Learn more about Farm Unit A and Farm Unit B (and other Land Listings in your region) on the Young Agrarians U-MAP.

The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands 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 Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.