We always have new land opportunities coming into our inventory, some of which aren’t on our blog yet! Get in touch with a Land Matcher at bclmp@youngagrarians.org to learn about the latest opportunities and to access free B.C. Land Matching Program services in your region.
ABOUT THE LAND
Located in the heart of Saanichton on ALR land, this 10-acre property has been in the landholder’s family since 1975 and is now home to the landholder, as well as her pet llama, alpaca, a flock of laying hens, and two friendly dogs. The property has access to municipal water, and is part of a thriving agricultural community known for its strong local food culture, supportive farming networks, and proximity to farmers markets and urban centres like Sidney and Victoria.
Historically, the family has bred heritage layers and grown vegetables, flowers, and berries in a home garden on the land. With the exception of this small residential garden, the site has not historically been used for food production. Until last fall, the majority of the acreage was heavily forested with lush conifers and winding arbutus trees. Over the past year, approximately 8 of the 10 acres of this parcel were cleared to provide the home and existing garden with more light, as well as open up space for farming!
The soil on this site is a rich sandy loam with few rocks and a gentle northern slope, providing the recently opened fields with excellent drainage and sun exposure. The entire property is surrounded by a perimeter of trees and lush understory plants, as well as a stream along the northern property line. This wild space is home to a variety of woodland animals, including a family of great horned owls and – like much of the Saanich peninsula – a healthy population of deer.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Aside from an acre of fenced space for the landholder’s dogs and livestock, all of the recently cleared acreage on this property is available for farming!
The landholder is excited to share their property with a farmer who is dedicated to cultivating a long-term relationship and committed to implementing regenerative growing practices and managing the land sustainably. The landholder is open to a variety of farming operations, including vegetable, flower, and fruit production, as well as livestock such as sheep, hogs, goats, and potentially a small herd of cattle.
The landholder also understands the importance of housing for farmers, and they are open to a farmer living on-site in an RV or tiny home. Above all, this landholder values open communication and wants to see the land used to support a new farming enterprise, while helping to feed the surrounding community.
ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Having been recently logged, this property is a blank slate, ready to be brought into production by an experienced farmer capable of developing new systems and infrastructure on the land. Ideally, the incoming farmer would be interested in cultivating a long-term relationship with the site.
The ideal candidate for this opportunity would have a strong vision and business plan for their farming operation, and would be excited to build that vision from the ground up!
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 Vancouver Island Land Matcher, Ari, at ari@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 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.