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ABOUT THE FARM
Are you a visionary farmer who is passionate about working in community to create a thriving food system?
Slow Dog Farm is breaking ground on Malcolm Island to take on the exciting role of increasing food resiliency for the community of Sointula. Located a short ferry ride from North Vancouver Island, Sointula is a community of 700 residents – artists, fishermen, the Finnish families who founded the community, young families and remote-working professionals. There is a school, an excellent small market and a general store (the oldest co-op in the province!), and it is a 30-minute ferry ride to Port McNeill and Vancouver Island. There is vibrant local arts and entertainment including musicians, a choir, local theatre, a winter festival, and other community events. Malcolm Island is a popular summer destination for visitors from all over Canada and around the world for camping, wildlife viewing, and the fascinating history of this little island.
Slow Dog Farm is born of the dream to produce food that is tailored to meet the needs of its local community. Goals for the land are to produce several crops for fresh eating in the summer, a strong commitment to growing winter vegetables and storage crops, and to actively support local food security.
ABOUT THE LAND
The 5 acre property currently consists of two large market gardens, with an acre under preparation for growing, awaiting the arrival of people who can farm it. Tall forest hugs either side of the property. The land, recently cleared, is currently maintained by the landholder who removes invasive weeds and seedlings, but landscape maintenance would transition to the leasing farmer.
Prior to agricultural use, the ground was a hemlock forest regenerating on forest floor that previously supported fir trees. Soil is sandy loam, pH 5.2 – 6.4. The soil could use some nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus input, and the landholders are currently amending the soil with compost (seaweed, manure, and grass clippings). There are fruit trees and berry crops that are establishing well in the current soil conditions.
The 3 acres of cleared land is off grid and solar-powered – which comes with all of the rewarding and humorous challenges of building a sustainable lifestyle. A solar pumping dug pond provides water for the fields.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
The landholder is looking for a partnership with a capable farmer (or a couple, or small family) to develop the 5 acres beyond the existing gardens using soil regenerative methods. In addition to working the land, handiness in building and carpentry, inventive aptitude for challenges such as moving and storing water, and overall creativity to increase sustainability of the farm are important. Private, off-grid accommodation is provided; however, part-time work on the island or remote work would be required until the land is producing in sufficient quantities.
Slow Dog Farm is located at the end of the road, surrounded by wildlife, beaches and forests. Humpback whales and orcas frequent the waters while deer wander all areas not thoroughly fenced. The landholder lives on the land and is producing food for sale and in support of the local school soup program. There is a well-established community Market Garden Stand in town, where local food producers sell their products. The local community is supportive of locally grown food.
ABOUT YOU
- Reliable, kind, careful and thoughtful
- Able to talk through problems and co-solve challenges
- Able to remain positive through the challenges of the changing weather patterns and dark, wet (hopefully) winters
- Have your own transportation
- Experience with a chainsaw – firewood is a fact of life here!
- Practical and able to adapt
- Able to provide references
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, Kiyomi Ito, at kiyomi@youngagrarians.org with the link to this post, any relevant photos, and a paragraph or two on each of the following topics:
- About you
- Your farming experience
- Your plans for the land
For more details, check out the UMAP Listing for this property.
For more land opportunities, and to learn about the B.C. Land Matching program, please visit youngagrarians.org/land.
The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded on Vancouver Island by the Province of British Columbia, with support from Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Real Estate Foundation of B.C.