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
This land is part of a 75-acre dairy farm in Mill Bay on Vancouver Island, established in 1918. The 3 available acres come with a turn-key certified organic elderberry operation. The elderberry farmers have been leasing the land since 2015, and have built a thriving orchard and farm business on the property.
On about 2 acres of fenced land, there is an established orchard with over 500 mature elderberry plants, plus an additional 0.5 to 0.75 acres of open field for other crops (or more elderberries!). It is a fully-established farm with all infrastructure in place, including: mature plants, fencing, an irrigation system, bird netting and posts, a processing area with a commercial wash station and specialized “destemmer”, a 40-foot shipping container with freezers, and an equipment shed.
Before the elderberries, the leased area was grazed by cattle for 25 to 30 years and has been certified organic for the past 10 years, contributing to healthy, fertile soil with excellent agronomic potential.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
The founders of this elderberry farm have invested a lot into the land and farm business and hope to pass on their hard work to new farmers, to continue their legacy. The incoming farmer(s) can purchase all the infrastructure already set up, take over the orchard, and expect immediate income in the coming season. At peak production, with about 1,000 plants, this farm has produced 6,000 pounds of elderberries in one season!
The current farmers will be happy to share their knowledge and experience in the production and business of elderberries. The farm has loyal customers who cherish these berries – retail and wholesale. There are many more opportunities to offer additional products, like elderflowers, cuttings and nursery stocks, elderberry tincture or even wine – the sky is the limit!
The landholders have been farming on this land since the ’90s, and their farm has been in the family since long before. They want to see this land farmed, and are looking forward to supporting more farmers on this land.
ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
This opportunity is great for experienced or aspiring farmers, and can accommodate either full-time or part-time farming. The scale of production and marketing can be adjusted to suit the farmers’ lifestyle and farming goals. The ideal candidate would have an appreciation for natural beauty and hard work, and would feel inspired to offer the benefits of elderberries to the community.
Did you always dream of farming but didn’t know where to start? Are you curious about medicinal properties of these amazing plants? Learn the elderberry business from the experts, and get farming right away!
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, at kiyomi@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.