LAND OPPORTUNITY: 33 Acres of Irrigated ALR Land Available for One or More Farm Businesses! – Nanaimo, BC

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 on a 40-acre property in Nanaimo, 33 acres of land are available for a variety of production types. The land was initially used to operate a dairy farm, then over time converted to beef cattle, before being used to grow conventional sod. The current landholders purchased the property six years ago to operate their own commercial oyster processing facility in the converted dairy barn, and have since leased out the 33-acre field to a sod farmer.

The available field is flat, with sandy-loam soil, and is set up with drain tile to enhance drainage. There is some fencing established along the perimeter of the field, but it may require upgrading along the road. There is ample water access on this property, as well as an in-ground irrigation system installed by the previous sod farmer – a major asset in a region increasingly impacted by drought.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

As this property is large and has multiple road access points, it could host either one large farm or multiple farm businesses. The landholder has a preference for mixed vegetable, flower, or greenhouse production, but may also be open to experienced small-scale livestock producers who practice regenerative pasture management practices.

One unique aspect of this opportunity is that there is some retail space available in the front of a converted dairy barn, and the landholder is open to collaborating on developing a shared farm stand! Otherwise, there are no farm buildings on the property, but incoming farmers could establish infrastructure as needed to support their farm businesses.

This site is located just 15 minutes outside of Nanaimo, one of the fastest-growing regions in the country! Nanaimo is home to a thriving local music and arts scene, a network of seaside hiking trails, and a growing number of farm-to-table restaurants, as well as two popular farmers markets.

ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for this opportunity would be confident building infrastructure, would have a strong business plan, and would be excited about the potential of collaborating with others. The site’s flat terrain, ample water access, and proximity to markets, as well as potential for on-site retail space, make this a fabulous opportunity for an experienced farmer looking to expand, or a new farmer looking to find a strong foothold in a rapidly-growing local market.

Above all, the landholders value agriculture and want to see the land used to contribute to local food security, while also supporting farm businesses that value sustainable land management!

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 B.C. 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.