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
Situated on 60 acres of Salt Spring Island’s best agricultural land, Burgoyne Valley Community Farm has a 4.5-acre plot available for lease! The farm is home to the Salt Spring Island Community Services’ Harvest Farm (a local food security program), four farm businesses, and a collection of 1,000 square foot garden plots tended by 90 families! It is also the future site of the Community Composter.
From 2013 to 2022, approximately 3 of the 4.5 acres were in vegetable and fruit production, supplying two weekly farmers markets, as well as retail and restaurants on the Island. Organic farming practices were used (not certified, but following organic standards), including cover crops and annual application of compost. The rest of the land was in mulch hay. In 2023 and 2024, the land was left fallow with some cover crops cut and garden sections tarped for weed control.
The soil is fine-textured silty clay loam to clay loam with good agricultural potential, though it would benefit from additional drainage over the winter. The whole plot comes deer-fenced, and a large year-round pond provides irrigation water for the entire farm.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Burgoyne Valley Community Farm is one of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) parcels held by the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust, which was established in 2009 to preserve, promote and revitalize local agriculture. The Farmland Trust is seeking long-term partnership with experienced farmers interested in bringing the available 4.5-acre plot back into production.
The plot has been used for market gardens since 2013, but is open to any production type that can be a viable farm business, including livestock, poultry, forage crops, grains, seeds, flowers or mixed farming. Note that there is no potable water or power available at the site, and practices in keeping with organic standards are required.
The land will be available for an annual rent of $1,000 / year, including access to irrigation water. This is a chance to become part of a vibrant community of farmers, gardeners and food-lovers with a shared vision to increase food security on Salt Spring Island!
Market Garden production in previous years
ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The farm is excited to welcome a dedicated, skilled farmer (or team of farmers) who will bring this beautiful space back into production! The ideal candidate(s) will have all the knowledge and skills necessary to launch or expand an organic farm business. This may be an especially exciting opportunity for farmers passionate about local food security, biodiversity, pollination, and the protection of species and waterways.
If you’re interesting in starting or expanding a farm business while surrounded by a thriving farming community, get in touch now!
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.
