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 scenic farm is located in Harrop-Procter, a small unincorporated community located 30 minutes from Nelson on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. The farm spans a total of 19 acres, with approximately 9 acres of fenced arable land, plus 10 acres of sloped, forested terrain suitable for browsing livestock.
The land has previously been used for pasture and hay, berries and an orchard. A perimeter deer fence (6 feet high) surrounds the lower 4 acres, and the upper 5 acres are fenced for livestock and include cross fencing to make smaller pastures for rotational grazing. The soil is a mix of silty loam with some clay near the top of the property, where a pond is located. The mild North facing slope receives excellent summer sun exposure. The fields are currently covered in mixed grasses and were seeded with alfalfa and clover in 2022 (and re-seeded in 2023). The orchard has a mix of hazelnuts, walnuts, apples, peaches, pears, plums and cherries.
Irrigation is supplied by Greenwood Creek, with an agricultural water licence already in place, and there are standpipes located in the field for irrigation. The landholder has also installed a 120,000 gallon pond, for back-up irrigation.
The land was originally developed as a dairy farm, and much of the original infrastructure still in place. The landholder has re-roofed the historic barn, which includes a sizable hayloft, tack room and root cellar.
Other infrastructure includes: a large chicken coop (where the landholder keeps laying hens and Muscovie ducks), a semi in-ground walipini greenhouse, a small building in need of repair that was previously a cooler for dairy, and a tractor shed where tools and equipment are stored.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
This opportunity is open to a variety of production types, including: seasonal vegetable crops, tree fruit and nut crops, aquaculture, greenhouse growing, grain crops and small livestock such as goats, sheep or pigs.
The landholders live on the property, where they maintain a large personal garden and have planted fruit trees, along with over two acres of drip-irrigated, blight-resistant hazelnuts near the main residence. They are very active in the farming community and are involved in local food systems work. They would love for their property to contribute to local food security!
The landholder also has an interest in a wide variety of crops and production types and has collected some unique small-scale farming equipment during previous experimentation. The equipment includes: a seed cleaner, grain threshers, a winnower, a fruit press, several tractor implements, such as a crop seeder, and some poultry processing equipment (a scalding tank and plucker). Availability of the equipment to the incoming farmer can be discussed with the landholder.
For accommodations, there is a cabin on the land that could potentially be available for rent. If the cabin is available, the terms of rent can be discussed with the landholder. There is also a right of way to the lakeshore for a dip in the lake on a hot day!
ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate for this opportunity values an ecological approach to farming and is interested in closed loop systems, to return nutrients to the soil on the farm. Open communication and a collaborative approach to the land are important to the landholder.
Some knowledge and experience with regenerative farming practices would be beneficial for this opportunity – the landholders would love to find someone who can fully use the potential of the land to add to local food resilience. They are open to discussing investing in a collaborative project, and are also willing to discuss a long-term arrangement with the right farmer!
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 Columbia Basin Land Matcher, Nyree, at nyree@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 U-MAP 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 in the Columbia Basin under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, with additional support from Columbia Basin Trust and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.