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 near Prospect Lake, only 25 minutes from downtown Victoria, this 3-acre property features a greenhouse and extensive outbuildings.
Formerly used for koi production, the greenhouse has been built-out and tested for plant production – with a new polycarbonate roof, ventilation, a dedicated seeding/work area, plumbing and pumps. The available greenhouse space is 70 x 20 feet. The setup features 100 vertical grow towers on one side of the walk aisle and a 50 x 8-foot deep water culture trough on the other. This layout makes for a total of 2,800 plant sites. To expand the growing season, the farmer may wish to invest in supplementary lighting for the space.
Currently, the space is set up with split-system aquaponics: fish waste is drawn off of filters from an existing koi fish pond, mineralized, and manually added to the plant system. There is also potential to grow trout or tilapia in an adjacent shed that houses four 420-gallon glass tanks.
In addition to the greenhouse, there are outbuildings on the property in which storage and packing space can be arranged. There is also a 4,000 square-foot flat outdoor pad with irrigation available for outdoor growing. Propagation of potted nursery plants or crops in grow-bags would also be a possibility.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
This hydroponics / aquaponics system is all set up and awaiting a farmer who can make use of its productive potential to build a sustainable business.
The incoming farmer will have the opportunity to work out which crops to grow in the space, and design the system to fit their needs. The landholders are interested in sustainable technologies and would like the facility to be used to contribute to the local food system. They are willing to invest in the business, on the basis of a solid business plan.
The landholders, who live on the property, have grown greens as a pilot project for the last two seasons, donating surplus to the food bank and selling basil at the farmers market. The landholders are community-minded and zen-minded, with many ongoing creative projects on the property (some in collaboration with others), such as an Aikido dojo, meditation space, art studio, woodworking shop, and electronics workshop. Projects are informed by permaculture design principles. The landholders are seeking an individual(s) keen to tap into and contribute to this conscious, creative and collaborative energy.
This is a unique, one-of-a-kind opportunity for someone wishing to start or expand a farm business in a creative space.
ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate for this opportunity would have an entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge of plants and farming systems. Experience with hydroponics or aquaponics is helpful, but more important is an attitude of innovation and continuous learning, and an inclination to be methodical, in order to work out the system.
It would be a huge bonus if the farmer shares an interest in the other creative projects happening on the property!
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.