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 turn-key farming opportunity at Rusty Acres Organics offers garden space, chicken coops, an aquaponics operation and more! The property is located in Lake Country, where direct road access and close proximity to the Okanagan Rail Trail provide a steady flow of customers passing by, and easy access to markets in Lake Country, Kelowna, and Vernon.
The property features a ready-to-plant garden space which measures 500 feet by 100 feet and is partially deer-fenced, with chicken wire along the bottom of the fence to help deter smaller critters. There is extra material available to fully fence in the garden, if needed. This cultivated and flat growing space has rich soil and has successfully produced a variety of crops, including patty pans, squash, rhubarb, and berries. The space is also equipped with a timed irrigation system that can support sprinklers or dripline. Access to water is plentiful with a 24,000-litre water reservoir on-site.
In addition to the garden space, there are also multiple areas with room for expansion, where the incoming farmer could work up the soil and plant more crops. One expansion area offers about 8,000 square feet, and the other about 5,000 square feet. Both spaces have access to irrigation connection points.
Aside from crop production, there are also two chicken coops on the property that could be used for broilers or layers. Combined, the coops have the capacity for approximately 80 hens and could be fenced in for protection from predators. And that’s not all – the property also features a fully-established aquaponics operation (more info below)!
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
This is a turn-key opportunity equipped with almost everything needed to start operating. The incoming farmer would have access to: extra soil, horse manure, bins for compost, a garden tractor and rototiller, processing and wash stations for produce, plenty of tools and materials for construction projects, and even an outdoor shower for those hot summer days! For storage, there are two 20-foot seacans, plus an additional temperature-controlled 20-foot seacan (for cold storage).
The aquaponics area of the property is also ready for a farmer to take on, if they are interested. The system is more water-efficient than standard agricultural practices, and requires no pesticide/herbicide interventions or salt-based fertilizers. The aquaponics operation functions as a closed-loop system, meaning food can be produced from start to finish in a close-quartered symbiotic environment.
Yet another bonus of this opportunity: potential for housing! There are two housing options on-site that are currently tenanted but could potentially be made available. There is also space for one more legal dwelling on the property, if the incoming farmer is interested in installing their own housing.
If the farmer would like to manage their business directly from the farm, they could also make use of an indoor office space (shared with the landholder). The office space includes a kitchen, fridge, and full bathroom access.
ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The property has been free of chemical sprays since 2016, and the landholder would like to see that legacy continued, so the ideal candidate would be interested in implementing organic practices. The landholder is also operating an asparagus operation on-site and would love to share the space and work cooperatively with a farmer who is dedicated to responsible caretaking of the land.
The landholder is excited to meet interested farmers, and would love to find a candidate ready to get started with the growing area this year. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or looking forward to getting your hands dirty, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
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 Okanagan-Thompson Land Matcher, Haley, at haley@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 in the Okanagan-Thompson 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 the Real Estate Foundation of BC.