We have more land opportunities than what is listed here! Get in touch with a Land Matcher at land@youngagrarians.org to access our full land inventory and B.C. Land Matching Program support in your region.
ABOUT THE LAND
We are a successful organic market garden farm (certification ended July 2020) operating for 9 seasons growing food on about 1 acre of land and keeping half an acre in cover crop. Our soil is gravely red loam. Our farm is located about 7 mins driving distance from the town of Qualicum Beach. The farm is fully fenced and the growing areas have deer fencing as well with a beautiful view of Mount Arrowsmith. We have a small apple orchard that is only a few years old with 18 trees. We live on the land with our two dogs and three cats.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
We never went into this with a farming background, and we have had a lot to learn during this journey but after 9 seasons we are proud successful farmers. We want the next potential farmers of this land to continue making this a successful market garden growing amazing food and feeding a great community. We have put forth the money required to start and operate a farm, therefore you have little start up expenses and only time to start getting dirty!
We have a 30’x100′ greenhouse with automated sides and fans, 12’x50′ starter greenhouse with a hot water heated germination table 4’x42′ also used for fall storage, built in 2019. We have full irrigation systems, drip and overhead, lots of shade cloth, a full size walk in cooler (20’x8′), farm store on the property, electric fencing, T-post trellising with steel pipes for bracing. We have a 50’x50′ and 50’x120′ fenced pens from when we used to have pigs and chickens.
Our growing beds are all on 5′ centers, with about 4000 feet of ground cover for weed suppression. A mobile 10’x13′ chicken coop if you so desire to have some chicken ladies. A gas powered BCS853, with 34″ power harrow, 36″ flail mower and a rotary plow as well as a 6’x14′ cargo trailer that we pack up for market (further discussion on use and maintenance needs to be agreed upon). We have a kick ass harvest area in our 44’x48′ barn organized and ready for washing and packing, as well as a 11’x15′ cold storage room. Accommodation on the farm can be discussed.
OUR GOAL/VISION
Why would give this all up after all we put into it? We never planned on being farmers, but were just looking for a cool experience to live and work at our home and we did it and we became successful at it, so now we are continuing the way we like to live and looking for our next new adventures. We would like to lease the farm to people that are like minded, respectful, energetic, adventurous, and who have love for the land and produce quality healthy food. You have experience planning and managing a farmers market, you are creative, observant and professional.
We hope you would want to take over where we left off to satisfy all our customers and succeed in an established business. We want you to grow better, not bigger, smarter not faster and also be able to enjoy your time doing it. We would want a minimum 1 year commitment and definitely open to discussing longer terms. You have most likely owned your own market garden farm, managed a farm for a few years or at least worked 3 years on a farm and you understand that farmers can make money farming efficiently, choosing the right crops and keeping good records. Unfortunately, no pets as we already have two working dogs and three working cats on the property.
We look forward to hearing from you, sharing stories, listening to your goals and excited to hear all about your visions!!
If we cannot find a farmer to fully take over operations of the farm through a lease agreement, we may look to hire a farm manager to run the farm under our direction. If this offering is interesting to you, please be in touch as well.
GET IN TOUCH
This land opportunity is available through the B.C. Land Matching Program. If you are interested in this opportunity, reach out to the Vancouver Island Land Matcher, Azja, at azja@youngagrarians.org to start a conversation!
Learn more about the land (and other Land Listings in your region) on the Young Agrarians UMAP. For more about the B.C. Land Matching Program, please visit youngagrarians.org/land
The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded on Vancouver Island with support from Cowichan Valley Regional District, the Real Estate Foundation of B.C., and Patagonia.