B.C. LAND FORUM NOV 8-25, 2021 – ONLINE

CALLING ALL FARMERS AND LANDHOLDERS

Our second annual LAND FORUM is here!

We were thrilled to see so many of you in the community this summer at our on-farm Land Socials. The B.C. Land Matching Program team is super excited to welcome you back to learn together and take a deeper dive into information and interactive sessions about land sharing and starting a farm business. The Land Forum is accessible online so that we can reach you wherever you live and have Internet access. We can’t wait to share knowledge and online space with you all!

WHEN: November 8 – 25, 2021. All times are in Pacific Daylight Time (-7 hours GMT)

WHERE: Online on unceded Indigenous territories across what is today known as B.C. Join us from the comfort of your couch, office, tractor, compost heap – wherever you find yourself able to tune in!

RSVP: Register for the Land Forum here and you’ll get access to links for all the webinars.

QUESTIONS: alex@youngagrarians.org  |  1-855-561-4633

Land Forum sessions are for landholders and land seekers, and will cover the following topics:

• Leasing basics
• Skills-building in negotiation and communication to support the success of land sharing relationships
• Info on farm business planning and development, as well as financing developed for land seekers
• You’ll hear from Land Matchers, farmers and experts from around B.C.
• Opportunities to connect with farmers and landholders in your community at regional networking sessions

Schedule

Workshop Descriptions

NOV 8 | 7-8:45PM: LAND LEASING 101 & REGIONAL NETWORKING
Learn about land leasing – plus network with others in your region!

Got Land? Want Land? This webinar offers an overview of the services available to farmers and farmland holders through the B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP). This webinar is applicable to farmers of all production types and sizes looking to start or grow their farm business on leased land, and all farmland holders who are interested in making their land available for agriculture. It includes information on leasing, legal considerations, and how to build and maintain stable land agreements that are mutually beneficial.

A 1-hour info session by BCLMP Program Manager Darcy Smith (with time for questions!) will be followed by 45-minute regional networking sessions, where regional Land Matchers from across B.C. will host breakout rooms for land seekers and landholders to connect Land Link-style! The breakout networking is a great opportunity to share your land needs and opportunities, build community (even through a computer), and virtually meet your regional Land Matcher.

This session is for land seekers and landholders. Anyone considering sharing land or currently participating in the B.C. Land Matching Program is encouraged to attend!

NOV 9 | 7-8 PM: PANEL: PERSPECTIVES ON SHARING FARMLAND
Land-lease success stories from farmers and landholders

Thinking about leasing out your land, or launching a farm business? There’s no one better to learn from than someone who’s already doing it! This panel discussion will feature farmers and landholders matched through the B.C. Land Matching Program sharing their experiences leasing land – highlights, lessons learned, and advice for you.

This session is for land seekers and landholders.

NOV 10 | 7-8 PM: SHOWCASE: LAND LISTING SHOWCASE
Land Matchers highlight their top picks for available land in BC

This brand-new session will highlight prime land opportunities from around B.C. Hosted by the Land Matchers, this session is the perfect chance to learn more about the most exciting land opportunities available for lease in B.C., and ask your questions to see if there is a fit for you. Landholders may also be in attendance for select land opportunities.

This session is primarily aimed at land seekers. Landholders who are curious about what other land opportunities look like are welcome to attend.

NOV 15 | 7-8 PM: HOW TO SEAL THE DEAL ON YOUR DREAM LAND
Practical tips for pitching your vision to landholders

An essential part of the land matching process is the first introduction meeting with a landholder. This workshop will help farmers learn how to effectively communicate their vision, experience, and farm business model to landholders.

This session is primarily aimed at land seekers.

NOV 16 | 7-8 PM: ASK A LAWYER
Decoding your farm lease with Priyan Samarakoone

Build your understanding of the legal ins and outs of leasing land with Priyan Samarakoone. Priyan supports farm lease development through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Hear his FAQs and top tips for legal agreements.

This session is for land seekers and landholders.

About Priyan Samarakoone: Priyan was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka and moved to Vancouver in 1996 when his family fled the civil war. He completed his Bachelor of Science majoring in biology at the University of British Columbia in 2006 and completed his studies in the UK, graduating with honours from Nottingham Law School in 2008. He was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2013, after which he spent 6 years at a pro bono organization in Vancouver representing clients at all levels of court in B.C. as well as multiple tribunals, before establishing EQ Law in 2019. For the past three years, Priyan has worked with the B.C. Land Matching Program drafting and reviewing leases.

NOV 17 | 7-8:30 PM: NEGOTIATION 101
A guide to having collaborative conversations

Join Tessa Thompson and Darcy Smith for a crash course on negotiating lease agreements. This session will feature easy-to-adopt tips for having great collaborative conversations so you can work together to figure out your land sharing terms.

This session is for land seekers and landholders. *** This is a companion session to Tending the Relationship: Communication and we recommend taking both sessions 🙂 

NOV 18 | 7-8 PM: TENDING THE RELATIONSHIP
How to maintain effective communication on shared land

The #1 reason land-sharing relationships don’t work out is a communication breakdown. Future-proof your land sharing relationship – in this workshop, you’ll learn how to approach tough conversations in a collaborative way. Discover the factors that affect communication, cues for self awareness, and styles of communication (plus how to work with them). Join this session and build a toolbox of practical strategies to communicate and address conflict for positive outcomes. Leave with insight and confidence to show up for hard conversations with open ears and an open heart both on and off the farm.

This session is for land seekers and landholders. *** This is a companion session to Negotiation 101 and we recommend taking both sessions 🙂 

NOV 22 | 7-8-30 PM: HOW TO BUSINESS PLAN WITHOUT LAND
A hands-on look at exercising your planning muscles

Remember the old saying, it’s not the destination but the journey that matters? The same can be said for the process of planning for a farm business when you don’t yet have land. Your vision for your farm determines what you need in terms of land access and infrastructure including the scale and location of your farm, your capital needs, start-up costs, what you will grow, where your market is….these are important decisions to consider.

Engaging in the process of planning for your farm business will help you factor in these and other variables that will affect the long term viability of your farm. The time it takes you to find the right land situation for your business is well-spent exercising your business planning and management muscles so you are well-prepared to launch your business when the lease is signed. Join Melanie Buffel, Manager of the YA Business Mentorship Network, in this workshop to learn more about the planning process and tools in order to create a viable farm business plan before you commit to a land lease.

This session is primarily aimed at land seekers.

NOV 23 | 7-8 PM: PANEL: COMMUNITY FINANCING
Creative ways to reach and work with community investors

Are you interested in alternative ways of raising capital? This panel session will showcase farmers who have grown their businesses or accessed land with the support of community investment. Get insight into the what makes community financing work!

This session is primarily aimed at land seekers and is open to anyone interested in learning about community financing.

NOV 24 | 7-8 PM: ASK AN ACCOUNTANT
Understanding farm taxes and accounting with Nathalie Merrill

Learn the basics of what you need to know for simple, straightforward farm bookkeeping & accounting, including preparing your farm taxes. We will hear practical, concise advice from this farm tax specialist, as well as have an opportunity to ask our own questions.

This session is for land seekers and landholders.

About Nathalie Merrill: Nathalie Merrill is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a partner at Rossworn Henderson LLP. What sets Nathalie apart from other accountants is her passion toward helping her clients succeed and reach their goals. Her 17 year experience as an owner/manager of a small business means that Nathalie understands what is involved with being a business owner. Nathalie specializes in the areas of succession, reorganizations and estate planning and is fluent in French and English. She lives on a small acreage in Vernon. In her free time, Nathalie enjoys her kids and grandkids as well as many outdoor activities including mountain biking, paddle boarding, skiing and hiking.

NOV 25 | 7-8 PM: PANEL: TRADITIONAL LENDING
Industry experts on how to get lender-ready

Would your farm business or long-term vision benefit from a loan? This panel session is an amazing opportunity for you to hear from lenders who work with farmers! Learn what to expect and how to prepare for working with traditional lenders, and set the stage for your future business development.

This session is primarily aimed at land seekers and is open to anyone interested in learning about how to access traditional lending.

Panelists: MJ Kronberg – Farm Credit Canada, Cory Vanderhorst – MNP, Toby Frisk – First West Credit Union

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Thank you to everyone who is sharing their expertise and stories with us for this Land Forum!  We can’t wait to connect with you online across B.C.! Meanwhile, you can learn more about the services and support offered through the B.C. Land Matching Program here.

The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded by the Province of British Columbia, with support from Columbia Basin Trust, the Cowichan Valley Regional District, Bullitt Foundation, and Patagonia.