You’re invited to an outdoor Land Social at Bear Spring Eco Retreat and Dutch Girl Peonies in Beasley, B.C. (near Nelson). If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about, join us for the event.
Be inspired and learn about the incredible farming that can be done on leased land! The Eco Retreat accommodation and event space have a view of the largest peony farm around and are located beside a fenced market garden area available for lease.
We’ll tour the Eco Retreat, peony farm and land opportunity, network, and look at the steps to building a successful land sharing relationship. Your regional Land Matcher will share information about how the B.C. Land Matching Program can help you find the perfect farmer for your land – or farmland where you can build your dream farm business.
Land Socials connect farmers and farmland holders, and set them up to receive ongoing support through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about sharing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land.
The Eco Retreat has a land opportunity listed with the B.C. Land Matching Program for an experienced farmer/farmers interested in market garden production, eco/agri-tourism and food forestry – more information on this opportunity can be found below the event details.
DATE: Friday, May 13, 2022 • 6-8:30 pm PST
LOCATION: On unceded and traditional territory of the Ktunaxa, Sinixt and Syilx Nations. Meet at the Eco Retreat: 5248 Queen Victoria Rd, Beasley, BC V0G 2G2.
REGISTER: We are serving some delicious local snacks/refreshments from a few local farms and food producers, including desserts from the Confluence Farms pantry, after the tour. To have a better idea of how many people will join us, PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
DIRECTIONS/PARKING: Beasley is about 5 minutes west of Nelson towards Castlegar. If you’re coming from Nelson, keep your eye out for the turn-off on the right hand side. If you’re coming from Castlegar, you’ll see the turnoff on the left. Follow Queen Victoria Rd to the end and take the driveway that goes straight before the hairpin turn, following the signs for parking in the lower area of the property. For those with mobility challenges, there is road access up to the gathering area if needed. Carpooling is encouraged.
SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
Live music from Bella Cat Music before and after the tour!
6:00-6:30: Intro Circle & B.C. Land Matching Program Overview
6:30-7:30: Tour
7:30-8:30/9:00: Food, Networking, Live Music, Campfire, Draw & Artisan Market. Vendors include: Kitchen Witch Bath and Body Alchemy, Native Creations, Viva Cacao, Creating Smaller Footprints and Reworks Upcycle Shop
Everyone that comes by through out the evening will be entered into a draw to win a one night stay at the Eco Retreat, flowers and food box. The winner will be announced at the event at 8:30 pm and needs to be present to claim the draw prize!
BRING: Please bring your own plate, cutlery and cup for snacks/refreshments, there will not be a wash station available to clean plates so please plan accordingly. If you’d prefer you can bring your own snacks instead or bring a dish to share potluck-style! A chair or blanket to sit on and a light jacket or blanket for the cooler evening. Good walking shoes or sandals to tour the farm. Some cash if you’re interested in checking out and supporting the artisan vendors. Optional: face mask.
ACCOMMODATION: For those from out-of-town or curious about booking the Eco Retreat and event space in the future, the Eco Retreat is offering a COMPLEMENTARY stay in one of their 6 tents and 3 rooms on a first-come-first-serve basis! If you’d like to stay the night, please check out Bear Spring Eco Retreat website and contact the Eco Retreat directly (bearspringeco@gmail.com) to reserve as they aren’t officially open until the following week.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS: Please stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms, OR if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are completing a period of self-isolation as mandated by public health, OR if you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. Refer to the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool for more information.
We welcome cancellations at any time – you can do so through Eventbrite, through the link in your registration confirmation email, or by contacting community@youngagrarians.org. Please let us know if you aren’t able to attend. If provincial health guidelines for events change, we may cancel the event and you will be notified by email.
AVIAN FLU PROTOCOLS: To prevent the spread of the current avian flu, if you keep chickens or have visited a farm or household that does, please wash your boots before coming onto the property.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This event is free and open to everyone! Children are welcome but please leave furry friends at home. Join our Young Agrarians Columbia Basin Facebook Group to stay up to date with all events. Sign up for our e-newsletter to get events and opportunities for your region delivered straight to your inbox.
SHARE: Planning on joining us? Invite your friends and share the Facebook event!
ABOUT THE ECO RETREAT AND PEONY FARM
Located in the West Kootenays and launching in the spring of 2022, Bear Spring Eco Retreat offers novel canvas glamping accommodations. Nestled in the mountains with stunning river views, the 300 acre property includes an event centre perfect for intimate concerts or weddings (opening summer 2022), a outdoor solar shower and edible food gardens.
In the fall of 2005, Dutch Girl Peonies was started as a business on the farm from the division and propagation of peony varieties grown on the land. The farm now offers over 70+ varieties of peonies. In recent years, the operation has received recognition for the quality of their blooms by winning awards at peony festivals.
ABOUT THE LAND
The owners of this opportunity near Nelson are looking for the right farmer/s and food forest / permaculture enthusiasts to join them to take over the market garden opportunity on this unique EcoRetreat property on the mountainside of Beasley.
The property was previously used for dairy production and cattle and still currently has a peony farm on site. The land has an orchard that was planted this year with variety of fruit and nut trees. There are two large gardens that are already fenced and ready to go.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
The land can accommodate a few farmers and business ideas in the already fenced areas, which are also irrigated. The owners of the property and EcoRetreat business are hoping to find some farmers who are interested in providing vegetables to the retreat, the future on-site convenience store and food boxes for guests.
The right land seekers are free to explore economic opportunities on the property and sell retail or farm gate. This is a unique long-term opportunity for the right experienced farmers. Land seekers would also be working closely with the owners to market the produce to guests and the larger community through the existing business, so alignment in values, production methods and crop plans would be needed to some extent.
This land opportunity is part of the B.C. Land Matching Program. If you are interested in this land opportunity, please contact hailey@youngagrarians.org.
Check out the U-MAP Listing at: https://maps.youngagrarians.org/locations/57067-Land-on-Farm-EcoRetreat-minutes-from-Nelson
GOT LAND? WANT LAND?
Through the B.C. Land Matching Program, Young Agrarians offers support to farmers looking for land for their farm business, and landholders looking for farmers to farm their land. We’ve made more than 204 matches on over 9,100 acres to date! The Columbia Basin Land Matcher will be attending the event to answer any questions the B.C. Land Matching Program. For those unable to join us, you can send a message to hailey@youngagrarians.org for more information.
The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded in the Columbia Basin by the Province of British Columbia, with support from Columbia Basin Trust, the Real Estate Foundation of BC and Patagonia.
Thanks Rory