You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at Morgan Creek Farm in Nanaimo, BC! 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! Leasing farmer Chris “Farmer” Brown was a founding member of Farmship Growers Cooperative and has worked as a market gardener, urban farmer, and agricultural activist in Nanaimo for the past 9 seasons. He is a certified teacher and aspires to bring agricultural literacy into public school classrooms.
We will tour the farm, enjoy a pre-packaged catered meal, and take a dive into the steps to building a successful farm on leased land. We will explore what farming on leased land is like and learn about how the B.C. Land Matching Program can help you find the perfect piece of land for you to build your dream farm business – or the perfect farmer for your land. Your regional Land Matcher will share information and answer questions about land matching and how leasing land works. Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about leasing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land!
DATE: Saturday, September 19, 2020 • 12-2pm
LOCATION: Snuneymuxw First Nation traditional territory. 2377 East Wellington Road, Nanaimo, BC.
REGISTER: Due to COVID-19, we require registration for our events so we can limit the number of attendees to allow for physical distancing. Please register here to reserve your spot.
SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
1:30-2 Lunch & Networking
BRING: Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. A catered lunch will be provided, but if you’d prefer you can bring your own meal instead. There will not be any wash stations for dishes available. Optional: face mask.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
- Please do not attend if you have any symptoms of illness, or have been in contact with any confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. We welcome cancellations at any time, you can do so through eventbrite or by contacting azja@youngagrarians.org
- Please follow physical distancing guidelines and keep 6 feet apart from other people. No handshakes or hugs please!
- Masks are not required, but bring one to wear if you’d like.
- We will have a hand sanitizer station for your use throughout the event. Please refrain from touching tools, pets and livestock, and door handles etc. on the farm.
- If provincial health guidelines for events change, we may cancel the event and you will be notified by email
- The farm’s barn washroom will be available if needed.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This event is free and open to everyone! Children are welcome but please leave furry friends at home.
- Parking will be available at the top of the driveway, any overflow parking required can be in the church parking lot across the street. Please carpool whenever possible!
- A catered sandwich lunch will be provided by a local cafe
- Join our Young Agrarians Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Facebook Group to stay up to date with all events and to connect with your local YA farming community
- 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! (Link coming soon)
ABOUT FARMER BROWN AND MORGAN CREEK FARM
Chris has undertaken a 5-year, half-acre lease at Morgan Creek Farm where he plans on growing garlic, brassicas, roots, flowers, and corn-beans-squash in a 4-year rotation. He met Aaron, the landowner, at a Young Agrarians Mixer and shares similar values of permaculture and regenerative farming. He is excited for the opportunity to put his own farming philosophy into action! Produce grown at his lease and other urban farm locations will go towards his CSA and will be sold at the Wednesday Island Roots Market and to a handful of partnering restaurants.
In 2016 the landowners, Nicola and Aaron, embarked on their farming journey without extensive farming backgrounds. Named “Morgan Creek Farm” after a nearby creek, the 7-acre farm, once a horse property, needed much care to repair the house, outbuildings, repair soil, and pastures and build gardens where soil and water would permit. They are following a permaculture model and believe strongly in having the land dictate what is the best use for each area of the farm. Although not originally their vision of owning a farm, the family farm has focussed the business on small scale animal farming. They currently have a wide variety of animals such as sheep, turkey, bees, and chicken. As time, farming knowledge, energy, and resources permit, vegetables and fruit are making their way into the farm’s business. The idea of leasing part of the farm out to a grower has been an idea for a number of years. Aaron and Nicola are happy to have a lease agreement with Chris and are impressed with his progress thus far.
Check out the farms online:
Farmer Brown: https://www.facebook.com/farmer.brown.agriculturalist
Morgan Creek Farm: https://www.facebook.com/VanIslandFarm
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 78 matches on over 4,600 acres to date! The Vancouver Island Land Matcher will be attending the event to answer any questions about accessing or offering land through this program. For those unable to join us, you can send a message to azja@youngagrarians.org for more information.
The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded on Vancouver Island by the Province of British Columbia, with support from Cowichan Valley Regional District, the Real Estate Foundation of B.C., and Patagonia.