Tag Archives: diversified farming

LAND ACCESS STORIES: Common Acres Community Farm – Squamish, BC

Posted by Kat Roger on July 03, 2024

ABOUT COMMON ACRES COMMUNITY FARM Common Acres Community Farm is a community farm in Squamish, BC dedicated to local food production, community food security and affordable land access. Common Acres started out as a B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP) match in 2022 between Squamish Climate Action Network (Squamish CAN) and one acre of ALR land held by Easter Seals, and the community farm now subleases ¼ acre plots to new entrant farmers through the BCLMP. Current farm businesses on the land include Aura Rosa Florals and Local Roots Farm Market. Check out our features on Aura Rosa and Local Roots … Continue reading LAND ACCESS STORIES: Common Acres Community Farm – Squamish, BC

LAND ACCESS STORIES: Make Do Acres – Burnaby, BC

Posted by Kat Roger on May 01, 2024

ABOUT MAKE DO ACRES Make Do Acres is an ecological micro-farm and creative gathering space located on unceded Sto:lo territory in Burnaby, B.C. Leasing farmer Jesse Orr was matched to 0.25 acres of land at Big Bend Urban Farm through the B.C. Land Matching Program for the 2023 season and is now entering her fourth farming season and her second season on the land. Make Do Acres grows mixed vegetables, flowers and medicinal herbs for veggie-lovers, herbalists and restaurants throughout Metro Vancouver. Farmer Jesse specializes in unique intercropping experiments and niche climate-resilient varieties. Jesse also creates installation plant-art exhibitions, hosts … Continue reading LAND ACCESS STORIES: Make Do Acres – Burnaby, BC

LAND ACCESS STORIES: Local Roots Farm Market – Squamish, BC

Posted by Kat Roger on March 11, 2024

ABOUT LOCAL ROOTS FARM MARKET Local Roots Farm Market is a plant nursery, educational centre and local farm market in Squamish, B.C. Leasing sibling farmers Rebecca and Nick Bolkowy were matched to 0.5 acres of land through the B.C. Land Matching Program in March of 2022 and have been serving their local food community ever since. Local Roots has a plethora of offerings, whether it’s their nursery full of local, native and perennial plants, carefully selected ornamentals and hybrids or the beloved heirloom tomatoes that have sparked Rebecca and Nick’s devoted following for over a decade. Local Roots also supplies … Continue reading LAND ACCESS STORIES: Local Roots Farm Market – Squamish, BC

LAND ACCESS STORIES: Rake and Radish Farm – Saanich, BC

Posted by Kat Roger on March 11, 2024

ABOUT RAKE & RADISH FARM Rake and Radish Farm is a small-scale ecological veggie, flower and berry farm on unceded lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territories (Saanich, BC). Leasing farmer Ardeo Mann (they/them) was matched to this land through the B.C. Land Matching Program in 2020 and has been offering gorgeous produce, education and safe(r) spaces for their communities ever since. Ardeo runs Rake and Radish Farm to serve human, plant and pollinator communities using ecological practices. Ardeo’s mission at Rake and Radish is to “grow vegetables in an environmentally, financially and emotionally sustainable manner and ensure they are reaching a diverse … Continue reading LAND ACCESS STORIES: Rake and Radish Farm – Saanich, BC

How to Build a Farmers Institute: South Island Farmers Come Together

Posted by Kat Roger on January 19, 2024

Formally established just this fall, the South Island Farmers’ Institute (SIFI) represents the efforts of founding members Katie Underwood, Shellie MacDonald, Robin Tunnicliffe, Sol Kinnis, Derek Powell and Christine Fuller, in addition to South Island agrologist Megan Halstead and a whole host of passionate farmers and farmer-allies across the Island. Young Agrarians is thrilled to see a new Farmers’ Institute emerge for the island as a way for farmers to connect with each other and support agriculture in their regions. In September of 2023, we got on the phone with SIFI founder, Katie Underwood of Peas n’ Carrots Farm, to learn … Continue reading How to Build a Farmers Institute: South Island Farmers Come Together

Forrest Farm: the Path to a Successful Micro-Dairy

Posted by Kat Roger on September 21, 2023

ABOUT FORREST FARM Eight years ago, Amanda and Ewan Forrest launched their dream of making beautiful, lovingly-crafted cheese in Salmo, B.C. Like everything else on Forrest Farm, Amanda and Ewan’s cheese is hand-made and mindfully packaged with minimal plastic and gorgeous presentation in mind. They make several varieties of sheep and goat cheese, featuring a fantastic Chevre, the classic lactic goat cheese. Each cheese has a unique shape and size to bring out its best flavour characteristics and stays true to the traditional European-style artisanal cheese.  With the launch of the dairy operation to the delight of local consumers, Amanda … Continue reading Forrest Farm: the Path to a Successful Micro-Dairy