YA Business Mentorship Network – Back to Roots Farm

Young Agrarians is celebrating the ninth year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program in BC and the expansion of the program across the Prairies! The BMN offers business mentorships  to a diverse array of new and young farmers. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer networks and online workshops young farmers develop the skills necessary to operate ecologically sustainable and financially viable farm businesses.

YA business mentorships have helped over a 100+ farmers to generate more revenues, grow more food and put more land into production. Immediate results have led to on average of 64% more farm revenue, a 72% increase in food produced, and a 48% increase in land under production. We are thrilled to bring the stories of  these farmers to you for inspiration!

Applications open for Mentees across Western Canada in October 2023.

Mentor applications are accepted year round.

Check out the program page on our website for more information!

My name is Kishon Warmington, and I run Back to Roots Farm Ltd.  We are a small family-run farm that follows the regenerative model. Farming has been the main foundation for our family stemming back to our great grand parents back home in Jamaica. Through many discussions with family and friends we have found that there is a great disconnect with our food source and where our food comes from. At Back to Roots Farm we hope to close some of this gap by providing the option to our community to have access to a great healthy natural food that is local.

My Mentor is Arlie LaRoche of Farm One Forty!

Where do you farm?

I farm in St. Clements, MB on Treaty One Territory

What inspired you to get into farming? 

I started farming because I was seeking a more regenerative and holistic lifestyle in which I could eat healthier, be healthier, and be more grounded in my life. I wanted to show my son and family a more realistic and fulfilling way of living life. In my community I found that there was/is a major disconnect to our food system and I wanted to be able to be part of the solution and not the problem.

How did you learn how to farm?

I took online courses such as Jean Martin Fortier Market Garden course and several others. I learned from  YouTube and the internet and a lot of hands-on experiences and from a lot of failures.

My father grew up farming in Jamaica and has been a wealth of knowledge.
I also learn from one of my neighbors and farming communities such as Young Agrarians, National Farmers Union and Holistic Management Canada.

What type of business structure is your farm? 

I am incorporated

How much land is under production on your farm and what do you farm? 

I have 3 acres and I in the process of turning an additional 25 acres into grazing.

I rear goats for meat, layer hens, and market garden

What is your land tenure? Are there special relationships or partnership that enable land access for you?

I own the land thanks to the help of immediate family members.

What types of ecological farm practices and/or responses to climate change realities do you engage in? 

• Holistic management of farm and grazing practices
• Natural based gardening
• All fertilizers are made from natural sources no herbicides and pesticides are used
• I make compost from the biproducts of hay and animal manure from the farm
• Garden waste are given to livestock
• I harvest worm castings form our worm bins to add nutrients to our plants
• Within our farm practices we try to minimize waste as much as possible and recycle as much as we can within our farming cycle (for example our ashes from our fireplace and fire pit are added back into the garden)

Why did you apply for business mentorship? 

I am a first-generation farmer in which I am learning everything from scratch and find it hard establish myself with the lack of resources or knowledge to build a proper farm business. I believe this mentorship program can give me the tools and capabilities to not only farm efficiently, but also to build a thriving and successful farm business.

What is the greatest business challenge you face as a new farmer? 

My greatest business challenge is lack of knowledge and lack of access to resources and tools to establish myself.

What is your primary business goal for the season?

I want to create a strong community base within the farming community and to build proper infrastructure in order to farm efficiently.

What business tools could you not live without? 

Spreadsheets and data

If you had a farming robot what would it be? 

A robot that would manage marketing the farm and weeding the garden.

How can we find out more about you, your farm, and its products? 

Website: https://backtorootsfarm.ca
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/backtorootsfarm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/back2rootsfarm