Abundance Farm
An exciting experiment in community agriculture that bridges the farm and the city, offering creative solutions to food security and social well-being. Abundance Community Farm is located on the unceded territory of the Sts’ailes First Nations, close to the town now known as Agassiz, BC, 1.5 hours east of Vancouver.
The farm has 6 permanent residents, and a network of urban Community Agriculture members farm-share to grow food, connect to nature and build community. 100 city dwellers use a scalable Community Agriculture model, that combines farm and city living to create a sustainable future.
“Abundance Community Farm was born out of a need for our community to have land for growing food and creating intentional gatherings. We are part of a community that emerged from the transformational dance scene in Vancouver. There is no formal structure; however, we are bonded by core values, such as artistic expression, co-creation, and environmental stewardship.”
Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CRFair)
CRFAIR is the backbone organization of the Good Food Network. The Good Food Network is made up of Good Food champions from across the region. From this network other networks and initiatives emerge, such as the Youth Food Network and the Food Share Network. CRFAIR often incubates new coalitions through gathering actors together who are working towards shared goals. An example of this is the Island Pollinator Initiative. CRFAIR is also part of the Island Food Hubs, a collective of organizations from across the Island Region.
“We envision a region where local, sustainable and healthy food is celebrated, abundant and central to the cultures, health and well-being of all residents. We work to mobilize and connect efforts to develop healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems in the Capital Region.”
Cast Iron Farm Cooperative
Cast Iron Farm is a collectively-run permaculture inspired co-operative farm. Two co-ops operate on the site of Cast Iron Farm. Quiet Day Land Co-operative is responsible for owning the land and for permanent infrastructure. Cast Iron Farm Co-operative takes care of the daily operation of the farm, and is responsible for temporary infrastructure. Cast Iron is open to new members; if you have an idea for a business that can run onsite and link into existing systems, please contact us.
We are three families, all members in a co-op that owns the land and another that manages it. Five adults work both on-farm and off-site to build the farm business, take care of the children, and keep the lights on. We started farming in 2014, dreaming up farm buildings, gardens, and fencing where there was once only fields.
Deer Crossing the Art Farm
The Art Farm is a non-profit organization based out of the Sunshine Coast, BC, on the traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and shíshálh Nations. The Farm organizes a variety of community-engaged art projects, installations, and events which aim to respect the environment, share the voices of the underrepresented, and strengthen their community through creative collaboration.
The Smart Farm Project explores whether increased density on such lots using low footprint cluster designs could catalyze small farms and provide affordable housing for the younger generation of farmers we so desperately need.
“We have only begun to explore the potential for Smart Farms to play a pivotal role in attracting young farmers and catalyzing new farms across BC and Canada. Smart Farms have the potential to increase food security and make small-scale farming more economically viable.”
FarmFolk CityFolk Society
FarmFolk CityFolk (FFCF) is a not-for-profit society connecting, empowering, and inspiring people to strengthen BC’s sustainable food systems. FFCF develops, operates, and acts as a catalyst for projects that support access to and production of local, sustainable food; support local growers and producers; provide access to and protection of farmland; and connect, educate, and celebrate with communities across BC. Since 1993, FFCF has been a leader in local food and sustainable agriculture working with business, NGO partners, government, universities, and the public to achieve our mandate.
“Something happens to people who plant seeds — it is impossible to watch a plant grow and flourish without getting a sense of the miracle of all life.”
-Herb Barbolet, Co-founder of FarmFolk CityFolk
Farmers On 57th
A city oasis of fresh food, flowers, community shared agriculture and therapeutic gardening in Vancouver, BC.
Farmers on 57th runs three programs in and on the grounds of George Pearson Centre, and in South Vancouver. George Pearson Centre is a Vancouver Coastal Health residence to 120 people living with disabilities.
Our three main programs are:
- Therapeutic Gardens
- Growing Eden
- Market Garden and CSA
Fraser Common Farm Cooperative
Fraser Common Farm is a community farm that has been cooperatively owned and managed for nearly 40 years. Through a unique balance of food production, habitat conservation, communal & individual housing, and a sincere desire for long term sustainability – this is a social and community experiment, a work in progress, and a dream come true.
Fraser Common Farm Cooperative’s interests are broad. Members are not all farmers – they are woodworkers, artisans, beer-maker, and blacksmiths. They are community advocates and internet professionals. They are parents, friends, grandparents and children. They are educators, musicians, and social activists.
“We care about the food we grow, and the land upon which we live. We grow organic food – including pre-cut salads, vegetables, culinary herbs, edible flowers, and some fruit. And the food tastes really great.”
Growing Opportunities Coop
The Coop is a community farm co-op designed to provide members with the skills and experience of farming in a co-operative manner.
Horse Lake Farm Coop
We are a group of farmers, concerned citizens, and healthy eaters (or at least, aspiring to be) who have purchased shares in the Horse Lake Community Farm Co-operative, which is an agricultural co-op, operating on 133 acres of heritage farm property (aka “the Betty Place”). The Co-op is run by a board of directors, and the Co-op property is leased to member farmers. The land is currently farmed by CEEDS (Community Enhancement and Economic Development Society) who have over 30 years of experience in cooperative agriculture, and whose friends and supporters are the ‘seeds’ of the Co-operative. The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) is a major shareholder, and provided considerable help and support in the Horse Lake Farm Co-op development. There are also dozens of chickens, sheep and cows involved, as one of the main activities on the property is livestock husbandry. We have gardens, and host rustic retreats, agricultural workshops, and other educational and fundraising events.
The Lifeboat Academy
The Lifeboat Academy creates a model regenerative farm to provide people with a direct experience of balanced, healthy, interconnected living systems. We then nurture those seeds of awareness by adding an ongoing, online learning community to support the building of new lifeboats in other communities. Our long-term goal is to support the development of 100 lifeboats (local personal resilience networks), which together form The Lifeboat Network.
That’s the vision behind the Lifeboat Academy – to develop a model of resilience and regeneration at the person, place and community level that can be easily replicated by practically anyone in their home community.
Lohbrunner Community Farm Cooperative
Formed by a group of farmer wannabees, the Cooperative has stewarded The Land Conservancy’s (TLC) 13 acre farm. The farm was generously donated to TLC by Norma Lohbrunner, who along with her husband Joseph farmed and cared for the land. Over the years the Cooperative has come together as “the Homesteaders”, raising the majority of their own produce to support their families. The farm is now home to Sweet Acres Farm, Vitality Farms, and the Homesteader’s community gardens.
Nanaimo Food Share
Nanaimo Foodshare is one of eight Vancouver Island Health Authority Island Food Security Hubs across the island. The Food Security Hubs are a collective of organizations working together with Island Health and other community partners across the Island Region to support healthy food systems, address food insecurity and ultimately improve health.
Established in 1997 and registered as a charity in 2000, Nanaimo Foodshare Society connects the community with resources, skills, and knowledge to create change that increases healthy food for everyone.
Okanagan Fruit Tree Project
The Okanagan Fruit Tree Project is a Registered Charity that operates in the Central and South Okanagan. We connect and build community through our local food system. Our incredible volunteers grow and harvest fruits, vegetables and nuts through our farming and produce rescue programs. The harvest is then shared among our volunteers, schools, and community organizations that temporarily support people who experience hunger due to household food insecurity. Schools and community organizations use the donated produce in their programming. We also use some of the produce we harvest to make products that we sell to raise funds for our charity! It’s a win-win-win-win for all involved!
Organic BC
As part of a larger movement working towards a healthy world, Organic BC co-creates a more sustainable, diverse and resilient food system.
In a growing sector with over 600 organic producers in BC—constituting 11% of Canadian organic producers—Organic BC is tasked with network and partnership development, sector advocacy, and accreditation.
A grassroots network of organic certifiers, farmers, processors and consumers, Organic BC works to build healthy soil, ecosystems, people and communities. Together, we’re raising the standards for organic agriculture and transforming agriculture’s impact on the planet.
O.U.R. Ecovillage
O.U.R. Ecovillage is a 25 acre Sustainable Living Demonstration Site and Education Center located in a beautiful farm-based setting. As a premier North American Permaculture Site where you will find organic production (gardens/greenhouses/orchards/livestock), an onsite ecological design/sustainable living school, a residential village, food and accommodation services, micro-enterprise, and social enterprises.
The Quarry Collective
The Quarry Collective is a land based community sharing our dreams of community living, united by our common interest in supporting community based agriculture. The Quarry is a place of beauty, a farm community of people with like-minded intentions and heartfelt aspirations to share work, food, and individual gifts for each other and our extended community. We see ourselves embracing new and innovative ways of living harmoniously together and sharing these skills with the greater community here on Salt Spring and beyond.
As part of our purpose, we host a CSA program and a Plant Nursery Program, providing organic food and a wide range of organic plant starts for the greater Salt Spring community.
Squamish Climate Action Nework
Squamish Climate Action network or Squamish CAN was founded in 2009. Squamish CAN has worked for over a decade to pursue environmental policy development, food systems education, and sustainable land stewardship in and around Squamish BC. Their work is primarily local, yet they also recognize the importance of systemic change and unified voice.
Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust
The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust was established after a 2008 Area Farm Plan identified the need to protect farmland and encourage new farmers. The initial mandate of the SSI Farmland Trust was to receive parcels of land as gifts, donations, and bequeathments, to revitalize the land, and to make it available to local farmers and family vegetable growers at affordable rates.
Vancity Community Foundation
The Vancity Community Foundation has a progressive approach to working with donors and investing assets, making grants, and delivering programs that contribute to community well-being.
Having access to the services, expertise, and network of Vancity means they’re able to build on the cooperative values and reputation of a legendary local institution, and join together to create even greater positive change in the community.
“Everything we do is an investment in community. We believe that if all our assets are invested in building healthy communities, where cooperative principles and practices are flourishing and social justice and environmental sustainability are enhanced, the world will be a better place and our community well-being will be enhanced.”
Young Agrarians
Young Agrarians (YA) is a farmer to farmer educational resource network for new and young ecological, organic and regenerative farmers in Canada. YA recognizes the Indigenous lands and territories that we all work on and alongside, and are committed to providing programs and services that are inclusive and available to farmers and friends of diverse backgrounds. The network is volunteer-driven, with farmers across the country organizing on-farm events and building community to create spaces for knowledge sharing and growth.
“We believe that it is our responsibility to care for and respect the land that we live on and depend upon for water, food and shelter. In a time of climate change, all of us must do our part to nurture local, ecological and equitably produced food systems choosing with our dollars, values and hands to consume and steward foods that are healthy for us and future generations.”
