The document summarizes the findings of a research project that interviewed landowners and potential farmers in the Comox Valley about opportunities to increase local food production. Many landowners were open to sharing land but had concerns about liability and management, while potential farmers faced challenges accessing affordable land and capital. The document provides recommendations to address these issues through education programs, collaboration initiatives, and increasing farmer participation in agricultural organizations.

1. A CVFRT Research Project
Transition Town Presentation
March 26, 2014
Opportunities to
Increase Farming
Production Capacity in
the Comox Valley

2. Agenda:
•Introductions
•Initial Findings from Interviews
•Opportunities
•Recommendations
•Closing and Next Steps

3. Introduction
• Andrea Lawseth, AEL Agroecological Consulting
• Moss Dance, Ripple Farm/Merville Organics & Rainbow Raven Web
Design
Specific related project experience:
• Regional District of North Okanagan AAP
• Lillooet and Area B AAP, SLRD
• Regional District of Nanaimo AAP
• Denman Island Farm Plan, Islands Trust
• Colony Farm Plan, Metro Vancouver
• Agricultural Land Use Inventories (various)
• Certified Organic expertise (various avenues)

4. Research Project Methodology
Project
Start‐Up
(Nov)
Interviews
(Dec-Feb)
Focus Group
Session
(Feb 13)
Analysis and
Final Report
(Mar - Apr)

5. Methodology
• Interviewed in person:
• 14 Landowners
• 11 Potential farmers
• Online survey:
• 18 Landowners
• 13 Potential farmers
• Total:
• 32 Landowners
• 24 Potential farmers

6. Initial Results
LANDOWNERS

7. Would you consider sharing land with other
farmers to increase food production on your
farm?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 66.7% 18
No 14.8% 4
Not sure 18.5% 5
Total Responses 27

8. What farm products do you produce?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Livestock/meat 50.0% 7
Dairy (cattle/sheep/goat) 7.1% 1
Poultry/eggs 57.1% 8
Greenhouse vegetable/fruit
production
7.1% 1
Field vegetable production 42.9% 6
Berries 50.0% 7
Tree fruit/nuts 21.4% 3
Staple crops (grains, pulses,
edible seeds)
14.3% 2
Value-added 7.1% 1
Specialty crops 42.9% 6
Mushroom production 7.1% 1
Seeds 14.3% 2
Other, please specify... 64.3% 9
Total Responses 14

9. Where do you sell your farm products?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Comox Valley Farmers'
Market
45.5% 5
Pier Street Market 0.0% 0
Other farmers market: 9.1% 1
Restaurants 45.5% 5
Retail 27.3% 3
CSA 9.1% 1
Farm stand or farm gate
sales
45.5% 5
Other, please specify... 54.5% 6
Total Responses 11

10. • Chicken
• Eggs
• Honey
• Berries (Cranberries, strawberries,
blueberries)
• Apples
• Pickling cucumbers
• Some vegetables (patty pan
squash, beans, peas)
• Yes, for more of the same
• Yes, for other meat products
(turkey, beef)
• Yes, eggs
• Organic milk
What is easiest to sell? Is there a demand you can’t meet?

11. Do you use organic methods?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes - certified 21.4% 3
Yes - but not
certified
71.4% 10
No 7.1% 1
Other practices (i.e.
biodynamic). Please
specify:
14.3% 2
Total Responses 14

12. Do you have an off-farm job?
If yes, what is your primary motivation for
maintaining a second job?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 57.1% 8
No 42.9% 6
Total Responses 14
Response Chart Percentage Count
Financial necessity 88.9% 8
Personal satisfaction 22.2% 2
Other, please specify... 11.1% 1
Total Responses 9

13. Would you like to produce more food on your
farm?
What is your vision for the farm?
• Destination farm – agritourism
• Selling the farm to another farmer – would like to see
it remain a farm
• Would like to bring on business partners to share the
workload
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 78.6% 11
No 21.4% 3
Total Responses 14

14. What are the barriers to growing more food?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Need equipment/machinery 20.0% 2
Not enough land 0.0% 0
Capital costs 40.0% 4
Challenges in accessing
more labour (employees or
volunteers)
0.0% 0
Access to customer base 0.0% 0
Inadequate storage options 0.0% 0
Lack of distribution
channels
0.0% 0
Lack of access to
processing
equipment/facility
20.0% 2
Other, please specify... 60.0% 6
Total Responses 10

15. What is your succession plan?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Passing it on to children 37.5% 3
Establishing a farm
cooperative
25.0% 2
Selling it to another
farmer
25.0% 2
Attempting to have the
farm subdivided and/or
rezoned
0.0% 0
Other, please specify... 37.5% 3
Total Responses 8

16. What are the top three things preventing you
from leasing or offering land to other farmers:
Response Chart Percentage Count
Don't know where to
look for people
57.1% 8
Fencing 28.6% 4
Lack of available water 28.6% 4
Potential costs 0.0% 0
Lack of knowledge about
lease agreements
14.3% 2
Privacy concerns 21.4% 3
Concerned about land
use conflicts
21.4% 3
Other, please specify... 35.7% 5
Total Responses 14

17. What are the challenges?
• Shared goals and values of land – respect (7)
• Lack of adequate water/irrigation (3)
• No housing on site (3)
• Liability issues (3)
• Fencing needs to be repaired (2)
• Managing risk for both sides – who invests in infrastructure? (2)
• Privacy concerns (2)
• Dogs on site (1)
• Making access to property easily (1)
• Traffic concerns and nuisance complaints from neighbours (1)
• Safety concerns – equipment operation (1)

18. What are the benefits?
• Financial benefits – leasing income
• Shared workload
• Shared knowledge
• Allowing people to use the land – seeing the land
being used
• Land is getting taken care of – resale value/aesthetics
• Someone sharing the dream and the experience
• Unintended consequences of trying something new

19. Initial Results
POTENTIAL FARMERS

20. What are the three main reasons you are
interested in farming?
Other:
• Interested in producing food for the community
• Self-sufficiency
• Activism
• Passionate about food
• Want to be own boss
Response Chart Percentage Count
Food security 56.2% 9
Sustainability 62.5% 10
Health 25.0% 4
Lifestyle 68.8% 11
Other, please specify... 62.5% 10
Total Responses 16

21. Do you have any of the following training or
experience in agriculture?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Grew up on a farm 33.3% 5
College certificate 6.7% 1
University degree 13.3% 2
Some college or university
courses
6.7% 1
Permaculture Design Course 13.3% 2
SOIL apprenticeship 20.0% 3
WWOOF volunteer (Willing
Workers on Organic Farms)
33.3% 5
Informal on-farm
learning/volunteering
26.7% 4
4H Programs 6.7% 1
Other, please specify... 60.0% 9
Total Responses 15

22. Are you looking to farm in the Comox Valley
over the long term?
Why the Valley?
• Live here already – it’s home
• Feel supported and welcomed here
• Quality of farmland is good
• Good off-farm activities
• Growing demand for local food here
• Distribution of land is good for small scale growers
• Good climate
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 78.6% 11
No 21.4% 3
Total Responses 14

23. Are you currently farming or planning to farm:
Response Chart Percentage Count
Solo 13.3% 2
With family members 13.3% 2
With a business partner 13.3% 2
With a life partner or
spouse
46.7% 7
Other, please specify... 53.3% 8
Total Responses 15

24. What type of farming are you doing/hoping to do?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Livestock/meat 40.0% 6
Dairy (cattle/sheep/goat) 13.3% 2
Poultry/eggs 73.3% 11
Greenhouse vegetable/fruit
production
80.0% 12
Field vegetable production 86.7% 13
Berries 60.0% 9
Tree fruit/nuts 60.0% 9
Staple crops (grains, pulses,
edible seeds)
46.7% 7
Value-added 46.7% 7
Specialty crops 46.7% 7
Nursery 40.0% 6
Mushroom production 40.0% 6
Seeds 66.7% 10
Other, please specify... 20.0% 3
Total Responses 15

25. How will you finance your farm as you get
started?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Financing from a credit
union of bank
28.6% 4
Government programs 21.4% 3
Farm Credit Canada 14.3% 2
Family 7.1% 1
Off-farm work 71.4% 10
Grants 28.6% 4
Crowd-sourcing funds and
equipment
7.1% 1
Other, please specify... 42.9% 6
Total Responses 14

26. If you are currently farming, do you have an off-
farm job?
What is your primary motivation for
maintaining a second job?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 63.6% 7
No 36.4% 4
Total Responses 11
Response Chart Percentage Count
Financial necessity 75.0% 9
Personal satisfaction 41.7% 5
Other, please specify... 25.0% 3
Total Responses 12

27. Are you leasing land?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 37.5% 3
No 62.5% 5
Total Responses 8
Are you currently looking for land to
purchase?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 50.0% 3
No 50.0% 3
Total Responses 6

28. Is it important to you to live on the land you are
farming?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 92.3% 12
No 0.0% 0
Somewhat 15.4% 2
Total Responses 13

29. What are the three biggest challenges you face
as a new farmer?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Lack of capital 71.4% 10
Need more access to credit or
financing
14.3% 2
Inability to lease land 35.7% 5
Lack of arable or appropriate
farm land
7.1% 1
Cost of land (for purchase) 64.3% 9
Inability to access capital (loans
or grants)
7.1% 1
Difficulty negotiating
agreements (i.e. leases)
21.4% 3
Agriculture is not profitable
enough to meet income needs
28.6% 4
Other, please specify... 64.3% 9
Total Responses 14

30. Other challenges?
• Marketing skills – gaining confidence to sell products (2)
• Work-Life balance – being organized (2)
• Business skills (1)
• Accessing affordable AND arable land (1)
• Land use conflicts with multiple owners (1)
• Finding good people to work with (1)
• Local zoning and agricultural production
• Possibilities for multiple ownership of the land
• Cooperative structures
• Multiple farm dwellings on one farm site
• ALR restrictions and regulations

31. What are the challenges to leasing?
• Maintaining a respectful relationship (3)
• Transportation – when not living on site (2)
• Caring for tools and land to the degree that is required (2)
• Getting a concrete long-term agreement (1)
• Investment in infrastructure (1)

32. What are the benefits to leasing?
• Financial reasons (4)
• Infrastructure is usually already in place (3)
• Soil has already been worked (2)
• Can access great land (2)
• Can be great to work with others and gain knowledge (1)

33. Opportunities Already Present
• Tremendous agricultural potential in the Valley:
• Access to water
• Food prices increasing due to drought elsewhere
• Growing local market opportunity
• Desire to support one another and work cooperatively:
• Pooling resources to get better quality and prices on inputs
• Developing a buying club - purchasing inputs
• Creating opportunities for work bees - share the workload
• Developing a web-based tool share database

34. Recommendations
•Education:
• Landowners:
• WCB, liability, insurance 101 for landowners
• Farm succession planning
• New farmers:
• Business planning and financial management for small farms
• Marketing
• “Farming 101 series”: basic info on seed-starting, value-added
processing, animal husbandry
• Choosing the best crops to grow on your land
• Collective marketing models (from informal arrangements to co-
operatives)
• Both landowners and new farmers:
• Forming effective lease agreements
• Alternative land ownership models

35. Recommendations
• Support for Farmer Collaboration:
• Offer Land-Linking events
• Form a Tool Lending Library (medium-small scale)
• Develop an Agricultural Asset Map (in process)
• Create, or centralize listing of resource directories available to farmers
• Create a resource library
• Create opportunities for farmers to gather and network informally

36. Recommendations
• Increase New Farmer Participation in Existing Ag
Organizations:
• Farmers’ Institute:
• Introduce 2 young farmer representatives at the board of directors
• Explore expanding the FI tool library to include small scale machinery and
hand tools

37. Potential Ag Sites in the City Boundaries

38. Next Steps:
• Complete final report by
April 15th
• Distribute report
• Share report with policy
makers
• Secure further funding
• Implementation of
recommendations

39. Thank-you!
Andrea Lawseth
250-205-0279
info@aelagroconsulting.com
Moss Dance
250-702-0980
moss@rainbowraven.ca