The BC Land Matching Program (BCLMP) delivered by Young Agrarians provides personalized land matching and business support services to farmers looking for land to start or expand their farm, and landholders interested in finding someone to farm their land. The program recently surpassed 200 matches, bringing farmers and landholders together to strengthen the province’s food supply.
“Affordable access to land is the number one barrier that new and young farmers need to overcome today to start farms,” said Sara Dent, executive director, Young Agrarians, in a recent BC Government news release. “We are thrilled to see the positive impact the BCLMP is having to support farmers to get on land and grow food. With an aging farming population and the number of farms declining annually, it is important that we invest now to ensure the next generation of farmers have the best chance possible to grow resilient future food systems for our communities.”
Economic Development Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District are proud to support Young Agrarians to deliver the BCLMP on Vancouver Island. Since launching the program on Vancouver Island in 2018, 19 matches have been made in the Cowichan region.
Young Agrarians invite anyone interested in learning more about the program to join them for an outdoor Agricultural Land Social at Hayward Farm in Mill Bay on June 5. Learn from leasing farmers Ron and Morgan about their mixed livestock and vegetable operation on 22 acres of leased land accessed through the BC Land Matching Program. Established in 2017 in Sooke, the business is now in its sixth year, and its third season on this land, and is established and growing! Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about sharing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land.
Learn more and register at https://youngagrarians.org/june-5-2022-mill-bay-bc-land-social-at-hayward-farms/.
