From EcoReality

Permaculture Farm Share For Sale

C$350k to C$500k

22 May 2011: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Contact Jan or Carol via phone +1 250.653.2024 or email.

the land

Established organic farm co-op with two houses seeks a partner to help work the farm and live on-site. This 43 acre property in growing zone 8+ features 20 acres of cleared, irrigated fields on Class 2 soil, two streams with water licenses on each, young forest, and easement to a 2 acre, 50 million liter reservoir on adjacent 61 acre community farmland.

3.6 acres are newly deer-fenced, and hold an expanding market garden and food trees. The other fields are currently in hay. Eleven century-old heritage pear trees bear in sequence; other food trees include apple, filbert, and wild cherry, as well as lots of blackberries and other wild fruits. Current operations and plans include CSA market garden, goat dairy, eggs, medicinal herbs, and wildcrafting.

The land backs 1,400 acres of wild public parkland, protecting the watershed of the two streams, stretching to 700 meter (2,000 foot) Bruce Peak (the highest point on the island), down to the ocean at Burgoyne Bay, and back to Mount Maxwell, the second highest peak. Free anchorage ocean access is just a short 2.5 kilometer bike, hike, or drive away.

the community

The village of Ganges, just ten kilometers away, has full services, including hospital, police, supermarkets, schools, and other services you’d expect in a community of 10,000. A public bus system stops at the end of the driveway. The ferry to Victoria is just 3.5 km away. High-speed Internet is available.

the facilities

Two houses with beautiful mountain views total nearly 4,200 sq ft. The 1,500 sq ft period-remodeled heritage farmhouse, built in the 1880’s, is currently used for volunteer helpers, interns, and students. Five bedrooms complement the open-plan dining/living area, kitchen, bath, and laundry. A useful wood cook stove complements the conventional range/oven in the kitchen. Wood floors and walls throughout.

The 2,700 sq ft modern tri-level features five bedrooms, three baths, large open-plan dining/living area with granite counters, a large recreation room, large laundry/storage room with shower, and two entryways. The ground floor is in the process of being converted to a private suite, which you could help design and build to your specifications.

A multi-use outbuilding features a 680 sq ft heated and nicely finished 40-person classroom, which could be converted to a art studio or even a small apartment. Attached is a single-car, heated garage and a separate workshop. Other buildings include a 16 cord woodshed attached to a pump house and garden tool shed. A 10’ x 12’ greenhouse is used for spring starts, nursery, tomatoes, and basil. Storage space is available in our 360 sq ft semi-trailer.

the future

We are planning thirteen units of naturally-built housing for collaborative farmers who would help work this land and the adjoining 61 acre community farmland site. This sort of development is encouraged by the island’s Official Community Plan and its elected officials, and we see nothing standing in the way except the time needed to assemble the right combination of people.

facts & plans summary

• Current capitalization: $1,965,032.53
• Size: 43 acres (16 ha)
• Location: 2152 & 2172 Fulford-Ganges Rd
• Zoning: Agricultural Land Reserve (36.5 acres) and Rural Residential (6.5 acres)
• Current allowed housing density:
  • 3 primary residences of any size
  • 2 farm worker buildings of any size
  • 1 cottages of up to 600 sqft
• Current infrastructure:
  • 2 residences (10 bedrooms, 4 washrooms, 2 kitchens);
  • 40-person heated classroom, heated garage, unheated workshop/barn
  • other outbuildings (woodshed, greenhouse, pump house)
  • hydro
  • well, cistern, sand and UV filter, separate irrigation pump
  • 3” drinking water line to Reid Creek (capped off)
  • two septic systems
• Other built and natural features:
  • buried pipe field irrigation throughout
  • easement to 50 million litre, 2 acre reservoir (on adjacent community farmland)
  • 2 year round streams
  • 8.5 million litre (7 acre-foot) irrigation water rights on Daniel Brook
  • 5,000 litres per day domestic water rights or Reid Creek
  • backs 1,400 acres of public parkland
• Future Permaculture-designed planned facilities:
  • common house
  • 13 shared-wall homes (adjoining common house)
  • fruit/vegetable processing facility with commercial kitchen
  • private campground for educational events
  • dormitory for temporary farm-worker and educational housing
• Basic details of future plan:
  • natural building methods (light clay, timber frame, cob, straw bale, etc.)
  • EcoReality Co-op labour for most construction
  • “Zero-mile housing” — locally-sourced materials
  • environmentally-sound/green technologies and materials
  • following “baubiology” healthy-house techniques and materials
• Envisioned features of common house:
  • commercial kitchen
  • lounge area
  • dining area
  • meeting/gathering area
  • children’s indoor play area
  • 2 full bathrooms
  • laundry
  • humanure nutrient recycling system
  • outdoor solar showers
  • greywater system from indoor plumbing to gardens
  • rainwater catchment from metal roofing to cisterns and gardens
  • adjoining suites with separate entrances for family units

--Jan Steinman 14:04, 22 May 2011 (PDT)