JUNE 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


21


YA mark five years of supporting small-scale agriculture Diversification, land access on the minds of Young Agrarians


by TOM WALKER


KELOWNA – Giving small scale farmers the information they need to build thriving, ecologically sound farms is the goal of Young Agrarians (YA), a venture of Farm Folk/City Folk that marked its fifth anniversary in January. “Our very first winter mixer was in Kelowna in 2012,” says YA co-ordinator Sara Dent. This year’s event, also in


Kelowna, attracted about 80 people from as far north as 100 Mile House through to the Lower Mainland who gathered for two days of workshops, networking, food and socializing. “We are focused on the


demographic of small-scale, diversified, ecological farming,” Dent explains.


The soil biology workshop


by Sean Smukler, an assistant professor at UBC attached to the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, was particularly well attended. Other offerings included sessions on indigenous food systems, business planning, crop planning for market, building hoop houses, land leasing and developing a small-scale abattoir for the mixed farm. Dent says indigenous food


systems stand out as a growing area of interest. “I’ve seen this across


Canada now. A lot of YAs are just getting introduced to concepts of who has been here before and how the land has been used,” she says. “People are interested in what is happening with the indigenous communities now and how can they get involved and support.” Supporting small,


ecologically and organically inclined growers is a key focus for YA. “We have this emergent


sector of young people who are not looking to get into industrial agriculture. The focus is not on growing food to export it to China,” says Dent. “While we have members through the National Farmers Union who are running their family grain farms of a couple thousand acres, they don’t necessarily believe in all the practices that they follow from their dad.” Dent says the young


farmers YA attracts aren’t looking to commercial commodity organizations for support. Diversification on a small scale is what they’re after, and the narrow focus of the big farm organizations is at the opposite end of the spectrum. “Transitioning could be a challenge.”


“Who can you talk to?” asks


Dent. “We are offering a program for this new demographic and what they really need for start-up is community and access to information, workshops and education that is affordable. These farmers need community that will push


typically a smaller challenge, though improvements are possible here, too. “We need more banks like


Vancity that are willing to look at different ways to collateralize a loan,” says Dent. “My hope is that lenders and the agriculture ministry advisory council that I sit on


developing programming that is relevant to that demographic.” While the business side of agriculture doesn’t always draw the


“I can scan the room and I can tell who is really serious about their farm businesses.”


them to operate viable farm businesses.” YA originally attracted


market gardeners, but today the association has members representing everything from leeks to livestock.


Land shortage The greatest challenge


everyone faces, says Dent, is land. “If you’re getting into farming now in 2017 and you don’t have family land, you can’t afford southern BC land prices on the income from a farm.”


She says most YAs tend to lease land, something that brings together landowners who want to see their land put into production with the farmers who can make it happen. YA land matcher Darcy


Smith’s session on land leasing was well attended at the Kelowna event. YA is piloting a land matching program in the Lower Mainland in co-operation with Surrey, using Quebec’s Banque de Terres initiative as a model. Smith’s land matching


services are only available in the Lower Mainland but YA eventually plans to offer similar services across the rest of southern BC. For now, the YA website provides a wide array of resources, templates and tools for both landowners looking for tenants and farmers looking to acquire land.


Smith says the deals have to be more than a handshake; both sides need to put the terms in writing to avoid confusion, misunderstanding and lawsuits down the road. “Have the difficult


conversations around money, responsibilities and exit strategies right now,” Smith urged her listeners. “And keep the communication going strong. It is a key and if it breaks down, it can be an incredible cost.” Smith offered to review


agreements before farmers send them to a lawyer for final approval. A formal lease agreement can also help access capital but financing is


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can really understand who this new demographic is, so they can think about


isn’t discouraged. “People are not as excited but they get a lot out of the business


planning and financial


SARA DENT


crowds that topics such as indigenous food systems and community build do, Dent


management workshops,” says Dent. “That actually gives me a lot of hope because the people who are really serious attend them. I


can scan the room and I can tell who is really serious about their farm businesses.”


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