David

Member Since: February 2020

Message

About

  • Looking for a farm in:
  • British Columbia
  • Number of years farming:
  • 10+ years
  • Farming experience
  • I have practical farming experience (including work as a farm intern or employee)
  • I am, or have been, a farm business owner
  • Other experience
  • Agricultural products:
  • Fruit/berries/grapes
  • Herbs
  • Livestock
  • Seeds, seedlings or nursery stock
  • Vegetables
  • Other products
  • Planned marketing strategies:
  • Restaurant sales
  • Other marketing strategies
  • Land needed:
  • 2-5 acres
  • 5-10 acres
  • 10-25 acres
  • Facilities and equipment:
  • Housing
  • Irrigation capacity
  • Planned farming practices:
  • Certified organic
  • Ecological production, but not certified
  • Other practices

Overview

Hello there, I have two decades of experience in regenerative agriculture, business development, value-added products and marketing, founder of the successful Sons & Daughters Farm (a Certified B Corporation). After more than a dozen visits to the region in the last couple years we are finally ready to make the move to BC! We are moving our operation from Florida and are looking for a land opportunity in southern BC (preferably Victoria, Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley) this summer. I’m particularly interested in a long-term land agreement or lease-to-own/purchase arrangement.

Experience

I have 15 years of food and beverage industry development and 20 years of business management experience. This includes, but is not limited to, business planning and evaluation, hiring and employee management, product development and production, marketing and distribution I also have in-depth experience in regenerative and organic agriculture including experience with soil fertility, plant propagation, crop rotation, irrigation system development/maintenance, cultivation and livestock rotation. I also have complementary skills such as light construction, machinery maintenance and first aid.

Partner(s)

My wife Elena and I are seeking to hold an arrangement with the landowner. We will bring our existing business that will be run with two year-round production employees and local paid apprentices primarily for roles during harvesting and processing in the summer months.

Farm Vision

Our vision to find a long-term home for our award winning local food product and be part of the community of producers and makers in BC. We are looking for anywhere between land to grow niche, climate-appropriate crops in a regenerative organic process and make them into excellent beverages under our established Sons & Daughters brand (www.sd-farm.com), a two-time Certified B Corporation "Best for the World" honoree. You may be the right opportunity for us if you have - 5-25 acres on lower Vancouver Island or the Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley/Sunshine Coast area - Land with good sun exposure (we plan to grow a lot of fruit) and good water capacity - Are looking to see your land used for regenerative agriculture and the production of value-added local products - Open to long term arrangement potential purchase to ensure long term access to land and potential to build equity - Have on-farm housing or open to temporary housing (tiny-house, trailer) and potentially seeing us build permanent housing Ideal start date is June/July 2020 and we will be participating in a Vancouver-based business incubator starting in October 2020. Once we are permanent residents (in ~1-3 years), we would also be open to purchasing property outright.

Relationship with Farm Owner

We are looking for a strong relationship with a landowner who wants to see their land support a flourishing regenerative agricultural local business. We would like to explore a lease-to-own or partnership arrangement. We aim to build a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with a landowner centered on common values, communication and trust. We're committed to developing an agreement that takes into account communication commitment and the people side of things and recognize business success stems from strong relationships based in place.