Salt Spring Island
Farmland Trust
Bringing Farmland, People, and Knowledge Together. To Grow.
With close to 200 farms, Salt Spring Island is known for its robust food and farm culture. But, did you know that a fairly small percentage of the food Islanders purchase and consume is local? Isn’t it about time we create a more viable, secure, and economically prosperous agricultural community?
We say “yes” and invite you to be part of the story to collectively make that happen.
Photo credit: Salt Spring Island Community Services/Harvest Farm
Passionate Builders of Connections, Capacity, and Community
The Farmland Trust is on a mission to preserve, promote, and revitalize local agriculture by:
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acquiring, restoring, and maintaining farmland for lease
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developing community gardens and the Island’s first commercial-level food hub
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stewarding food and farming educational programs to create a more sustainable, knowledgeable, and food-secure community.
Use The Root
The Root is Salt Spring’s first and only Food Hub with a commercial-grade kitchen on a mission to empower local farmers, food producers, and the community:
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to process, preserve, package, and distribute produce and food products at larger scales
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to centrally store and protect Island seeds
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to educate about food literacy and farming techniques.
There's space for your business at the Root! Learn more here.
Burgoyne Valley Community Farm
Located on some of the island's best agricultural land at 2232 Fulford-Ganges Rd, this 60 acre farm allows the Farmland Trust to fulfill many of its goals towards increased food security on Salt Spring Island.
The farm is home to four farm businesses, Salt Spring Island Community Services’ Harvest Farm program, and 90 families who tend to 1,000 sq. ft. Community Garden plots. It is also the site of the Community Composter.
Seed Saving Program
Save some seeds, get some seeds
Seed saving is an integral part of building local food sovereignty and resilience.
We support the Salt Spring Seed Sanctuary Society - a charitable organization dedicated to the health and vitality of the earth.
It serves as a community seed bank and learning centre to encourage local food and seed production.
Salt Spring Food Share
Sharing Food, Growing Community
The Food Share exists to help increase the amount of local food grown and shared and eaten on Salt Spring Island!
We host a weekly Food Exchange where folks can share homegrown and homemade foods with each other. We also coordinate an island wide fruit and produce harvesting program to ensure that over-abundant trees and gardens get harvested and shared amongst the community.
We envision a resilient and abundant local food system that can feed each other no matter what the future holds. Ferry delays? Chaotic weather? Supply chain disruptions? We've got each other covered!
Making connections
with the Indigenous Community
The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust is dedicated to building meaningful connections with the Indigenous community through collaborative and inclusive initiatives, in the spirit of reconciliation and reciprocity.
By co-hosting events like a potluck at Xwaaqw'um on Indigenous Peoples Weekend, we provide a platform for cultural exchange and mutual respect, honoring Indigenous heritage and promoting shared learning.
Royal Roads University and the Farmland Trust
Bloom Castle by the Sea – Outer Orchard
The Farmland Trust in collaboration with
Royal Roads University, and Salt Spring Island Conservancy will steward the estate of the late Susan Bloom.
We will work together to design a program that reflects the vision Susan Bloom held for this special place and that raises awareness of regenerative and conservation principles.
Neighbours Feeding Neighbours
Food sovereignty today for food security tomorrow
Neighbours Feeding Neighbours is a new project working to strengthen food security on Salt Spring Island for times of crisis.
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Learn about the farms and gardens in your neighbourhood.
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Find out how the emergency pod system on Salt Spring works.
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Gain better connections with your neighbours.
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Share food with you neighbours at "Podlucks".
Together, we can collectively prepare for food emergencies.
We respectfully acknowledge that the SSIFLT is within the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking Coast Salish peoples.