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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 Farmland Trust Board, in collaboration with farmers, families, and other organizations, brings the land to its full potential to produce food, increase biodiversity and pollination, and protect species and waterways for the long-term benefit of the community. Organic practices are a high priority and a large year-round pond provides water for the entire farm.

The farm is home to four farm businesses, Salt Spring Island Community Services’ Harvest Farm program, and 90 families who tend to 1000 sq. ft. Community Garden plots. It is also the future site of the Community Composter.

Meet the farmers

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Community Gardens

 

Located in Salt Spring Island’s Burgoyne Valley, The Community Gardens provide residents, for an annual fee, an opportunity to grow food for their families and increase food security. The gardens are managed by volunteers and are maintained through work parties and gardener help. 

 

There are currently 90 plots offered. Gardeners can share plots, though because of demand we limit assignment to one plot per household.  All growers must follow organic principles and help maintain healthy soil. A gazebo provides a place to rest in the shade or enjoy a meal of your freshly picked produce.

In addition to growing space, gardeners receive the Community Gardener Newsletter full of growing tips, news, and details about workshops and general garden workdays. 

 

If you'd like to volunteer, or want to inquire about securing a plot, please email:

communitygardens@ssifarmlandtrust.org

The Root

The Root, located on 189 Beddis Road, a site contributed by the Slegg family, is the Island’s only food hub and officially opened its doors in Spring 2023. This 3,000 sq ft sustainable hub offers a local wholesale, processing, and distribution option for on-island food buyers. It supports small-scale farmers and local food producers by providing processing space and equipment to help them create and sell more products made from local ingredients.

For rates, a tour, booking the kitchen, equipment, or storage place, contact Shannon Farmer, our Operations Manager sfarmer@ssifarmlandtrust.org

Here is a list of components The Root Food Hub provides Salt Spring Island's community with:

 

  • An accessible commercial kitchen facility, the first of its kind on Salt Spring.

  • ​Indoor temperature-controlled storage

  • Walk in fridge units with shelves

  • A seed bank in partnership with the Salt Spring Seed Sanctuary

  • A barn for hosting workshops, events, and more

  • A permaculture demonstration restoration garden

  • Equipment rentals

  • A residential rental suite, currently occupied by the Salt Jar Refillery

  • Farming and food-related education

  • Self-standing storage containers


The educational programming at The Root is an important initiative for the SSI Farmland Trust as a way to extend our vision from just acquiring and managing farmland - to connecting farmers, food entrepreneurs, and the island's population at large.

If you are an expert or have an idea for a demonstration or workshop, let us know!

“Giving people the foundations (the roots) to grow, be more resilient, self-sufficient, and thrive.”
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Commercial Kitchen

The Root's Commercial Kitchen was created to provide local food businesses with access to state-of-the-art food processing equipment in a certified commercial kitchen. Thanks to immense community support, this space now boasts a variety of talented food makers. 

If you would like to be the next business to join this dynamic kitchen space, we encourage you to reach out. 

For rates and application details, please contact Shannon: kitchen@ssifarmlandtrust.org

The Barn

What was once a wood mill is now the home the Farmland Trust's multi-use space; which facilitates meetings, workshops, food storage, a local food distribution service.

We are eager to hear from the Salt Spring community about your ideas for what this space could be used for.

 

For inquiries, please contact Shannon: sfarmer@ssifarmlandtrust.org

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Restorative Permaculture Gardens

This space pays homage to the amazing work of the talented permaculturists living amongst us here on our quaint Island. Moe Wendt (and his many helpers) have dedicated countless hours to restoring what was once a gravel pit into a thriving permaculture garden. Please feel free to visit the gardens and enjoy the tranquility they have to offer.

 

To read more about them, click here

Want to take part in volunteer garden days?

Contact Shannon: sfarmer@ssifarmlandtrust.org

Meet the makers & tenants 

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Bloom Castle by the Sea

The Farmland Trust and Royal Road University hold a Partnership Agreement to bring their shared values, expertise and commitments to sustainability to the stewardship and educational programming for a celebrated heritage orchard and horticultural site on Salt Spring Island. Both organizations bring skills and acumen that will be enhanced and enriched through a partnership and by working together.

This agreement will further education and research in the fields of agriculture, plant identification, botany, horticulture, ecology, organic gardening, photography, and related fields and to steward the heritage fruit trees (apple, plum and pear) planted in the mid-1800s by the Beddis family on the Outer Orchard and Castle properties.

This agreement respectfully acknowledges that this land is located within the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples and within this agreement, looks forward to forging relationships with First Nations in developing programing and activities.

Outer Orchard

The Farmland Trust is the proud steward of the Outer Orchard, a heritage site on Salt Spring Island with fruit trees dating back to the 1800s. In partnership with Royal Roads University, we provide educational programming that promotes sustainable agriculture and respects the land’s deep cultural significance as part of the traditional territory of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples.