Organic BC

Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative - What’s Really Healthy for Our Soil?
2021-09-02 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Vancouver) | Online
Nowadays, as we stroll up and down the aisles of the grocery store and peruse the weekend farmer’s market, we are confronted with a lot of choices. Organic certification, produced using biodynamic methods, grown on a no-till farm – but what do any of these mean? In this webinar we are going to be taking a deep dive into the various new ‘types of agriculture’, what they mean and why they all seem to boast being the healthiest for our soil. Join our panelists Barbara Schellenberg, Corine Singfield and Tim Nerbas for an exploration of these new methods and how focusing on our soil health is driving a revolution in agriculture.

Young Agrarians Business Bootcamp
2021-09-01 | Online
Young Agrarians presents the Business Bootcamp for New Farmers! This online, community-based program will give you the space and skills to write a stellar business plan for the farm of your dreams.
The next round of the Business Bootcamp starts in Fall 2021. Sign up for the Young Agrarians newsletter to be the first to find out about it!
The Business Bootcamp will cover everything from writing a mission statement to creating a financial plan to defining a marketing strategy. In this program you will have the opportunity to:

Write a farm business plan
Get insights from experts on your farm business
Get to know others in farm start-up
Get ideas and inspiration from your peers
Get set up to access capital

This program is open to all new and aspiring farmers with the goal being to write (or rewrite) a business plan for a farm enterprise. The Business Bootcamp is a great place to explore the viability of your farm dream, figure out details for your first growing season, or to investigate adding another enterprise to your current farm. Having at least one full season of farming experience is advised for participants. All production types are welcome!

Future of Food Global Dialogue Series - Mobilizing Industry to Make a Difference
2021-08-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Many of us are doing our best to lower our impact on the planet – taking shorter showers, bringing a reusable cup, supporting local and much more. However, in order to make a big difference in the climate crisis we need to move beyond individual efforts and mobilize our industries to make positive change. The second episode in our mini series on climate change will explore ways in which we can encourage the agricultural and agroforestry industries to join the fight. Our panelists will discuss where we are at with our climate mitigation goals and what needs to be done to move us forward.

Future of Food Global Dialogue Series - How Nature Based Solutions Restore Balance
2021-07-29 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Let’s talk about the climate crisis. The first episode in our two part mini series on climate change will explore nature based solutions – what even are they and what are we doing to try to implement them around the world? These natural climate solutions involve restoring and better managing ecosystems, from switching to restorative agriculture to cultivating mangrove forest regrowth, and many of them were founded in indigenous knowledge systems. Join our panelists Drew Bondar, Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, Professor Terry Sunderland, UBC Faculty of Forestry, and Larry McDermott, Plenty Canada, as they discuss their own approaches and research on restoring the balance mankind has disrupted.

Growing Seed on Contract: Meet Seed Companies and Local Growers
2021-07-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Regional seed companies often rely on contract growers to secure a diversity of vegetable, herb, flower, and heritage grain seeds for their consumers. The trusting and collaborative relationship between companies and contractors are at the heart of what works about regional seed systems. Join us for this dynamic and interactive session during which we’ll learn more about how contracts are structured, what companies are looking for, and how skilled seed growers can get into this growing market opportunity. This webinar is for seed company representatives of any size in Canada and the USA, in particular seed companies that are looking to include or expand their offering or regionally grown seeds, and seed growers who are interested in learning more about what it means to grow seed on contract.
Resources:
Growing Seed on Contract: Advice to get Started
Growing Seed on Contract Case Studies: Salt Spring Seeds
Growing Seed on Contract Case Studies: Tourne-Sol Farm
Growing Seed on Contract Case Studies: West Coast Seeds

Land Social at WoodGrain Farmer Co-op
2021-07-11 15:00 - 18:00 | WoodGrain Farmer Cooperative, 490 Swan Lake Road, Hazelton, BC, V0J 1Y5, Canada
You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at WoodGrain Farmer Cooperative in the Kispiox Valley! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about, join us for the event.
Be inspired and learn about the incredible farming that can be done on leased land! WoodGrain Farmer Cooperative is an organic, full-circle, small-scale vegetable operation in Northwest BC within unceded traditional Gitxsan territory. Growing a diverse selection of veggies for two local markets and a 40+ member CSA, the four WoodGrain farmers have been able to divide and conquer farm tasks to keep a steady supply of locally grown vegetables for their community. Some highlights will include a passive solar propagation house currently under construction, seed and grain crop tour, and the bountiful veggie production.
We’ll tour the farm, network, and look at the steps to building a successful land sharing relationship. Your regional Land Matcher will share information about how the B.C. Land Matching Program can help you find the perfect farmer for your land – or farmland where you can build your dream farm business.
Land Socials connect farmers and farmland holders, and set them up to receive ongoing support through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about sharing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land.
DATE: Sunday, July 11, 2021 • 3-6pm
LOCATION: 490 Swan Lake Road, Hazelton, BC
REGISTER: Due to COVID-19, we require registration for our events so we can limit the number of attendees to allow for physical distancing. PLEASE REGISTER HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.
SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
3-4 Farm Tour
4-5 Introduction circle & B.C. Land Matching Program Overview
5-6 Food & Networking
BRING: Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. A light catered meal will be provided, but if you’d prefer you can bring your own meal instead. There will not be any wash stations for dishes available. Please bring CLEAN footwear and clothing if coming from a farm/garden. Optional: face mask.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Please stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms, OR if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are completing a period of self-isolation as mandated by public health, OR if you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. Refer to the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool for more information.
We welcome cancellations at any time – you can do so through Eventbrite, through the link in your registration confirmation email, or by contacting morgan@youngagrarians.org. Please let us know if you aren’t able to attend so we can open up a spot to someone else.
Please follow physical distancing guidelines and keep 6 feet apart from other people. No handshakes or hugs please!
Masks are not required, but bring one to wear if you’d like.
We will have a hand sanitizer station for your use throughout the event. Please refrain from touching tools, pets and livestock, and door handles etc. on the farm.
If provincial health guidelines for events change, we may cancel the event and you will be notified by email.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This event is free and open to everyone! Children are welcome but please leave furry friends at home.
Join our Young Agrarians Central-Northern BC Facebook Group to stay up to date with all events.
Sign up for our e-newsletter to get events and opportunities for your region delivered straight to your inbox.

SHARE: Planning on joining us? Invite your friends and share the Facebook event! (Link coming soon)

Land Social at Elderberry Grove
2021-07-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Elderberry Grove, 540 Hwy 97B NE, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 1X5, Canada
You’re invited to a socially-distanced outdoor Land Social at Elderberry Grove in Secwepemcul’ecw, Salmon Arm, B.C.! If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about, join us for the event.
Be inspired and learn about the incredible farming that can be done on leased land! Elderberry Grove is an elderberry syrup farm. In 2017, farmers Louise and Jed couldn’t find any locally grown elderberries, so they planted Elderberry Grove. Since then their little farm has grown to multiple leased sites, and they love making farm-to-bottle elderberry syrups and elderberry cuttings so you can grow your own.
We’ll tour the farm, network, and look at the steps to building a successful land sharing relationship. Your regional Land Matcher will share information about how the B.C. Land Matching Program can help you find the perfect farmer for your land – or farmland where you can build your dream farm business.
Land Socials connect farmers and farmland holders, and set them up to receive ongoing support through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Both farmers seeking land and farmland holders thinking about sharing land are encouraged to attend – as well as anyone who loves food, farming, and getting out onto the land.

DATE: Saturday, July 10, 2021 • 1-4pm
LOCATION: Secwepemc Territory. 540 Hwy 97B NE, Salmon Arm (ensure it’s “NE”). To get to Elderberry Grove your best bet is to google maps: Elderberry Grove, Salmon Arm. We don’t recommend following GPS map directions.
REGISTER: Due to COVID-19, we require registration for our events so we can limit the number of attendees to allow for physical distancing. PLEASE REGISTER HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.
SCHEDULE (times are approximate):
1-2 pm Farm Tour
2-3 pm Introduction circle & B.C. Land Matching Program overview
3-4 pm Eat, hang & mingle
BRING: Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. A catered snack will be provided, but if you’d prefer you can bring your own snacks instead. There will not be any wash stations for dishes available. Optional: face mask.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Please stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms, OR if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are completing a period of self-isolation as mandated by public health, OR if you have had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. Refer to the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool for more information.
We welcome cancellations at any time – you can do so through Eventbrite, through the link in your registration confirmation email, or by contacting tessa@youngagrarians.org. Please let us know if you aren’t able to attend so we can open up a spot to someone else.
Please follow physical distancing guidelines and keep 6 feet apart from other people. No handshakes or hugs please!
Masks are not required, but bring one to wear if you’d like.
We will have a hand sanitizer station for your use throughout the event. Please refrain from touching tools, pets and livestock, and door handles etc. on the farm.
If provincial health guidelines for events change, we may cancel the event and you will be notified by email.
A catered snack will be available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This event is free and open to everyone! Children are welcome but please leave furry friends at home.
Parking will be available at the farm- please follow the signs.
There is an outdoor composting toilet on site

Join our Young Agrarians Okanagan Thompson Facebook Group to stay up to date with all events and to connect with your local YA farming community

Sign up for our e-newsletter to get events and opportunities for your region delivered straight to your inbox.

SHARE: Planning on joining us? Invite your friends and share the Facebook event! (Link coming soon)
