FACILITIES | SSI Farmland Trust

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

Harvest Farm

Harvest Farm is a project of Salt Spring Community Services and an integral part of its Harvest Food Programs. It has been leasing a 1/2 acre plot from The FLT since 2015, in addition to another 1/2 acre space inside the Community Gardens.

Community Services’ farm coordinator, with the help of volunteers, summer employees, and participants in its vocational training program, tend to the crops. The produce is then distributed to the food bank, its community “free fridges,” and the Harvest Kitchen. From the kitchen, the produce is used to prepare meals for the Harvest Home Meal program which delivers meals weekly to seniors still living in their own homes, Meals are also made for its Harvest Cafe which is a social enterprise whose profits are reinvested into Harvest programs and meals for other SSI Community Services' programs such as the emergency shelter.

Community Services now has a farm stand operating in conjunction with its Harvest Cafe and any extra produce, not required in other Harvest programs, is sold at the farm stand with profits re-invested into running the Harvest programs.

https://saltspringcommunityservices.ca/food-security/harvest-farm/

Hogwild Farms

Profile coming soon...

Night Owl Farm

Night Owl Farm sits peacefully on 84 acres in Burgoyne Valley, part of which is pasture rented from The Farmland Trust. Gavin Johnson and his partner Catherine Valentine raise Belted Galloway Cattle, laying hens, meat birds, a couple of horses, orchards, and gardens.

The cows are fed solely with hay harvested from their own pastures, and the only grain they eat is the spent Brewer's grain from Salt Spring Ales. Apparently, they love the taste (and buzz:) of it!

Behind the scenes but at the top of priorities is encouraging bio-diversity of the land through nourishing native plants, animals, and land forms. They would like to diversity even further by establishing greenhouses and bringing the farm's historic apple orchard back to life.

By using organic fertilizer, not using pesticides on their fruit trees, and purchasing chicken feed without antibiotics, Night Owl Farm provides locals with organic beef, apple juice, and eggs as “start-to-finished” products.

Website: http://www.nightowlfarm.ca/home.html

Sandhill Botanicals

Established in 1999 by husband and wife herbalist team Kevin Kunzler and Jasmyn Clift, Sandhill Botanicals provides the highest quality organic and ethically wild-crafted herbal medicines to natural clinics across Canada and the USA.

The duo found their respective ways to Salt Spring from Vancouver and Oakland, CA. Before her arrival, Jasmyn founded the largest non-profit holistic health clinic in North America, (compassionroots.com), providing clients many modalities of care, including herbal medicine, regardless of their ability to pay. Maintaining high standards of herbal quality was the driving force behind Sandhill starting their one-acre operation on the Burgoyne Valley Community Farm.

Kevin makes about 400 herbal extracts, from teas and tinctures to creams and salves from plants on their farm. The other half of their farm is devoted to roses, both for distillation and for cut flowers. With a passion for self-sufficient pharmacy, they also provide a comprehensive medicine-making curriculum to students at the Wild Seed School of Herbal Studies, (wildseedschool.com) which Kevin and Jasmyn jointly run.

To get in touch, email us at: sandhillbotanicals@gmail.com

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.”

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: sfarmer@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

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

The Food Free Rangers

Revolutionizing the local food scene since March 1, 2024. Nestled at The Root, we’re a vibrant community of farmers, bakers, chefs, and families dedicated to serving organic goodness to 75 weekly customers.

Partnering with top-notch local farms and producers like Bright Farm and Duck Creek Farm, we champion sustainability by minimizing waste and using eco-friendly practices. Our mission? To bolster the local food system and bring healthy, authentic food to your table.

Join us every Thursday and Friday for fresh picks and community spirit!

Nance Bakes

Nance Bakes has been a vibrant member of The Root since May 2024, delighting customers at the Tuesday Farmers Market with a small but dynamic bakery specializing in pastries and sourdough. With a commitment to using local produce and flour, including ingredients from Duck Creek Farm, Paradise Farm, and Salt Spring Flour Milling, the bakery offers a rotating menu of delicious and unique flavors.

Serving approximately 165 customers each week, Nance Bakes has rapidly become a community favorite. Her business not only champions sustainability with recycled packaging and locally sourced ingredients but also proudly employs one team member. Though new to hosting community events, the owner is enthusiastic about future opportunities. Since launching in May, Nance Bakes has seen a steady increase in production and a loyal customer base, highlighting its success and growing impact in the local community.

Ox Eats Grass

Ox Eats Grass, is a vegan food truck at that has been at The Root for over a year. The Ox has menu full of delicious plant-based meals using lots of locally-sourced vegetables and products. They support sustainability through composting, recycling, and using local ingredients. The business employs four people and actively participates in community events at The Root, fostering a strong connection with local customers.

SaltJar Refillery

Salt Jar Refillery, established in February 2023 and proudly based at The Root since October 2023, is committed to delivering high-quality, consciously sourced, plastic-free grocery essentials to our island community in a sustainable and convenient manner. We offer a curated selection of local products, including Salt Spring Soap Works, Island Bees Honey, and Duck Creek Fleur de Sel, among others.

We are dedicated to eliminating single-use plastics and reducing our carbon footprint, having diverted over 10,000 single-use containers to date. Our mission extends to community engagement, with initiatives such as beach clean-ups and supporting LocalSalt’s Tuesday Food Hub, which empowers local producers on Salt Spring Island. By creating jobs and ensuring high customer satisfaction with a 60% return rate, we aim to foster a sustainable, supportive, and thriving local economy.

Sweetgrass Food Co.

Sweetgrass Food Co., a cherished tenant at The Root for the past 4.5 months, excels in crafting memorable dining experiences for both community and private events. Their Thursday night Backdoor Dinner pickup service has become a local favorite, serving between 20 and 200 customers each week. Embracing seasonal, locally-sourced produce, Sweetgrass Food Co. not only supports regional farmers but also enriches their culinary creations.

Local Salt

LocalSalt has been a vibrant tenant at The Root since February 9th, 2023, dedicated to aggregating and distributing local foods to enhance convenience and accessibility. Serving around 35 customers weekly, the business supports over 30 local producers with a diverse range of products, from seasonal vegetables to baked goods. Owned and operated by Caitlyn Pal, LocalSalt actively engages in community events, such as the weekly Food Hub and the Thanksgiving Turkey Drop, where 40 locally raised turkeys were distributed. Committed to sustainability, LocalSalt partners with SaltJar Refillery for zero-waste groceries and has facilitated $12,000 in sales for a local farm, ensuring the farm retains 90% of the revenue. With over 55 produce listings, LocalSalt continues to grow and enrich the community.

Buttercup Sandwich Florals

We create floral designs with locally grown, organic flowers that reflect the uniqueness of our clients and the plants in season.

Buttercup Sandwich offers florals for events large and small. We grow flowers ourselves and buy from other local growers, to produce arrangements that are full of vitality, healthy for our ecosystem and speak in volumes. Based on Salt Spring Island, Buttercup Sandwich serves BC Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, Mainland BC, and as far as the Okanagan.

We feel passionate about creating one-of-a-kind designs for each client and giving them the cinematic, unforgettable moment they deserve.

We pride ourselves in working with pesticide-free, organic flowers that the pollinators can buzz around in safely, that we feel confident handing to our clients and that we feel comfortable composting and returning to the soil. We only use floral materials that can be either reused or composted. In all these ways we mirror the cycles of nature in the way we run our business.

Salty Burgers

Salty Burgers is a creation by Salt Spring Island-born and raised Jasmin Coffey, who grew up in a culinary home enjoying delicious, home-cooked vegetarian meals. Salty Burgers was created to offer more tasty options for different needs and choices. We create small-batch, organic, gluten-free-friendly, and wholesome frozen patties.

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.