Farm Locations
Last issue we brought you the stories of innovative farmers who are changing the game by seeking out new markets, investing in new products, or finding new ways to earn revenue. In the Okanagan farmers are fortunate to get valuable assistance from the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission.
The COEDC offers a variety of valuable information sources and one-on-one assistance for agricultural operations that need access to promotional and marketing opportunities.
In 2016 the COEDC will work with 20 farm operations in the Okanagan Valley. In this issue, we talked to six farm families about their experience bringing new innovation to a venerable business.
James & Kristi Caldwell
JAMES & KRISTI CALDWELL
Caldwell Heritage Farm
In 2014 James and Kristi Caldwell packed up their two daughters and life in Vancouver and moved to the family farm in southeast Kelowna where they embarked on an adventurous new lifestyle. Caldwell Heritage Farm is home to 73 chickens, two cows and a unique collection of antique farm equipment assembled by Kristi’s father, Jake Warkentin over many years. A self-guided walking tour includes a blacksmith shop, tool museum and three sheds housing tractors, trucks and other gems, many with connections to the Okanagan farm and business heritage. The rambling gardens, rustic stone pathways and rich green pastures also provide a romantic setting for wedding ceremonies.
We are proud to be farmers because it provides us with an opportunity to share incredible learning experiences with our two young daughters every single day. To see their proud smiles and sense of accomplishment when collecting eggs or harvesting veggies makes all the hard work more than worth it.
A good “day at the office” includes planting a new crop, seeing that all of the animals are happy and healthy or meeting with a couple interested in holding their wedding ceremony at our farm. A “really” good day at the office would involve a full 12 hours without a piece of equipment breaking down!
A hard day at the office includes losing one of our beloved laying hens. We often joke that we’re not so sure we’re cut out to be farmers… we all end up with broken hearts each time we have to say goodbye to an animal. It’s probably the most difficult part of what we do, but it’s also an important learning opportunity for our children.
Our greatest inspiration comes from our (Kristi’s) parents, who unknowingly, started us on this path over 25 years ago. They worked incredibly hard to create the beautiful farm we’re now so honored to call home. Preserving their legacy for the grandchildren they never had the opportunity to meet, and for the larger community, is what keeps us going on those tough days.
Our advice to others looking to operate a farm business today is to start small, but dream big. Know where you want to go, but expect more than a few bumps in the road. Seek out education and guidance as much as humanly possible. Never be afraid to ask for help. We’ve been extremely fortunate to find a handful of amazing mentors during the first part of our journey, and it has truly made all the difference.
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Jordan Marr
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Photo by Ian Stewart
Homestead Farm
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Photo by Ian Stewart
Homestead Farm 2
JORDAN MARR
The Homestead
www.thehomesteadorganicfarm.ca
Following a season-long bicycle-tour of farms in Oregon, California and Eastern Canada, and two years at Ragley Farm on Vancouver Island, Jordan Marr and his then fiancé (now wife) Vanessa Samur moved to the Okanagan to start their organic farming business in 2011. Vegetables, herbs and some fruit are grown and sold mainly through a home delivery program, with some products sold at farmers’ markets, selected grocery stores and to Okanagan chefs.
I am proud to be a farmer today because of the ever-increasing body of evidence linking healthy soil, healthy plants and healthy people. I spend a considerable amount of time and resources trying to foster microbial life in my soil, and I think my crops are healthier for it.
A good day at the office includes getting the harvest in and deliveries out on time, then shooting the breeze with my customers. I sell to a number of restaurants in the region and I really enjoy visiting the kitchens. It’s cool talking with people who are as passionate about cooking good food as I am about growing it.
A hard day at the office includes busted irrigation lines, too many beds to plant, and tools that go missing without a trace.
My greatest inspiration comes from witnessing my practices (and crops) improve each year with experience. I spend a good chunk of the winter on crop planning and research and it’s slowly making me a better farmer.
My advice to others looking to start a farm business today is don’t bite off too much at once. Focus on one or two crops instead of trying to master too much too soon. Some new farmers decide to be veggie growers and beekeepers and raise poultry all at once. It’s a quick way to burnout.
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Kristen Eng
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Hoof Prints Barnyard
KRISTIN ENG
Hoof Prints Barnyard
Kristin Eng opened Hoof Prints Barnyard in 2015, a unique petting zoo located on eight acres near Kelowna International Airport. Starting the business fulfilled her long-time goal of promoting learning and interaction with nature among children while they enjoy a fun party experience. Facilities include a party room, pony rides, indoor restroom, barbeque, fire pit, covered outdoor eating area and exclusive use of the property.
I am proud to be a farmer today because with today’s technology many people are disconnected from nature. I provide families with an opportunity to intimately interact with a variety of farm animals and escape the day-to-day stresses of their busy lives.
A good day at the office includes seeing people smile, laugh and make wonderful memories. They’re spending wholesome, quality time with their loves ones in a peaceful setting.
A hard day at the office includes …Well, every day includes a lot of work maintaining the property and caring for the animals. On the rare occasion one of our critters is under the weather and not feeling well, it can be stressful. They are all like my children and their well-being is of the utmost importance to me.
My greatest inspiration comes from hearing our guests express pure gratitude for the opportunity to bring friends and family to the farm. It makes all the hard work well worth it.
My advice to others looking to operate a farm business today is make sure you have a clear understanding of the time, energy and budget needed to commit to farming. There are no days off and you have to be willing to make this your lifestyle. It’s definitely not a “typical day job” and there are sacrifices that must be made.
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Audrey Hystad
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The Clubhouse Farm
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The Farm
AUDREY HYSTAD, MSc.
The Clubhouse Farm
This farm-and-nature based play space and outdoor classroom was created in 2012 based on two major principles for resilient communities. The first is that children need to play outside more often. They need to get dirty, pick up bugs, explore, and relax in and close to nature. They need to see where food comes from and be a part of helping in the gardens and picking the fresh berries off the bushes and the apples off the trees. The second is that supporting local food production is imperative for a sustainable community, and as a small scale farm, diversifying production and sources of income is pivotal to ensuring the farm can stay in business.
A good “day at the office” includes our daycare, preschool or school age children playing outside and exploring the insects, plants, trees and wildlife that offer so many opportunities for incidental learning.
A hard day at the office results when children or staff are not dressed for the weather. Thank goodness for our muddy buddies and stockpile of extra socks, rubber boots, mitts and sweaters.
Our greatest inspiration comes from watching the children enjoy their time here and grow. They quickly learn where certain plants like to be planted, how bugs are helpful to our ecology and why it is so important to compost. Through gardening, mud play, exploring and helping out, we see children begin to understand the basics of physics, earth sciences and agriculture, develop their risk and observation skills, and improve their fine and gross motor skills. These experiences will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Our advice to others looking to operate a farm business today is collaborate with like-minded people and organizations. Join local agricultural interest groups. Have a good team and write down your strategic vision. Preparation: everything from dressing for the weather to setting up irrigation first! It is hard work, but the benefits are more than worth it.
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Carmelis Cheese
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Thomas Burns
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Carmelis Goats
THOMAS & AMANDA BURNS
Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan
Carmelis is a small scale boutique dairy located near Okanagan Mountain Park in Kelowna. It produces rich, complex and refined cheeses that render full justice to the quality of the milk and the art of cheese making. The cheeses are produced using traditional techniques and from 100% goat milk that comes from the farm’s own goats and an organic goat farmer in Grand Forks. A visit to the farm includes tours and tastings of Carmelis’ gelato as well as the broad range of cheeses.
I am proud to be a farmer today because I have always loved great food and learning about where it was produced. I take great pride in being able to produce something from start to finish on the farm and seeing the smiles on our customers’ faces as they give it a try.
A good day at the office includes a bunch of happy and healthy goats and excited customers coming to see us. It’s also a good day when we can keep to some kind of a schedule.
A hard day at the office is when an issue comes up and it throws my day two or three hours sideways. As the proprietor of a farm and food manufacturing business, I tend to operate by the minute rather than the hour and I usually have a general plan when I wake up in the morning for what I want to do. That said, when you are dealing with livestock and food production no two days are ever the same and I really enjoy that as well.
My advice to others looking to operate a farm business today is be prepared to work very hard. Most the time you work long hours to get everything done you set out to accomplish. It is important to have family that will support you in your farm project, or find a good team that shares your passion for what you’re doing.
Wise Earth
JOHN HOFER & BRENDA PATERSON
Wise Earth Farm
Wise Earth Farm is a small-scale sustainable farm in Kelowna specializing in organic and biologically intensive cropping practices. By emphasizing intelligent farm design, appropriate technologies and harnessing the power of soil biology, the farm is able to produce over 40,000 lbs. of vegetables per year on 1.5 acres. These are sold through the farm’s CSA program, at farmers’ market and to Okanagan restaurants and wineries.
We are proud to be farmers today because it’s exciting to be part of the trend of the local food movement and knowing farmers are becoming recognized for their value to society. We enjoy providing a service for our community that is both healthy and sustainable.
A good day at the office includes having a good team and accomplishing our goals. We have a productive, caring team that shares our passion for quality healthy food. We love to have local chefs come to the farm, seeing them become super excited about our produce and planning their menus around our products.
A hard day at the office includes dealing with unpredictable weather such as the hail storm that hit our farm in 2013 and destroyed tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of vegetables in a matter of minutes. Farming can feel really hard when your back hurts, the weather is awful, you have crop failures, some strange insect infestation and you have unforeseen expenditures.
Our greatest inspiration comes from people such as John Jevons and Elliot Coleman. Our inspiration to start farming came from reading John Jevons’ book, How to Grow More Vegetables than you Ever Thought Possible and we realized we could farm on a small scale.
Our advice to others looking to operate a farm business today is do your research and learn from what others have done. Find out who your customers are (restaurants, farmers markets, CSA box programs, wholesale), make a yearly plan, keep records of everything, diversify, and grow organically.
Our featured farms are some of the twenty farm operations in the Okanagan Valley working with the COEDC.
The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, a function of the Regional District of Central Okanagan provides programs and services to Central Okanagan businesses in all sectors including agriculture. In 2016, the Commission will conduct 20 in-depth site visits with Central Okanagan farm operators in order to gather information about the challenges they face, provide one-one assistance, promote agriculture in the region and enhance connections among agriculture-related businesses.
Tracey Fredrickson is Business Enhancement Officer with the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission whose first career was as a journalist. Since 2011 she has interviewed numerous agriculture-related businesses in the Region and developed and delivered an agri-tourism business planning program. ■
For more information contact: Tracey at tfredrickson@investkelowna.com www.investkelowna.com