Upload
guy-dauncey
View
2.956
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
FARM VILLAGESThe Way of the Future
Food imported to Vancouver Island: 95%
BC’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)Created by the
NDP government in 1973-74
The Agricultural Land Reserve is a provincial zone in which agriculture is recognized as the priority use.
Farming is encouraged and non-agricultural uses are controlled.
It covers approximately 4.7 million hectares, including private and public lands that may be farmed, forested or vacant land.
The ALR’s Mission is to preserve agricultural land and encourage and enable farm businesses
throughout British Columbia.
The purpose of the Agricultural Land Commission is:• to preserve agricultural land; • to encourage farming in collaboration with other
communities of interest; • to encourage local governments, First Nations, and
government agencies to enable and accommodate farm use of agricultural land and other uses compatible with agriculture in plans, bylaws and policies.
The Commission expects to achieve its mission through the realization of
four complementary goals:
1. Preservation of agricultural land.2. Encouraging and enabling farm businesses.3. A provincial land reserve system that considers community interests.4. Sound governance and organizational excellence.
Alberni Valley Food Map
AgriculturalLand Reserve Farmland
There are 7,702 hectares in the Alberni Valley ALR.Only 3,171 hectares are actively farmed. 4,531 hectares are not being farmed.
Only 239 hectares are being used for vegetables, berries, grapes and other horticultural food crops.
= 3% of the farmland.
The valley produces between 5% and 11% of the food consumed locally.
89-95% of Port Alberni’s food is being imported…
Gross farm receipts average $61,797 per farm
The average farmer keeps about 8 cents of every dollar sold
– an average annual income of $4,606 per farm
to cover all overhead costs.
Alberni Valley Agricultural Plan, 2011-2031
5,184 hectares could be improved to prime capability with irrigation
The average farm operator is 55 years old.
It is expensive and time consuming to convert to higher valued crops, so
long term farmers are resisting changing.
Alberni Valley Agricultural Plan, 2011-2031
“Despite this, demand for local food has never been stronger. Consumers want to buy food they trust
from people they trust.
The Alberni Valley has experienced farmers and quality soils. There are opportunities to increase direct marketed products‐ to local consumer and
tourists.
… food for thought for developing a vision and plan for agriculture in the Alberni Valley.”
Alberni Valley Agricultural Plan, 2011-2031
Good farmlandsits empty
Young peoplewant to farm
And a lot of Vancouver Island farmland is just growing hay
Using small-scale intensive organic horticulture, farmers can earn to earn up to $25,000 an acre,
grossing up to $80,000 a year of profit per small farm.
Throughout the world, in every culture, farmers have lived in small farm villages
Gimmelwald Village, Switzerland
Imagine…
The Basic Idea: On any farm of more than 40 hectares (eg)
1 hectare may be rezoned as a Community Farm Village, with additional acreage being leased or sold to Community Farm Villagers for farming purposes.
FARM VILLAGESA Proposal
A Community Farmland ZoneThe Zone would allow the development of a clustered Farm Village, with controls to ensure that the land is farmed:
A: A Community Farmland Zone Bylaw
B: A covenant registered with the land
C: Strata Farm Fees that do not apply if the land is farmed
D: Registration of a Housing Agreement, restricting residential units to farmers and their families.
FARM VILLAGES A Proposal
The Village is a self-governing community strata-title, with the land owned privately, cooperatively, or by a Land Trust.
The Farm Village can be created in three ways:(a) By successful application to the local Council by a group
of would-be farmers for Community Farmland Zoning, on a farm they intend to buy.
(b) By successful application to the local Council by an existing farmer with land outside the ALR.
(c) By successful application to the local Council and to the Agricultural Land Commission by an existing farmer with land inside the ALR.
Either: A farm for sale, and a group of would-be Farm Villagers apply for Community Farmland Zoning.
Or: A farmer who supports the idea, backed by would-be Village Farmers, applies for Community Farmland Zoning.
43 acres $564,900
160 acres $629,900
56 acres $950,000
43 acres $955,000
56 acres $1,098,000
100 Hectare FarmAnywhere, BC
100 Hectare FarmAnywhere, BC
Farm Village
100 Hectare FarmAnywhere, BC
Farm Village
Cost of land: $100,000?Shared by 5 families = $20,000 each
Cost per small starter self-built house: $150,000
100 Hectare FarmAnywhere, BC
Farm Village
Cost of land: $100,000?Shared by 5 families = $20,000 each
Cost per small starter self-built house: $150,000
Leasedor
purchased
100 Hectare FarmAnywhere, BC
Farm Village
Cost of land: $100,000?Shared by 5 families = $20,000 each
Cost per small starter self-built house: $150,000
Four levels of protection, to ensure that the Zone is not abused:1. The new Community Farm Zone Bylaw2. A Covenant attached to the land3. Strata Council Farm Fees4. A Registered Housing Agreement
Alberni Valley Farmland4,531 hectares = possible 50 Farm villages
FARM VILLAGESA Proposal
1: Community Farmland Zoning Bylaw
Principal use agriculture. Residential use ancillary, homes limited (eg) to 1500 sq ft.
‘Farming’ defined to exclude principally forage or hay.
The first acre per household not for forage, horses or hay. On subsequent acres, no more than 50% of the land can be used for horses, forage or hay.
FARM VILLAGESA Proposal
2: Community Farmland Covenant
Registration of a restrictive covenant to the effect that the land will be used for farming, signed by a third party (eg a Farmland Trust) which would monitor the lands, and ensure they are used for farming.
The owners would be unable to break the covenant, since the role of the third-party covenant holder would be to uphold the covenant.
FARM VILLAGESA Proposal
3: Strata Farm Fees
The strata council (required by covenant) will oversee the farming operations, with forgivable strata fees for farming.
If the owners choose not to farm, significant strata fees will be charged and used to pay for others to farm the land.
Strata fees will also be collected to fund common facilities, green houses, irrigation, cool storage, processing kitchen, farm worker accommodation, etc.
FARM VILLAGESA Proposal
4: A Housing Agreement
Registration of a Housing Agreement. In British Columbia, the Local Government Act enables local governments to register housing agreements which can restrict housing to “classes of persons” (sec 905 2) b), LGA).
This may be used to restrict the residential units to “farmers” and their families.
Yarrow Ecovillage and Farm, Yale, BC
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?1. It is legally possible to create such a new Zone, both
inside and outside the ALR.
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?1. It is legally possible to create such a new Zone, both
inside and outside the ALR.2. A non-profit obtains a grant to develop the idea.
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?1. It is legally possible to create such a new Zone, both
inside and outside the ALR.2. A non-profit obtains a grant to develop the idea. 3. Talk to local planners and ALR Commissioners.
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?1. It is legally possible to create such a new Zone, both
inside and outside the ALR.2. A non-profit obtains a grant to develop the idea. 3. Talk to local planners and ALR Commissioners.4. Create a website to gather input from future farmers
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?1. It is legally possible to create such a new Zone, both
inside and outside the ALR.2. A non-profit obtains a grant to develop the idea. 3. Talk to local planners and ALR Commissioners.4. Create a website to gather input from future farmers5. Seek would-be Village Farmers.
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?1. It is legally possible to create such a new Zone, both
inside and outside the ALR.2. A non-profit obtains a grant to develop the idea. 3. Talk to local planners and ALR Commissioners.4. Create a website to gather input from future farmers5. Seek would-be Village Farmers.6. Seek existing farmers who might be interested to sell
some of their land for a Farmland Village.
HOW COULD IT HAPPEN?1. It is legally possible to create such a new Zone, both
inside and outside the ALR.2. A non-profit obtains a grant to develop the idea. 3. Talk to local planners and ALR Commissioners.4. Create a website to gather input from future farmers5. Seek would-be Village Farmers.6. Seek existing farmers who might be interested to sell
some of their land for a Farmland Village.7. Create the first Community Farmland Village.
WANTED: Future farmers to form Community Farm Village. Buy land, build our homes, farm the land. Contact Jason 250-456-7899 [email protected]
LAND OWNERSHIP(a) Strata-title, owned by the
new farmers(b) A Community Land Trust
owns the land, new farmers own their houses
FINANCING (a) Land purchase is angel investor financed, repaid by
Village Farm strata over time.(b) Farmer sells to new owners over 10 years.(c) A Community Land Trust purchases the land, leases it to the farmers(d) Straight mortgage from a friendly bank, credit union
OPERATING MODELS(a) As a farm coop(b) As a joint farm business(c) As separate farm partners
INCOME: Farming, multiple crops, CSA and otherwiseValue added farm productsEducational coursesFarm holidays
Another possible solution…
Should we allow land zoned agricultural to be used to grow hay for horses
and no food at all?
Land zoned agricultural should carry the requirement applying future owners, from the time of purchase, that at least
10% of the land be used to grow food …
or be leased to someone who will grow food.
WANTED: Young farmers to grow food on good farmland in Central Saanich to meet zoning requirement. Willing to help with irrigation, equipment, farm housing. Farmer Jones, 250-998-7653. [email protected]
Deep in many people’s hearts, is the longing to recover what we have lost.
FamilyCommunity
Honest hard workHarmony with Nature
Sara Dent, www.farmlove.orgLove…
Babies…
School...
Sara Dent, www.farmlove.orgCelebration
www.slideshare.net/GuyDauncey/farm-villages
Guy Dauncey 2013 www.earthfuture.com
Guy Dauncey
www.earthfuture.com