Start-up farmers getting community farm up and running in Kelowna

Two start-up farmers are hoping to create a lasting benefit to Kelowna through a community cooperative farm.

Ceres Circle Farm has been taken over by Cecilia Hogan and Kevin Morin after the land was donated by Sue Haley, the former owner, to be held in a trust with the BC Foodlands cooperative so her life’s work can continue.

Morin says that the farm would provide endless opportunities for the community while making Kelowna a more sustainable city.

“Because it’s in a land trust, it’s secured,” says Morin. “It’s going to stay a farm indefinitely, and with rising urbanization, farmland is increasingly switched over.”

“It’s going to become whatever the citizens want it to become,” he adds. “It'd be a knowledge centre for the community essentially.”

As a community cooperative farm, the 36 acres of land will be managed by an elected board of community members and will develop into various different projects including a community garden, and a place for workshops.

Other start-up farmers would be able to use the land and have the option to come in and start their own enterprise, such as bee-keeping or growing vegetables for market.

The development of projects like this means food security and a more sustainable community. Morin says that he believes these kinds of models will be increasingly more common as urbanization continues and farmland become more centralized.

“Even in Canada, we import a large amount of our produce from California or down south,” says Morin. “So, in the case of an environmental disaster, we tend to think that we haven’t seen food shortages here, but definitely with the way the world economy is tailored today it could happen.”

Morin and Hogan have already moved into the old farmhouse, and are developing the project. They even have plans to purchase a flock of sheep so they can continue the business of Haley, the previous operator.

They are currently asking for help with purchasing the flock of sheep, which will provide the community with meat, wool, and cheeses, which Morin adds would be a great pairing with our Okanagan wines.

They are operating a rewards-based fundraising campaign where people can pre-order a vegetable basket, a lamb roast, or even attend a dinner hosted at the farm.

They are already more than halfway to their fundraising goal and have until January 16th, 2018 to raise the $7,000 needed for the farm's sheep.

“It’s not an option when you see your high school guidance counselor,” says Morin about why they took up the project. “Becoming a farmer is not on anyone’s radar, but I think it’s a very healthy lifestyle, and it’s an important one.”