LEAD ORGANIZATION: IN COLLABORATION WITH: FUNDERS:

SPONSORS: PARTNERS:
AN EXPLORATION OF SMALL FARM CO-HOUSING
Sara Dent

Elphinstone Farm Corporation Bowen Island Properties

Farm Folk/City Folk and Young Agrarians Community Futures One Straw Society VOICE on the Coast Sunshine Coast Regional District

Partial funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In British Columbia, this program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
HOW IT BEGAN
Intro by Chad Hershler

3 4 5 6 7 7-15

OVERVIEW CONSULTANT TEAM

Its all about the people

CHARTING THE COURSE

Methodology, challenges and lessons learned

CONSIDERATIONS
A simple checklist

CASE STUDIES
Storvold Rd, Langdale King Rd, Elphinstone Lower Rd, Roberts Creek Lockyer Rd, Roberts Creek

LOOKING FORWARD
Recommendations and opportunities

16 17

APPENDIX

The SMART FARM Project

HOW IT BEGAN
Two years after my wife Sandy and I moved from East Van to a spectacular five-acre property on the Sunshine Coast, 40 acres of Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) forest next to us was bulldozed and carved into eight more five-acre lots. Twenty-five years earlier, the land we were living on was cleared, bulldozed and removed from ALR just the sameso we couldnt really complain about the loss of precious wilderness or farmland. That was until we saw the covenants. Buyers of these lots are legally bound to build a minimum 3,000-square-foot home with a minimum two-car garage. The forest wasnt just cleared and removed from the ALR: it was cleared to build estate lots. This just didnt seem fair at all. Let me explain. When we first moved onto the land, Sandy and I had this wildly ambitious dream: we wanted to build an artist retreat on a farm just a short ferry ride away from the big city. That dream vanished in a fast descending fog of reality (What do you mean we have to put in another septic field? Whats a septic field?) and we were left wondering what on earth we were doing. One day, overlooking our empty fields, my wife turned to me. Were zoned for farming, right? I nodded. And were artists, she continued. So lets be an art farm. Those two words side by side were all the fertilizer we needed. We had no idea what the term art farm meant but it didnt matter. We called ourselves an art farm, and peoplefrom all sorts of backgrounds and professionsemerged, throwing their thoughts, ideas and projects into the mix. We started a non-profit organization called Deer Crossing the Art Farm, running arts and nature-driven programming on our property and out in the community, and The Art Farm harvest grew bigger and bigger every year. From festivals to productions to workshops, it was hard to keep up with the bounty! Then we started to explore how we could create, you know, a farm on The Art Farm. Clearly we had the art side taken care of; the farm side not so much. We arent farmers. We have all the respect in the world for farmers, but we arent the ones to make it happen. So we set out to recruit some young farmers onto the land. Our first challenge was where to house them? There is one 1,000-square-foot home that we live in and a one-room cabin in the woods. We could bring in volunteers for a few weeks at a time but no farming family was going to move to a piece of land they dont own with nowhere to live. Our ownership situation is tenuous enough, as it is. Sandy and I share ownership of the land with my parents. It was the only way we could make the leap in the first place. My parents are supportive of our vision but have no desire to live on the land. We realized if we were going to buy my parents out, invest in more housing and start a farm, wed need more than one other family to make this happen: two more, at the very least. Yet when we proposed a cluster development (that would take up the same or less square footage then your average 6,000-square-foot estate home) to our local planner he explained that our current zoning wouldnt allow it. And that brings us back to those eight five-acre covenanted lots beside us. How is it that, in an age of food security crises and the skyrocketing value of land, where the average age of farmers is in the mid-50s and creeping higher, our current zoning allows for estate developments such as the one next door to us, but doesnt allow for a low-footprint cluster development that might actually make farming viable for the next generation of farmers? This is the issue the Smart Farm Project tries to address. There are, it turns out, many challenges to developing a small farm co-housing model. From the legal quandaries around ownership, to the economic feasibility of small farming, to zoning complications, building a Smart Farm is not a simple endeavour. It is, however, an excit-

hler and d Chad Hers rm Fa on the Art

augher Ma

ggie

ing one. This project has been inspiring from the get-go. Whether youre a regional planner, a farming advocate, an economic development officer, a retiree, a non-profit organization, a farm, a farmer or someone just like me with nothing but a vision and relentless (some might say: nave) determination, we hope the outcomes of this exploration into small farm co-housing helps you kick-start some Smart Farms of your own. This has brought the dream a whole lot closer to reality for us. May it do the same for you and yours. BY CHAD HERSHLER

How is it that, in an age of food security crises and the skyrocketing value of land, where the average age of farmers is in the mid-50s and creeping higher, our current zoning allows for estate developments such as the one next door to us, but doesnt allow for a low footprint cluster development that might actually make farming viable for the next generation of farmers?
- Chad Hershler

The SMART FARM Project | page 3/17

OVERVIEW
The number of farmers dropped 10 % from 2006 to 2011, as did the number of farms. The reasons are simple. In most of our provinces, land costs too much and farming makes too little.
A quick scan of the 2011 Census of Agriculture paints a bleak picture. The average age of farmers in Canada is 55, with more than 48% over the age of 55. Only 8% of our farmers are younger than 35. The number of farmers dropped 10% from 2006 to 2011, as did the number of farms. The reasons are simple. In most of our provinces, land costs too much and farming makes too little. This is a national crisis that requires collaborative innovation between the public, private and communitydriven sectors. The Smart Farm Project is an exploration of several such innovations. In BC, the ALRand the Agricultural Land Commission that oversees itwas established to protect farmland from the pressures of development and urban sprawl. Rules and regulations need to be firm to withstand this pressure. But rural municipalities and regional districts across BC have jurisdiction over thousands of hectares of potential farmland outside the ALR. These properties are generally smaller than average ALR lots, are typically serviced and cleared and in many cases have some type of housing already in place. The Smart Farm Project explores whether increased density on such lots using low footprint cluster designs could catalyze small farms and provide affordable housing for the younger generation of farmers we so desperately need. The project went through several stages, beginning first with market research, moving into an outreach phase for data and recruitment of volunteers for the case studies to come. The consultant and management team selected four case study properties that reflected a diversity of geography, ownership and potential farm yield. The team collaborated on a Smart Farm proposal for each property, including farm plan, designs, legal recommendations and a feasibility analysis. The case-study approach allowed the team to explore this innovation across a spectrum of
Sara Dent

potential proposals, from the unconventional co-operative driven model through to the more conventional developer-driven model. The findings were daunting, surprising and exciting all at the same time. There is a significant amount of front-end workfrom the business plan to legal considerations to rezoningrequired to establish these proposals. That said, on the Sunshine Coast where this project is based, they garnered little to no resistance at the government or regulatory level. There is a growing (almost desperate) desire for more local farms and this desire has translated into an openness to alternative solutions. Lastly, the number and diversity of people who are interested in exploring the Smart Farm concepthere on the Sunshine Coast and elsewheremeans these proposals are not just viable; the proposals are achievable. With continued support from funders and local government, Smart Farms have the potential to play a pivotal role in attracting young farmers and catalyzing new farms across BC and Canada.

Sara Dent

The SMART FARM Project | page 4/17

THE SMART FARM PROJECT

- ITS ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE Among the many things learned, or reinforced, during this project was the simple truth that people and relationships are critical to the success of any collaborative enterprise. All aspects of the project involved focused engagement with one or more stakeholder group. The universe of stakeholders in the Smart Farm Project includes: individuals and families interested in exploring the possibility of small farm co-housing; people and organizations already engaged in related activities such as food security and affordable housing; local government and their planning departments; and consultants with the passion and capacity to support the work. One of our recommendations to others seeking to explore a Smart Farm model is to factor in the time and expense involved in developing and managing relationships with stakeholders, as well as to ensure that the individuals at the helm of such endeavours have strong people and communication skills. In many respects, such skills are more important than experience or knowledge in farming or co-housing. The following organizations were instrumental in helping spread the word about the project. Representatives attended meetings, gave critical input around the market for alternative farm and housing models, and pointed us to other sources of information: ONE STRAW SOCIETY YOUNG AGRARIANS FARM FOLK/CITY FOLK VOICE ON THE COAST SOCIETY UBC FARMS COMMUNITY FUTURES SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL DISTRICT Based upon our research we would expect that similar stakeholder organizations exist in communities throughout BC and Canada. We would recommend creating an inventory of such stakeholders for outreach and capacity building. The Smart Farm Project benefited from a solid consultant and management team who brought their respective expertise to the table literally as well as figuratively given the number of meetings that involved good and locally grown food!

CONSULTANT TEAM
Architectural consultation and research for each site, creation of example home designs and building systems research. www.silverleafsustainable.com

BRIAN W. SILVER

IONE SMITH

Agrologist services to assess feasibility and develop farm plans for each potential Smart Farm site www.uplandconsulting.ca

MELANIA CANNON

Consideration of legal questions and issues arising from the land uses and business concepts explored in the Smart Farm models [email protected]

Market research on the Smart Farm models www.rwbusinesssolutions.com

RHONI WHYARD

Financial framework development and feasibility analysis for the Smart Farm models [email protected]

SCOTT HUGHES

project m r a F t r a The Sm nments r e v o g l a c gives lo embers m y t i n u m and com unity to the opport ity and l a t i v e s a e incr rural n i y t i v i t c u prod ostering f e l i h w , s area ty ties. i n u m m o c stronger n
-Melania C anno

Project planning and facilitation, assistance drafting of written materials for community engagement and reporting [email protected]

VALERIE NASH

CHAD HERSHLER

Project management www.chadhershler.com

SANDY BUCK

Outreach and events [email protected]

BETH HAWTHORN

Graphic design and layout bethhawthorn.com

More in-depth bios found in the Appendix.

The SMART FARM Project | page 5/17

CHARTING THE COURSE

This section will look at our project methodology with a view to providing guidance for those inspired to explore their own Smart Farm initiatives.
SITE PLANNING

Smart Farm Project activities included:

COORDINATION | MARKET RESEARCH | OUTREACH | SITE PLANNING | ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS | FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS

With an overwhelming response from landowners and potential farmers on the Sunshine Coast during the outreach component, the consultant and management team decided to select four properties as case studies. Our selection process was based on the need for diversity within the parameters of the project. The parameters were: the land had to be outside the ALR and it had to be between five and twenty acres in size. On the diversity side, we wanted the case studies to represent a range of current zoning, proximity to town and village centres, level of current development on land, and types of personalities leading the projects. As the Art Farm currently leases a five-acre parcel of land that the organization is interested in developing into a Smart Farm pilot, the project team needed to identify three more properties for the project. The team met with other prospective or current property owners and conducted an initial informal interview to ensure they understood the nature of the project and the time commitment required of them as well as the benefits that the project offered to them and the community at large. The team settled on two more properties with owners interested in developing Smart Farm pilots of their own and a third property upon which we could present a developer-driven model. With four properties selected, the project team then focused on delivering a clear and concise proposal for each property. This proposal included a farm plan, a design plan for housing and legal recommendations around land, housing and farm ownership.

COORDINATION

Our methodology for coordination consisted of initial meetings with the consultant team and landowners in order to map out the project work plan, supplemented by individual meetings and conference calls. There were no notable or unexpected challenges in this area, mostly due to the fact that we had a designated Project Manager and experienced consultants who were highly committed to the success of the project.

MARKET RESEARCH

Consultant Rhoni Whyard undertook initial market research to ensure our outreach and site planning was well informed by existing community farms and co-housing projects.

ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS OUTREACH

The purpose of project outreach was to identify and engage individuals who have an interest in the development of small farm co-housing models either as owner/farmers, tenants, sellers or consumers of farm produce, or through their roles as local planners or land use, food security and/or affordable housing advocates. Community outreach activities included participation at the Living the New Economy conference in Vancouver, a presentation to the local chapter of the Planners Institute, community potluck and farm tour (Sole Farm) in Vancouver, a community potluck info session at one of the Smart Farm case study sites (Upper Roberts Creek), and a dialogue/discussion with Heather Pritchard of Farm Folk/ City Folk hosted by the Regional District as part of their Agricultural Area Plan. Combined, these activities engaged more than 250 individuals. Much was gained from partnering with organizations that are already engaged in congruent efforts related to food security, land management and affordable housing. Such an entity has an established database of members and the capacity to mobilize an already interested constituency.

These proposals now in place, legal consultant Melania Cannon and design consultant Brian Silver, in collaboration with planners from the Sunshine Coast Regional District, devised a Smart Farm zone that satisfied the needs of both local government and prospective Smart Farm proponents. Details on the Smart Farm zone can be found in the appendix.

FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS

The final step in the process was a feasibility analysis to ensure a realistic fiscal plan for each proposal could be achieved. This analysis, led by consultant Scott Hughes, used a cash-flow templaterelying on construction estimates for the housing and expense/revenue projections for the farmsto create a five-year financial road map for each case study.

The SMART FARM Project | page 6/17

CONSIDERATIONS
The case study approach provided both diversity and complexity to the process. In order to develop a balanced proposal for each property, the project team had to focus its work around four key considerations:

UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATIONS AND NEEDS OF THE LANDOWNERS ASSESS LAND USE POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS

THE SMART FARM PROJECT CASE STUDIES

What are their financial needs, values and lifestyles? Also, are there any constraints, unique circumstances or opportunities?

What is the current zoning? What raw materials are available including existing trees and plants, soil quality, water systems and drainage, sun exposure, existing structures, property size and location, proximity to centers, acreage? And what are the options for housing (full ownership, shared ownership, rental)?

CASE STUDY 1
Storvold Rd, Langdale

A non-profit/social enterprisedriven approach.

UNDERSTAND LOCAL CONDITIONS AND NEEDS

CASE STUDY 2
King Rd, Elphinstone

A developer-driven approach.

Are there food security concerns and needs, housing needs, proximity with and concerns of immediate neighbors? Is there sufficient political and community will and openness for change and alternative lifestyle choices?

CASE STUDY 3
Lower Rd, Roberts Creek

IDENTIFY SOCIAL CAPITAL

A cooperative-driven approach.

Who and where are the local individuals and groups with expertise in areas such as land use, financial feasibility, market research, legal structure, architecture and design?

CASE STUDY 4
Lockyer Rd, Roberts Creek

An entrepreneurial approach.

THE FOLLOWING FOUR CASE STUDIES ARE THE PRODUCTS OF THIS PROCESS.
Please note that the case studies to follow are high-level descriptions of each proposal. For in-depth analysis and details, please refer to the related case study section of the Appendix.

The SMART FARM Project | page 7/17

The SMART FARM Project

CASE STUDY 1
Storvold Rd, Langdale

CURRENT SITE MAP

Building Setback Line Property Line Barn Multi-use Space

NORTH

4.96 acres

Cabin

Residence

Well

Septic Field

Laurel Hedge Spiral

CURRENT OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Co-owned by Sandy Buck, Chad Hershler and family investment company

arm An Art F

Event

Sandy Sky on Buck and s on the Ar t Farm

I feel strongly our land should be shared. The more people that take care of the land, the more the land will give back.
-Sandy Buck

HOUSING: 1,000 square-foot two-bedroom bungalow, and a one-room cabin in the woods ZONING: RU2 CURRENT LAND USE: Office, workshop, studio and sleeping facilities for non-profit society (the Art Farm) + spin farm FARM/GARDEN: Hoophouse farmed by spin farmer, tomatoes and peppers VALUE OF LAND: $575K FEASIBILITY: Farm/land ownership subsidized by investment company, non-profit operating revenue growing The SMART FARM Project | page 8/17

The SMART FARM Project

CASE STUDY 1
Storvold Rd, Langdale

PROPOSED SITE MAP

Barn for Housing Goats Multi-use Space for Art Farm Programs

NORTH

4.96 acres
BEES

PLOT 2

HOOPHOUSE HOOPHOUSE

PlLOT 4

PLOT 1

PLOT 3 PLOT 6 PLOT 7

Volunteer Cabin

Cheese-making Building

Well

Septic Field

Second Well

3 Residences

Septic Field

PLOT 1

PLOT 2

PLOT 3

PLOT 4

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Strata corporation with four owners, three homeowners + non-profit society (the Art Farm) HOUSING: Three 2,000 square-foot two and a half story energy efficient homes in cluster-development, camping and detached bedroom areas for volunteers/interns ZONING: Smart Farm (See Appendix)

PLOT 5

PLOT 6

PLOT 7

BEES

PROPOSED LAND USE: Art Farm-managed farm, office/workshop/studio/ sleeping facilities for Art Farm programming, housing for three families (including farmer) FARM/GARDEN: Blueberries, veggies, goats milk, goats cheese Revenue Year 1 $42K, Year 3 $49K

HOOPHOUSES

FRUIT TREES

NUT TREES

COST OF DEVELOPMENT: $575K land + $780K construction + $57K farm costs FEASIBILITY: Non-profit-driven with combination of bridge-financing, farm loans, grants and donations The SMART FARM Project | page 9/17

BE

ES

PLOT 5

STORVOLD ROAD

The SMART FARM Project

King Rd, Elphinstone 5.01 acres

KING ROAD

Driveway Condemned House

-Chad Hershler

MAPLE GROVE

Property Line

Building Setback Line

CURRENT OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Owned by an individual HOUSING: Condemned single family home (rancher) ZONING: RU1, Elphinstone Official Community Plan Comprehensive Development Cluster Housing Area 4 CURRENT LAND USE: Unused FARM/GARDEN: None VALUE OF LAND: $335K FEASIBILITY: Land not actively farmed, site marketed as residential dwelling site only The SMART FARM Project | page 10/17

CHASTER ROAD

"Its important to show that Smart Farms can be driven by visionary collectives AND by visionary developers."

Septic Field

NORTH

CASE STUDY 2

CURRENT SITE MAP

The SMART FARM Project

King Rd, Elphinstone 5.01 acres

Shared One-way Driveway With Parking

KING ROAD
Renovated Heritage Farm Cottage

-Chad Hershler

PLOT 1

PLOTS 1 & 2
Property Line Building Setback Line

Public Pathway

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Bare land strata corporation with six strata units
BEES HOOPHOUSES

HOUSING: Six 2,000 square-foot homes and renovated heritage farm cottage ZONING: Comprehensive Development Zone (similar to the Roberts Creek co-housing CD 1 zone) PROPOSED LAND USE: Small community of six family homes, farm and heritage cottage managed by provincial or regional farm trust

FRUIT TREES

NUT TREES

FARM/GARDEN: Blueberries, vegetables Revenue Year 1 $67K, Year 3 $81K COST OF DEVELOPMENT: $350K land + $1,878K construction + $25K farm costs FEASIBILITY: Revenues from sale of six residential properties fund the land and farm capitalization cost, then farm and heritage farm cottage are donated to regional farm trust for management The SMART FARM Project | page 11/17

BEES

6 Homes

Wetland Septic System (Public Sustainable Demonstration Project)

HOOPHOUSE 1

CHASTER ROAD

HOOPHOUSE 2

"Much like how densitybonuses have re-invigorated the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, swapping increased density for fully capitalized farms could be a powerful force in reinvigorating farming on the Sunshine Coast.

PLOT 2

Septic Field

Community Gathering Space

MAPLE GROVE

NORTH

CASE STUDY 2

PROPOSED SITE MAP

The SMART FARM Project

CASE STUDY 3
Lower Rd, Roberts Creek 5.07 acres
Workshop

CURRENT SITE MAP

NORTH

CURRENT OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Owned by Scott Avery HOUSING: One workshop and three auxiliary buildings ZONING: RU2 CURRENT LAND USE: Experimental building structures, permaculture exploration lead by tenant Dana Wilson FARM/GARDEN: Small garden plot, small greenhouse VALUE OF LAND: $500K FEASIBILITY: Limited greenhouse agriculture, land supported primarily by external income sources
15m Creek Setback

30m Creek Setback

POND Property Line Auxiliary Buildings

Building Setback Line

Driveway

KING ROAD

Scott Av

ery

Ecology and Happiness should always trump Economics.

Dana Wilson

-Scott Avery

With the increasing divide between rich and poor, the growing demand for affordable housing and developing need to localize food systems, creating sustainable, holistic and regenerative communities is the highest priority.
-Dana Wilson

The SMART FARM Project | page 12/17

Jonathan H. Lee

The SMART FARM Project

CASE STUDY 3
Lower Rd, Roberts Creek 5.07 acres
Multi-use Space Workshop

PROPOSED SITE MAP

Earthship-style communal home

NORTH

PLOT 2

PLOT 3

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Owned by Scott Avery HOUSING: Six-seven detached bedroom spaces clustered around an Earthship-style communal home ZONING: Smart Farm (See Appendix) PROPOSED LAND USE: Farming and permaculture education, affordable housing for young adults interested in a simple living style and farming FARM/GARDEN: Native and imported herbs, fruit trees, vegetables, eggs Revenue Year 1 $62K, Year 3 $86K COST OF DEVELOPMENT: $85K construction + $25,580 farm costs FEASIBILITY: Additional development brings new families to the farm to expand agricultural activity on the site and support a steady state, closed loop farming community using experimental and sustainable farming practices
Detatched Bedroom Spaces POND

PLOT 1

BEES

POND

PLOT 4

Detatched Bedroom Spaces

PLOT 8

PLOT 6

PH HOO

OUS

PLOT 7
EES

15m Creek Setback

PLOT 5
POND Driveway

30m Creek Setback

KING ROAD

PLOTS 1, 2, 4 & 7

PLOTS 3 & 5

PLOT 3 & 5

PLOT 6

PLOT 8

HOOPHOUSES

BEES

in greenhouse Attached unal home tyle comm Earthship-s

The SMART FARM Project | page 13/17

The SMART FARM FARM Project The SMART Project

CASE STUDY 4
Lockyer Rd, Roberts Creek 4.67 acres
Well

CURRENT SITE MAP

Storage Area Multi-use Space

NORTH

POND

RE E

FL UM

GARDEN

Building Setback Line Residence Septic Field Property Line 30m Creek Setback

15m Creek Setback

CURRENT OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Co-owned by Beth Hawthorn and Robert Studer HOUSING: 3,200 square-foot single family home ZONING: RU1 CURRENT LAND USE: Design and art studio, special events FARM/GARDEN: Small garden with mixed veggies and fruit, chickens VALUE OF LAND: $775K FEASIBILITY: Land not currently active in agricultural production, land funded by studio and event revenues and external income
Beth Hawt horn

tuder Robert S Marcel with son

After living on the property for over seven years it became obvious than 4.67 acres was more than enough room for us. In fact, what it really needs is a farmer who can bring the property fully alive. -Beth Hawthorn
The SMART FARM Project | page 14/17

LO C

KYE R

RO AD

EC

The SMART FARM FARM Project TheSMART SMART FARMProject Project The

CASE STUDY 4
Lockyer Rd, Roberts Creek 4.67 acres
Well
HOOPHOUSE HOOPHOUSE

PROPOSED SITE MAP

Roof Water Storage Tower Packing & Storage Area Multi-use Space

NORTH

POND PLOT 1

PLOT 4

CR EE

Second Well Roof / Ground-water Storage Tank Residential Duplex

PLOT 3

PLOT 5

Residence Expanded Septic Field Proposed Driveway Extention Carport

PLOT 1 & 2
PLOT 1& 2

PLOT 3
PLOT 3

PLOT 4
PLOT 4

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE: Co-owned by Beth Hawthorn and Robert Studer, with the potential to build and sell part of a strata duplex HOUSING: Two 1,600 square-foot strata homes and existing single family home ZONING: Smart Farm (See Appendix) PROPOSED LAND USE: Multi-business shared space, retreat centre, kale chip manufacturing FARM/GARDEN: Kale, mixed berries, veggies, eggs Revenue Year 1 $64K, Year 3 $92K COST OF DEVELOPMENT: $526K construction + $103K farm and production investment FEASIBILITY: Construction and sale of two residential homes provides equity to invest in farming and kale chip production on the site

PLOT 5

PLOT 6

HOOPHOUSES

BEES

NUT TREES

FRUIT TREES

The SMART FARM Project | page 15/17

LO C

PLOT 2

KYE RR

Roof-water Storage Tower

FL UM E

OA D

PLOT 6

LESSONS LEARNED, LOOKING FORWARD

What did the Smart Farm Project teach us?
There is a growing interest in the Smart Farm concept from individuals with diverse backgrounds and motivations. Local government, represented in this project by the Sunshine Coast Regional District and Vancouver Coastal Health, is receptive to the idea of small farm co-housing and willing to work with proponents. All four Smart Farm case studies are feasible from both a planning and economic/self-sufficiency perspective. While the co-housing component presents the most challenges and complications, it is a necessity in all cases to catalyze (and capitalize) the farm operations.

Recommendations and Opportunities

We would like to offer the following guidance for those seeking to establish or support Smart Farms:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

ESTABLISH A SMART FARM COLLECTIVE

that will allow you to leverage common resources, reduce duplication of efforts and provide peer support.

in your area whose missions are congruent with the Smart Farm concept.

COLLABORATE WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCT OUTREACH AND RESEARCH

upfront to determine whether there is a market and appetite for locally grown food and a need for alternative housing or lifestyle options.

WORK WITH PROFESSIONALS

to develop initial farm/design plans and to set up the legal structure for the project. It is time and money well spent.

to develop local zoning that can integrate the Smart Farm concept effectively into Official Community Plns and Agricultural Area Plans.

ENGAGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Role of Funders

The Smart Farm Project would not have been possible without the financial support provided by the Real Estate Foundation of BC, Investment Agriculture Foundation and our other sponsors and funders. Moving forward with the Smart Farm Project, there are continued opportunities to engage funders who are interested in supporting innovation in land use and local food production. It would be of value to consider what these opportunities are beyond the obvious investment in the coordination of a Smart Farm pilot and continued documentation of the development process. In a larger and broader sense, we also see potential for the funder community to play a role in establishing a regional Smart Farm strategy or movement, supporting activities such as advocacy, outreach, capacity building, and education.

any m s ide v o r ier p s a l e a opos make it r p ek m i n r l a a art f ow we c ate with ther to m s ge bor o This les of h t a l k l al r r o p o c u r m w ng exa e to ls and i l l p l i o e a lf for p individu of a fu m ed mind eir drea ilver th nS a e i r v B i l e. l y t s life The SMART FARM Project | page 16/17
Beth Hawthorn

WANT MORE DETAILS?

Check out our Appendix for:
Consultant

For complete Appendix or to access digital support material please visit: www.deercrossingtheartfarm.org/smartfarm You are free to share. Please send a link to your local government and start the dialogue for an initiative like this in your region. For more information contact: Chad Hershler [email protected] November 2013

bios Market Research Legal Overview Feasibility Analysis Additional Farm Notes Additional Design Notes And in-depth analyses from our consultants on all four Smart Farm case studies

The SMART FARM Project | page 17/17

Sara Dent