• we chat about a lack of information and disclosure from government
• we exchange dialogue about the personal impacts and experiences from the pandemic
• we exchange opinions about vaccination passports
• we have a fun chat about the personal impact of dogs in our workplace environment

We've been actively promoting the Peninsula based agriculture sector, food security & sustainability and agri-tourism since last year via Sidney Breakfast Club speakers, podcasts and online thought leadership forums. The Peninsula has the opportunity to be a world-class center for these food related economic development and sector based innovation issues. North Saanich has seized a  leadership role and created the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture (https://www.sandowncentre.com/).

We had an opportunity to chat with Jen Rashleigh on "27 minutes with John & Kelly", the Centre's Director of Partner & Community Engagement and the current coordinator of the North Saanich Flavour Trails festival. The Centre is rolling out the Farmpreneur program (https://www.sandowncentre.com/farmpreneur-program) and this formed the core of our discussion with Jen on this podcast. We also chatted about food security, food production, farm business development and regional economic development. We can't wait to chat with Jen about updates and further stories about this exciting Farmpreneur program. Thanks Jen!

Challenges

• fresh food to market - distribution challenging / processing in Island challenging
• high land costs
• older farm owners dominant / succession issues / aging out with huge debt / how do young farmers get involved
• high cost of labour / limited labour pool
• how can the farm owner earn a sustainable living?

Partner Solutions

• agri-tourism / vertical integration / challenging processing chains / supply channels
• the creation of "farmpreneur"
• Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture (https://www.vicnews.com/news/north-saanichs-sandown-lands-to-become-agricultural-focused-community-centre/) - fully committed to the development of "farmpreneur"
• focus on the business of farming
• more support from government for small farming
  • education specific to accessing funding opportunities
  • accomodation for staff on the farm
  • grants for leasehold land ownership (soil irrigation / fencing - consider these as TI for farming)
  • policy & program development should be regional, not just Vancouver & Valley oriented
  • higher threshold for large land estates to claim farm tax
• Island Good (https://islandgood.ca/about-island-good/what-is-island-good/)

3 emerging areas

• small farm development
• new foods
• new practises for small farm production

Why are these emergent areas? Focus on high cost of land and creating sustainable & affordable businesses

Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture

• building future farms
• agricultural sustainability & security
• regenerative farming (junkyard to farm)
• mentoring of future farmers & community farmers
• partners:
  • District of North Saanich
  • UVIC
  • Fickle Fig Farm
  • Kwantlen Institute for Sustainable Food & Systems
  • Tseycum Nation in the future

Summary

• pay attention to our own backyard - must be able to regenerate our land
• future investment in the "farmpreneur" - must be better farm based business people & entities
• the Peninsula is a fabulous asset & we must celebrate & promote the food / farming / business sector to the broader community