Social Enterprise to Turn Fallow Land into Farms

Nicole's Farm is an innovative social enterprise that aims to support the development of small but profitable bio-intensive organic farms on unused land parcels and neglected fields in British Columbia. The enterprise is the brainchild of Nicole Huska, who is working hard to create a micro-farm spread over two acres, which will serve as a proof-of-concept farm for the region.

Huska says, "The goal is to produce sustainable fruits and vegetables and sell them to local grocery stores, and once we've developed viable business relationships, we are looking to expand the model." Adam Hammond, Huska's common-law partner, is using heavy equipment to move earth and clear forest on their four-acre parcel of land in Sechelt. Huska is hopeful that the ground will have half an acre of spinach crop very soon, which will be sold through the local grocery shops.

Once the model farm operations are mobilized, Huska has plans to replicate the concept in the region. She is promoting the idea through her website and seeking unutilized or under-utilized one-acre plots of lands. In return, she promises landowners the attractive farmland status tax benefits and a slice of profits from the sale of produce. Local community press is helping spread the idea, which has excited the imagination of local people with fallow land.

Huska says, "Drive along the highway and you can see all kinds of unused pieces of land. Ideally the landowner doesn't have to invest anything. We put in the infrastructure and help to do the paperwork (to change the land's property tax status)." As a farmer turned social entrepreneur, Huska has plans to hire and train farmers for every new farm. She will put the knowledge systems in place to enable the growth, harvesting, packaging and delivery of vegetables and fruit ready for retail selling.

An IGA grocery store owner in Gibsons, Bob Hoy, is looking forward to joining hands with Nicole's Farm. "We've carried produce from local people that supply us sporadically. But anything local that comes out sells like crazy." Hoy is keen to put Huska's produce on store shelves as long she can deliver good quality products on a consistent basis.

Huska has put up a business plan and a pitch video on the social enterprise fundraising website Indie Gogo to popularize her venture and raise some of the estimated $50,000 initial capital.

Source: EdmontonJournal

Photo Credit: hkjones