The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust Society was founded in 2009 with a positive community vision of maintaining the pastoral and productive past of Salt Spring Island, a priority of this community’s Area Farm Plan.  The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust was established to help this community turn the corner on the eroding farm base on Salt Spring and provide opportunities for young, educated farmers. It is the vision of the Farmland Trust to help create access to affordable land, while offering other compatible agricultural uses for the community.

Island farmers once produced most of our food supply, now it is less than 6%. With a rising cost in fuel, a changing climate and a recognition of the health hazards of industrial agriculture, a return to safe, fresh, locally produced sustainable food production is critical. Precious farmland zoned for agricultural use requires protection and young, hard-working farmers seeking long-term tenure should be supported.  The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust Society has everything to do with meeting these needs.

Our goals are consistent with the existing agricultural zoning regulations, the Salt Spring Island Area Farm Plan and the Official Community Plan. The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust offers a model that islanders, the surrounding Gulf Islands and the Province can feel proud to support.

Our constitution was created to facilitate a diversity of strategies such as the  purchase and leasing of farmland, education and training, sustainable farming practices and to enhance the island’s capabilities. The Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust Society believes that the values we hold and the work we will do will serve this greater community as well.

We welcome you to learn more about us, and we appreciate your interest, ideas and support.

For information contact Marguerite Lee, President at 250-537-5302 or email ssifarmlandtrust@gmail.com