SSI Farmland Trust

This event was a collaboration between the Salt Spring Seed Sanctuary Society, Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust, and Island Natural Growers. On Sunday, February 22, over 30 people gathered at the Farmers Institute to learn about and explore the rich complexities, threats, and new directions for our community seed system. Many of us “save seeds” from our gardens and farms. This increases our resilience in local food systems, supports regional adaptation in the seeds themselves, opens another product line for local market farms, and builds community among seed savers and those seeking access to local seeds. It’s a rich web of connection, knowledge sharing, and food sovereignty—and this is what we immersed ourselves in at the Seed Symposium. There was too much shared to give you the full meal deal, but here are some highlights, along with links to go deeper: Community seed systems exist at the periphery of formal seed regulations, making seed saving a (vulnerable) privilege in…

Spring is often painted as a season of renewal: buds appear, soil warms, and hope blooms with the first lettuce seedlings. But for many farmers and growers, this time of year also brings deep pressure. Between unpredictable weather swings and the push to prepare for another demanding season, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Growing can also be isolating and stressful, with mental health challenges woven into the rhythm of sowing and harvest. Recognizing this reality, three supportive offerings — each rooted in community, care, and connection — are helping farmers tend to their well-being as much as their fields. Forest Bathing — Nature as Therapy Stephanie Karlovits invites growers to slow down and reconnect with the natural world in a restorative way. Inspired by the practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), these guided forest and nature therapy walks gently lead participants through peaceful forest settings, encouraging mindful engagement with the living landsca…

Highlights from a talk by Usha Rautenbach and Charles Kahn, given at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga on Tuesday, January 27. 2026 Salt Spring was one of the first farming communities in British Columbia and remained so until the end of World War II. No fortunes were made in farming, and working the soil was always difficult. Only 20 percent of the land was suitable for agriculture and most of it was scattered in little pockets in low-lying areas. Farming on a large scale was not possible. Settlers began arriving in 1859, but official surveys did not take place until the 1870s. Surveyor Ashton Green, who mapped much of the island in 1874, expressed skepticism that farming here could succeed at all. He found the land rocky, wet, and unforgiving. Yet history proved otherwise. Areas once dismissed as useless wetlands later became some of the island’s most productive farmland after it has been logged, drained, and worked with care. The first settlers In 1859 Governor James …

Salt Spring Island, BC Salt Spring Island’s foodways have sustained people for thousands of years. Yet today, the majority of the food consumed on the island is imported. A new two-part public series hosted by the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust (SSIFLT) invites the community to explore how this shift occurred — and what the island’s agricultural past can teach us about building a more resilient food future. Hosted as part of SSIFLT’s Root to Bloom Centre, the series brings together leading researchers and local historians to examine the full arc of Salt Spring’s food systems, from Indigenous land stewardship to settler-era farming and beyond. Part One: Indigenous Food Systems Tuesday, January 20 • Salt Spring Centre of Yoga • In person & Zoom The first event features Chris Arnett, historian, archaeologist, and author, who will guide participants through the deep history of Indigenous food systems on Salt Spring Island and throughout the Gulf Islands. Drawin…

Immersive, community-based program prepares new farmers with land access and mentorship Salt Spring Island, BC A new full-time Neighbourhood Farmer Training is launching on Salt Spring Island in 2026, offering emerging farmers a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience, deepen their skills, and secure land to grow food for their local community. Hosted by Island Natural Growers, the local chapter of Canadian Organic Growers, the training is an immersive, community-rooted program designed to prepare emerging growers to confidently start their own Neighbourhood Farm. The first year of the program runs full-time from April through September 2026. Participants will receive practical, field-based training, mentorship, and direct connections to Salt Spring Island’s food network. In the first year, trainees will be matched with land through established partnerships with local landholders. In the second year of the program, participants will grow food for the communit…

Salt Spring’s farmers are the backbone of our island’s food security — and when emergencies strike, the entire community feels the impact. That’s why the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust is launching an island-wide call to farmers: tell us what you need to stay resilient when things get tough. Whether you’ve weathered storms, droughts, infrastructure breakdowns, or power outages, your experience matters, and the support you identify now will directly shape how our community prepares for future crises. What Do You Need Most in an Emergency? We’re asking farmers across Salt Spring to share: What disrupts your farm operations the most What resources, tools, or supports would make the biggest difference What barriers keep you from fully preparing And what ideas you believe could strengthen our island’s resilience as a whole Tell us about it here. Your voice will directly inform how the Farmland Trust, local partners, and emergency planners can better…

Say “Yes” This Giving Tuesday: Be a Friend of the Farmland Trust I remember the day I laid my newborn son down in a meadow along Beaver Point Road. In that moment I looked at my boy, his tiny chest rising and falling against the great green heart of this island, and I thought, “We’re home.” That sense of belonging — of being rooted in this place — has shaped everything I’ve done since. I’ve spent 25 years here learning how, just as the grand trees of this coastal rainforest are nourished by a shimmering web of mycelium, my humble kitchen table could become the launchpad to organize festivals, start non-profits organizations and grow a network that has spread like dandelion seeds from this tiny island to the mountains of Africa and the bighouse of Bella Bella. No matter where on Earth my work has taken me, I’ve always been sustained by my connection with the forests and fields of Salt Spring — forces that hold the magic power to restore my faith in the possi…