FERTILE GROUND. CSA & Market Garden. Angie Koch. Page 2. Fertile Ground
CSA. • Sole Proprietorship ... Finding owners with suitable land. • Security of ...
FERTILE GROUND CSA & Market Garden
Angie Koch
Fertile Ground CSA • • • •
Sole Proprietorship 2.5 acre Market Garden west of Waterloo 30 share CSA Kitchener Farmers’ Market July-October
Inspiring people to get excited about their food!
Fertile Ground Location
New Farmer Land Access Needs • • • •
Affordable Close to urban centre Long-term security Access to/control over key resources
New Farmer Land Access Challenges • • • •
Expensive Location of affordable land Finding owners with suitable land Security of tenure in lease/rental agreements
Possible Land Access Solutions • • • • •
Land lease/rental Incubator farms Urban space use arrangements Land trusts Land purchase
Fertile Ground Land/Infrastructure Use • • • •
2.5 acres of land 2 acres in production, .5 acre in cover 25x35’ greenhouse barn space for storage & processing
Land Rental Issues • • • • •
Adjacent land use (owner/other renters) Access to water & utilities Long-term security Cost Control over infrastructure use
Other Barriers for New Farmers ACCESS TO: • Capital • Knowledge • Skills & Experience • Infrastructure & Equipment • Markets
Some Land Access Solutions • • • •
Land matching services Farmland protection Land Trusts Grants/Accessible Loans for land & initial capital investments – Programs to support small-scale farm start-ups
• Better urban space usage – municipal land • Mentorship & training • Research into appropriate technology & sustainable farming methods • Government land leasing
