Young Agrarians (YA) is a network for new and young ecological and organic farmers. Since it started in January 2012, the network has grown across Canada from coast to coast through farmers organizing events (mixers, farm tours & potlucks, apprentice meet-ups, etc.), contributing to the blog, adding resources to the U-MAP, and more!
Young Agrarians is made up of a diverse array of food growers and lovers: rural and urban farmers, market gardeners, seed savers, food activists, bee keepers, community gardeners, food/farmer organizations and more — working to steward land and soil, and grow our local food systems.
In British Columbia, YA delivers the B.C. Land Matching Program, providing hands-on, personalized land linking services in the Columbia Basin, Okanagan, Metro Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. Thanks to this service the Kootenay Society for Sustainable Living was able to meet with local land owners and created a partnership that now supports our Research and Demonstration Mini-Farm.
The Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Network pairs new farmers in start-up with a mentor and provides business development support.
The YA website offers a wide variety of farm-business related information, resources and tools, job postings, and the YA U-MAP with everything new entrants need to start and run a farm! Check out the YA blog for the Farm the Basin blog series featuring more interesting, inspiring and innovative farmers from across the Columbia Basin!