A wee bit of catch up

I decided about 5 years ago that I wanted to be a farmer. I always new a wanted a FARM, but for me to make the connection from having a farm to actually being a farmer took me a looonnngggg time ;-) I was originally on another property, and really didn't know how much I really didn't know! I call this my learning curve. The property was severely water challenged. I had great hopes and plans of installing a rainwater catchment system, but the company I was then working for went bust so I lost my job before I could really do any of the projects I wanted/needed to. I am going to gloss over the next five years, as it was a huge struggle, and I never really got anywhere I needed to due to a lack of funding. I ended up getting really, REALLY sick due to the immense stress, and am just recovering from that now.
Two years ago, I found (by chance, really) some people who had a small property and 8 commercial greenhouses that they were not really using anymore. They were heading towards retirement, and wanted to find someone to make use of them. So, I took over the first greenhouse. These things are approx. 4500 sq ft. Huge! I started to grow some vegetable starts to transplant into my other farm property, plus grow a 'few extra' to sell at the local market for a little extra cash. Well, much to my surprise, these little veggie starts ended up being about 80% of my sad little income that year! So, the next year, I put them into my business plan, and did lots of them. Sold almost everything I did.... should've grown more! In the meantime, I took over a second greenhouse to do in-ground crops. Tomatoes and cukes in the summer, and greens and roots crops for over the winter. We are very lucky that we live in quite a temperate climate, where we can almost always garden 8-10 months a year - 12 months with a greenhouse! The second greenhouse took me forever to develop, as I was still suffering from having no job and a very small income from the original farm.
Last year, I was invited to make use of the field on the property. As is quite common on Vancouver Island, the soil was a clay hardpan. So, I started on what we call lasagna beds on top of the clay - layers of manure and compost. Planted a few basic crops like squash and lettuces.
Everything on this property grew like magic. Better than anything I had struggled to grow before on the other properties I tried to farm on. A big part of the difference is that this property has ample water, and a really good pump. The other part I think is just good karma here - the owners are the best people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Supportive and patient while I get through my growing pains, and make this into a financially viable farm. Last September, I got permission from them to move to the property and start taking it over, with the hope that I will be able to purchase the property in a couple of years. I bought a crappy little 5th wheel trailer, and am now living in that while I get things profitable. Which, honestly, is the first time in a long time that I truly feel this farm will become. I am super excited about the future, and have some pretty awesome plans.


Here is a 'before' pic of the property. I really want to document how the property changes and becomes more beautiful and functional as time goes on. This is where the owners previously had 2 greenhouses (which were recently sold and moved). I am turning it into a new field - this year will be growing squash and tomatoes on it. I'll take another pic in about a month.... the difference will be amazing!