The Sandown Centre stewards 83 acres of working farm, wetland and forest, serving
as a hub in North Saanich for best practices in regenerative agriculture. The Sandown
Centre supports and engages with emerging growers, researchers, community
members and regional farmers; working together to build a thriving, climate change-
resilient, sustainable local food system.
OUR GOALS
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
Regenerative agriculture is a farming philosophy and set of practices which aim to not only protect, but also to improve the health of the soil and surrounding ecosystem. It is a dynamic concept that focuses on restoring intact carbon, and nutrient and water cycling while also sustaining farmer’s livelihoods through culturally relevant practices. Regenerative agriculture seeks to nourish the ties between the land, its natural heritage, and the community.
At the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture, we are working to restore heavily degraded land through careful stewardship and without the use of harmful substances. Our definition includes six overarching, aspirational principles that we are continuously learning how to put into practice:
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Keep the soil covered
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Minimize soil disturbance
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Maximize crop diversity
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Integrate livestock
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Maintain a living root year round
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Understand the context of your farm operation
Source: Investigating Incentives for Regenerative Agriculture, Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES) at Western University 2021 (pg. 9)