Mission
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​Empowering farmers, restoring land, and securing our food future.
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Vision
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We envision a region where people of all ages and abilities are involved in regenerative agriculture and stewardship.
What We Do
The Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture stewards 83 acres of public land in North Saanich, BC, on the traditional territory of the ​W̱S͸ḴEM First Nation. Since 2021, we have been transforming a former horse racing track into farmland, seasonal wetland, meadow, and forest.
Founded in 2019, The Circular Farm and Food Society (CFFS) is the non-profit organization that oversees The Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture. It sets the vision and mission for Sandown Centre, and ensures that our work is guided by these principles.
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For more information, see the History page. ​
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Our work centres on three pillars, which guide our programs and operations:​​
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a farming philosophy and set of practices which place soil and ecosystem health at the foundation of food production. It is rooted in an understanding of the profound interconnected relationship between all living things. In this way, regenerative agriculture is not a new idea, and draws on ancient wisdom and Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Regenerative farms are a vital part of climate action, and necessary in a sustainable food system. These farming practices improve resilience to climate extremes, support biodiversity and environmental conservation, and sequester atmospheric carbon - all while growing bountiful, nutrient-dense food.
Regenerative Agriculture is rooted in Indigenous farming and focuses on soil health. At Sandown Centre, these are the practices we adhere to:
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​1. Minimize Soil Disturbance
Reduce or eliminate practices that damage the soil structure and life. Practices include minimal tillage, no-till farming, and no pesticides, herbicides/fungicides or synthetic fertilizers. These practices help preserve soil organic matter, keep carbon dioxide in the ground, and protect soil structure and microbial life. This increases the soil's ability to cycle nutrients, support healthy plants, sequester carbon, retain moisture, resist erosion and handle environmental stressors.
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2. Maximize Crop Diversity
Crop rotation and diversifying plant species enhances biodiversity, contributes to soil health, mitigates pest pressure and increases resilience to extreme weather events and potential crop loss.
​3. Keep the Soil Covered
​Keeping the soil covered with cover crops, crop residues, or mulch protects it from erosion, minimizes water evaporation, and fosters a more favourable environment for soil microbes and beneficial organisms.
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4. Keep a Living Root in the Ground Year Round
Encouraging the presence of living plant roots in the soil year-round through cover cropping or perennial crops aids in carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, prevents soil erosion, and contributes to overall soil health.
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​5. Integrate Animals
Integrating animals into farming systems can mimic natural ecological processes. This principle allows for more ethical livestock management, as well as nutrient cycling, natural soil disturbance, and vegetation management, contributing to land regeneration.
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6. Understand the Context of Your Farm
Gain a comprehensive awareness of the specific conditions, challenges, and opportunities in which your farm operates. This involves recognizing factors like soil type, climate, local ecosystems, community dynamics, and market demands to make informed decisions and implement appropriate and sustainable farming practices.
Why We Need Regenerative Farmers
A sustainable, resilient food system must include local, ecologically responsible farming. On Vancouver Island, we import over 90% of the food we eat, and the vast majority of that food is part of the global industrial food system. While this system feeds billions of people, it also contributes 1/3 of all greenhouse gas emissions, and is responsible for large-scale ecological destruction.
The extractive nature of industrialized farming has far reaching implications, more than can be addressed here. However, it is important to understand that this way of growing food contributes to ongoing inequality, exploitation, land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and the climate change crisis.
This system surpasses the boundaries for what the planet can sustain, and is also incredibly vulnerable to environmental, political and economic instability. We need ecologically minded, local, small-scale diversified farmers to increase local food security, and create a more resilient, just and sustainable food system.