Shannon’s Farmer Story – The Power of Land Access for Young Farmers

Shannon from Headwind Farm showing off her hardwork!

If you’ve ever been to the Esquimalt Farmers Market, chances are you’ve seen Shannon from Headwind Farm. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting her stall multiple times, and without fail, she greets every customer with an enthusiastic smile and radiant energy that can only come from doing something you deeply believe in.

When I saw her in May, hands full of dirt and eyes gleaming, Shannon said something simple that stuck with me: “Hard work pays off.” And it shows. Shannon’s second season at Sandown started with her most successful market day yet. She sold as much on opening day as she did mid-season last year, and that’s no coincidence.

Access to consistent land year round  has made a huge difference. With the ability to overwinter crops like squash and kale, Shannon arrived at market with fresh produce when many others were still waiting on their first harvest. She walked me through her plot at Sandown, and it was a kale lover’s dream—rows upon rows in every shape and shade of green. She was especially stoked about getting her tomatoes in the ground and had just finished prepping another section of her field after uncovering a silage tarp that kept the weeds at bay.

The power of soil is in our hands!

This practice of cover cropping and tarping rather than tilling or spraying pesticides is a hallmark of regenerative agriculture. It takes more time, more thought, and often more sweat, especially when you're a solo farmer doing it all. But Shannon’s commitment to soil health and sustainable growing is clear. She’s not just growing food, she’s tending to a living system.

What moved me most that day wasn’t just her passion, it was the quiet teamwork happening all around her. I saw neighbouring farmers helping strategize how to lift tarps, share tools, and lend support when and where it’s needed. That’s the kind of community Sandown cultivates.

Shannon’s story is a testament to what becomes possible when young farmers are given access to land, shared tools, and a supportive network. Sandown’s mission to offer these tools and programs is growing! And it’s rooted in something deeper than yields: connection, collaboration, and a commitment to the future of local food systems. Written by Sammy Davies, Circular Farm and Food Society, Communications Board Member