Atop the slopes overlooking Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia sits the last remaining piece of the original 85 acre John Swart homestead granted to him by Queen Victoria in the 39th year of her reign, 1876. This unique heritage property passed to the Davis family in 1904 whereupon they built a grand house and began the cultivation of apples and grapes on the estate that would remain in their family for over a century. Today, new owner, Joe Kovacs has rehabilitated the land and structures in order to preserve and celebrate this distinctive piece of Island history.
The Agricultural Land Reserve property at 2070 Lands End Road, adjacent to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, offers an opportunity to establish the key foundational aspect of the Swartz Bay Company, ingredient production operated under a sustainable, organic farm management plan for the development of integrated, value added agricultural operations.
These value added operations will include; 1) an onsite retail farm market, 2) a liquor manufacturing business for the production of wine, cider and beer, 3) a food manufacturing facility for the production of salsas, jams and other products and 4) the establishment of bed & breakfast/ agri-tourism related accommodations.
The agricultural development plan will be tailored to site specific ingredient production, especially its productive capacity for fruits and other ingredients necessary for beverage production such as; apples, hops, and grapes as well as existing native forest berries (blackberry, mahonia, salal, and salmonberry). An onsite apiary will also be established for the production of honey along with specific pollinator gardens in order to maximize fruit production and the overall aesthetic appeal of the property.
Vegetable gardens for the growing of fresh produce to supply the retail market as well as local farmers’ markets will also provide the inputs for value added products like salsas, jams, and preserved items. The infrastructure and equipment for our value added food manufacturing will also be made available for custom processing services to other local farms.
This farm will serve as a model for the re-establishment and utilization of this unique agricultural resource. Each business operation will be managed within the overall development plan in order to ensure compatibility with the infrastructure and sustainable vision for the project to produce a world class destination.
The Agricultural Land Reserve property at 2070 Lands End Road, adjacent to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, offers an opportunity to establish the key foundational aspect of the Swartz Bay Company, ingredient production operated under a sustainable, organic farm management plan for the development of integrated, value added agricultural operations.
These value added operations will include; 1) an onsite retail farm market, 2) a liquor manufacturing business for the production of wine, cider and beer, 3) a food manufacturing facility for the production of salsas, jams and other products and 4) the establishment of bed & breakfast/ agri-tourism related accommodations.
The agricultural development plan will be tailored to site specific ingredient production, especially its productive capacity for fruits and other ingredients necessary for beverage production such as; apples, hops, and grapes as well as existing native forest berries (blackberry, mahonia, salal, and salmonberry). An onsite apiary will also be established for the production of honey along with specific pollinator gardens in order to maximize fruit production and the overall aesthetic appeal of the property.
Vegetable gardens for the growing of fresh produce to supply the retail market as well as local farmers’ markets will also provide the inputs for value added products like salsas, jams, and preserved items. The infrastructure and equipment for our value added food manufacturing will also be made available for custom processing services to other local farms.
This farm will serve as a model for the re-establishment and utilization of this unique agricultural resource. Each business operation will be managed within the overall development plan in order to ensure compatibility with the infrastructure and sustainable vision for the project to produce a world class destination.