Elphinstone Farm is an aspiring small-scale Technology applied to agriculture and food systems — from soil sensors and crop planning software to distributed growing networks. and A vision of the future centred on ecological sustainability, community resilience, and the thoughtful use of technology in harmony with the natural world. venture on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, rooted in the The coastal and island ecosystem of southwestern BC and northwestern Washington, defined by its shared watershed and ecology rather than political borders. . We’re building something that sits at the intersection of land stewardship, appropriate technology, and community.
The Land
The farm sits in the unceded traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), on a stretch of land with mixed forest, open growing areas, and access to the coastal ecosystem. Our aim is to work with the land’s existing character rather than against it — designing systems that build soil health, support native biodiversity, and produce food and medicine over the long term.
We’re drawn to A farming system modelled on natural forest succession, using multi-layered plantings of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers to build soil fertility and produce food over time. as a framework for a food production system: multi-layered, succession-based, low-input over time. It suits both the climate and our values. This approach is new to us and our community, but we’re keen to experiment and aim to contribute to the growing knowledge pool for our bioregion.
The People
We’re a small crew — farmers, makers, and technologists who ended up on the same piece of land with compatible ideas. We don’t have fixed roles. People show up, bring skills, and help shape what this becomes.
If you’re curious about who’s here or want to introduce yourself, the best way is to get in touch directly.
Values
- An approach to place that prioritises the ecological, cultural, and geographic character of a region over administrative boundaries — learning to live well within the limits and gifts of where you actually are. — we care about this specific place: its ecology, its Indigenous history, its watersheds.
- Open knowledge — what we figure out gets shared. Growing guides, soil data, design decisions.
- Appropriate technology — tools should serve the land and the people, not the other way around.