Madrona Farm clears another funding hurdle in bid for TLC status

Times ColonistJuly 29, 2009

Friends of Madrona Farm have dug deep, and just in the nick of time, to bring the organic farm one step closer to inclusion in the Land Conservancy.

An anonymous donor recently gave a cheque for $100,000 and now the Farmlands Trust has agreed to pay as much as $200,000, to bring individual donations to a total of $500,000.

TLC had set several fundraising deadlines for David and Nathalie Chambers, who operate the 11-hectare farm. They had to raise $250,000 by last December and another $500,000 by Friday. The final million dollars is due next January.

"I'm ecstatic," said Nathalie Chambers. "To have done this right in the middle of an economic crunch is really thrilling."

Once the land is in the conservancy it will be preserved forever, and become a model for sustainable food production. The Chambers will lease the land and continue farming.

Pledges toward the next campaign can be sent to the law firm of Hutchison Oss-Cech Marlatt (in trust for Madrona Farm), 1-505 Fisgard St., V8W 1R3.