Donald Farris was a third-generation British Columbian who, even after moving to the United States in his thirties, never lost his deep connection to the coast. In 2007, he acquired 86 acres of the former Raven Lumber lands on Hornby Island.

Knowing he was living with Huntington’s Disease, a progressive neurological condition with no known cure, Donny cleared a small portion of the land by the sea. He envisioned a simple, joyful life close to nature — complete with a beach bar, a soccer field, and a dream home he knew he might never build.

Before his passing at 55, Donny sold the land to Alan Dickie, with one clear and very important caveat - he required a 12 acre portion of the land be gifted to the community for food production on a 99 year lease.

What began as one man’s love for the land has grown into a shared legacy — offering space for those in the Hornby community who might not otherwise have access to a place to grow food, tend soil, and build resilience. The garden continues to thrive as a living tribute to Donny’s vision, and to the generous spirit that made it possible.

In 2013, Al and Bonnie Dickie purchased the land from the Farris family and began the work of bringing Donny’s vision to life.

A collective of passionate community members — including Jodi Snijders, Gary Manzer, Helen Grond, and Donna Tulle — came together to incorporate the Farmland Trust as a not-for-profit, laying the foundation for what would become a flourishing community resource.

By 2017, the Donny Farris Community Farm and Garden was officially established — a 1.5-acre garden nestled within 12 acres of forested land.

Built in true Hornby style, the garden took shape through a series of working bees — first to till the soil, build the fences, and later to expand and cultivate the space.

In 2018, we gathered once again — this time to dig and install a 30,000-gallon gravity-fed irrigation system, drawing water from two ponds to sustain the gardens through the dry summer months.

The garden expanded further, and four allotments were gifted to the Community Kitchen Garden, which has been supplying fresh local produce to the Food Bank and Joe’s Café ever since.

In the summer of 2019, a group of volunteers disassembled, transported, and reassembled an old building from the Ringside Market — repurposing it into a shared community tool shed.

This space created not only storage, but also room for knowledge sharing — hosting hands-on workshops on topics like biodynamic practices and Compost 101.

In 2020, we launched the “Share the Harvest” gleaning program — a volunteer-led initiative that salvages thousands of pounds of local fruits and nuts that would otherwise go to waste.

This program helps bridge gaps in food access while reducing waste, strengthening community ties through collective action.

In 2022, we officially became a registered charity — opening the door to new partnerships and tax-deductible donations.

Thanks to the leadership of Gary Manzer and support from the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP), we secured funding to build the Shed: a two-story food processing and storage facility designed to empower growers, enhance food security, and support small-scale food production on Hornby Island.

The Shed is growing into a hub for food resilience and economic opportunity, serving culinary entrepreneurs across the island.

Phase 1, due for completion in 2025, laid the foundation with the construction of a 2,800 sq ft root cellar — designed for the preservation of fresh produce, grains, and seeds.

Phase 2 is pending funding confirmation and will include the second-story build-out of the Shed, featuring a fully certified commercial kitchen, baking room, curing room, cool room, pantry, and marketplace.

This next chapter will transform the Shed into a full-fledged food hub — a place where small producers can thrive, and community connection continues to grow.