The Farm
Thrangu Monastery is built on land that belongs to the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), land the BC government protected and set aside for farming/agricultural purposes only. This include using the land for producing food, flowers, and plants among other agricultural purposes. Having farm land protected is especially important because it helps to ensure that BC has food security, that it can grow and provide food for its people. After all, where would our food come from if all of the farm land was covered with concrete and buildings?
When somebody purchases land that belongs to the ALR they make a commitment to use that land for agricultural purposes. To ensure that commitment is upheld, the Government has set annual quotas for the amount of agricultural products that land owners must sell each year, and failure to meet those quotas results in a large fines. This quota amount is determined by the size of the land. In the case of Thrangu Monastery, it has to sell $2500 worth of agricultural products each year.
To meet its quota, the Monastery has relied on fruit, vegetable, and flower production while primarily using organic agricultural methods. With the contributions of our members, volunteers, and sponsors, the Monastery has been able to reach its yearly quota. Their work in the Monastery’s orchard and greenhouses, their purchase of our products, and their sponsoring of agricultural supplies and equipment have all been essential in selling the required $2500 a year. However, like many other small farms in BC who are competing in global markets with large corporations, the farm has operated at a loss each year.
If you believe in what we are doing and would like to contribute to the Monastery’s farm in some way, please contact our office at office@thrangumomastery.org.
