Inspiring others to see the beauty in small-scale local farming: a conversation with Nest Wildcraft

A peek at farm life on Nest Wildcraft’s Instagram account @nestwildcraft.

If we had to sum up Nest Wildcraft in a single word it would be “dreamy”. An organic farm on Vancouver Island, they specialize in forest goods, botanical products, seasonal produce and raise a variety of heritage chicken breeds and mini plush lop rabbits. We are thrilled to feature them on the wholesyum heart to celebrate the incredible gifts and offerings they bring to our local community. We hope you enjoy (& then check out their shop at the South Island Farm Hub (links at the end.)

Before we get started, please tell us about yourself.

Hi! We’re Shannon and Micah; a husband and wife duo running our small Vancouver Island farmstead with a holistic and natural approach. We are dedicated breeders of a variety of heritage chicken breeds and quality mini plush lop rabbits - hand raised with love.  Made with ingredients grown on the farm and locally foraged, we create simple and quality organic products, such as botanical skin care, wildcrafted goods, and seasonal produce. Nest Wildcraft Farm sits on around 9 acres in Central Saanich which is shared with our family Kiowa Farm which has offered equestrian programs for 15+ years. 

What inspired you to establish Nest Wildcraft Farm, and how does the farm reflect your core values of sustainability and nourishment?

We’re very grateful and fortunate to have our family farm, which allows us to grow our own food in our garden, raise livestock, and create things from what we grow and forage. These things have been lifelong passions and ventures for us in various ways, so when we decided to farm more seriously together within the past couple of years it was a natural progression. We started off making a few wild foraged teas, a little bit of gardening for fresh veggies, and a few chickens; and now here we are! We’re always learning and love to share.

How do your farming practices support biodiversity and the resilience of Vancouver Island's food ecosystem?

We love being able to grow our own food and create a variety of things from what we can harvest from our garden or locally forage, and share these things with others in our farm stand or on our website. As heritage preservation breeders selling baby chicks and rabbits, we’re always promoting others to raise their own backyard chickens so that they can have their own fresh eggs at home every day; and of course bunnies which are great help with the garden (fertilizer); to encourage families to discover how awesome it is to grow food at home. 

In what ways does your botanical skincare line embody the connection between nature, self-care, and sustainability?

We use all organic ingredients in the skin and body care products that we make; many of them grown here on the farm or wildcrafted around Vancouver island. They’re free from harsh additives or artificial fragrances, making them safe for even the most sensitive skin types. We like to keep things as simple, and we keep our products at accessible and honest price points to make them a sustainable choice as a regular purchase. Shannon is a medical aesthetician who owns Volta Skin Studio in town, which supports the knowledge gone into the formulas we make. 

How do you engage with the local community to promote awareness about the benefits of organic farming and locally crafted products?

We’re partnered with the South Island Farm Hub and offer various products through there, and are also hoping to do a few markets this coming year! We love to share photos and farm updates on our social media page in hopes of inspiring others to make sustainable choices and to see the beauty and value in small-scale local farming.

What challenges have you faced balancing the demands of running an organic farm and producing skincare products, and how have these shaped your vision for the future?

Like all farmers, we’ve had our fair share of learning curves for sure. Many aspects of farming are very seasonal which poses its own set of challenges; especially in winter when nature won’t allow us to meet the demand. This last year was our first year growing lots of crops, so we got ahead of ourselves with excitement and tried to do too many different things at once. We didn’t end up with very much to harvest! This year, we’re narrowing our focus and being much more strategic so we have lots to offer everyone.

What steps can the community take to support your vision for a more nourishing and sustainable future on Vancouver Island?

If you can, consider getting your own backyard chickens at home! You’ll love having the fresh, healthy eggs for your family and it is one less trip to the grocery store. We offer a variety of rare and heritage breeds so you’ll have a beautiful basket of rainbow coloured eggs. Visit farm stands when you can from us local farmers; we all offer something different each season and hopping around to different farm stands is such a fun activity for a day off! Perishable items only have so much lifespan, so having outlets and platforms farmers to sell is very important.

With appreciation,
Shannon & Micah
Nest Wildcraft Farm

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Continue the conversation:

Follow Nest Wildcraft on Instagram.

Shop for their products on the South Island Farm Hub

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