Mary Forstbauer Grant
Every year, the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets honours the memory of Mary Forstbauer by offering a grant to a BC farmer who sells at BC farmers’ markets. The award is to be used by a farmer for the implementation of a new initiative on their farm. The grant can be used for the following:
- Supplies
- Training
- New equipment
- Services, contractors, staff, consultants
2025 Grant Amount:
$500
2025 Application Form and Deadline:
The 2025 application form is now closed.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a farmer vendor at a BCAFM member farmers’ market
- Applicants must reside in BC
- Farms must be located in BC
ABOUT MARY
Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm was founded in 1977 when Mary and Hans Forstbauer bought a seven-acre farm on the Matsqui Prairies (near Abbotsford). As many recognize, Mary and her husband Hans were pioneers in the organic farming movement for over 30 years. Mary was and still is the embodiment of organics in BC, and her children proudly continue this legacy.
In addition to farming, Mary volunteered on many non-profit boards. She was a founding member and president of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM), and served on the boards of the Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC), the Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Society of BC, and the Artisans Farmers Market Society. She was also the 2015 recipient of Canadian Health Food Association Organics Achievement Award. Mary was instrumental in building the local food movement and farmers’ market community in BC. Her top priority was to get as many farmers involved in farmers’ markets as possible and she did a lot of peer mentoring to help make this happen.
Mary was admired and loved by many in the farming and farmers’ market community and sadly, Mary passed away in 2015.
2024 Grant Recipient – Tien farm
Congratulations to Tien Nguyen of Tien Farm! Tien had always dreamed of having her own farm. With such unattainable land prices in the Lower Mainland, she turned her search north, to the town of Clearwater. There, she purchased an acre of vacant land and spent a few years traveling back and forth from her home in Surrey to build up the soil and transform the land into the farm of her dreams.
In the fall of 2022, Tien made a big leap: She moved to Clearwater, expanded the farm and a year later, began selling her produce at the Clearwater Farmers’ Market—her first goal as a farmer. Next up? Making farming her full-time living.
We were so excited to hear about Tien’s commitment to healthy soils and sustainable farming practices, and to bringing healthy food to her community. We hope this grant, which Tien used to improve fencing, irrigation, washing and food transportation at Tien Farm, will help her reach her next goal!
2023 Grant Recipient – First Light Farm
Congratulations to First Light Farm! To support the movement away from single-use plastic at the farmers’ market, owners Jesse Johnston-Hill and Chris Rubens will implement a self-serve greens station where customers can bring their own containers and avoid using a new bag each time. Their new commercial scale will make it easy to tare any type of container and fill it with greens—and eventually any product First Light Farm sells.
We’re excited this grant is helping them double down on their pollution reducing actions and we can’t wait to see how their project turns out. Next up on their mission to becoming zero-waste? Solar power and an electric delivery vehicle.
2022 Grant Recipient – Earth craft Farm
Congratulations to Jake Thorburn from Earth Craft Farm. Jake sells at the Duncan Farmers’ Market and Island Roots Farmers’ Market. The grant will allow them to purchase more perennials which was inspired by their love of permaculture and will increase the diversity of their crops. The extra trees will provide habitats for local pollinators and other beneficial insects as well as snakes and frogs and protection for their vegetables from the weather. Excess fruits will be brought to markets to share with customers!
2021 Grant Recipient – BIRD TREE URBAN Farm
Congratulations to Kristina Metzlaff of Bird Tree Urban Farm! She sells at the Revelstoke Local Food Initiative Farm & Craft Market and along with her partner and “chicken whisperer”, Greg Golovach, plan to update their refrigeration system. We are inspired by how they have innovated to make things work at home until now to meet the growing demands of their customers–from the cooler on the porch to overflow crops stored in the living room, and can appreciate how such an update will not only optimize their operations, but also make room for other projects such as an irrigation pump for a new field.
2020 Grant Recipient – Pitch & Arrow Farm
Congratulations to Rosalinde Mutch of Pitch and Arrow Farm! They sell at the Nakusp Farmers Market and Revelstoke Local Food Initiative Farm & Craft Market, and plan to build a site appropriate “Grizzly bear-proof” chicken tractor. A truly Canadian conundrum, this practical, safe and sustainable solution for adding chickens in bear country will help reduce pests and provide fresh, local eggs, but most importantly for Pitch and Arrow Farm to improve their ability to generate more nutrient-rich soil.
2019 GRANT RECIPIENT – SUNRISE COTTAGE FARM
Congratulations to Sue Hughes of Sunrise Cottage Farm who sells at the Metchosin Farmers Market. With the grant, Sue will be building a proper post-harvest cleaning, washing and packing station to the farm. They will also include a wheelchair accessible section in the packing out area so more people can engage in farming activities in a comfortable, safe and warm manner.