A family on Vancouver Island says they are moving to Nova Scotia because of the high cost of farming in B.C.
“By the time I was nine, I had drawings – kind of where my farm and barn would be – where my crops would grow,” Celina Knuff, owner of Back to Nature Acres, told Global News.
But now, keeping the farm alive has become a financial nightmare.
“With the high land costs, it has just been a lot to be able to make that work,” Knuff said.
She and her partner, Nick, have been farming the land since 2022, producing blueberries, citrus fruits and a place for some animals to call home.
But now the family is packing up and moving 6,000 kilometres away to Nova Scotia.
Knuff said that for the price of a one-bedroom condo on Vancouver Island, they were able to buy a 50-acre farm in Nova Scotia, where they will move their pets, livestock and citrus trees this September.
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She added that when they announced the move on social media, they received comments from former B.C. farmers saying they had made similar decisions and had zero regrets.
“All of these different places that have just allowed them to have more land, more freedom and grow their families,” Knuff said.
Farmland on Vancouver Island can exceed $100,000 an acre, particularly for smaller properties.
“The reality is, if we continue down this path, we won’t, we won’t have food that is made in B.C. anymore,” Emily Lowan, leader of the BC Green Party, said.
“Small farms will shutter and close.
“And we will become increasingly reliant on imports.”
In a statement, B.C.’s agricultural minister said: “We recognize the challenges that many new and young farmers are facing and my heart goes out to anyone having to make incredibly tough choices about what comes next.”
Knuff said the family believes this is the right decision.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” she said.
As a born and bred maritimer living in BC I find the the story short on facts with no sign that they actually sold anything, no proof that they actually bought property in NS, no proof that the property had a home, outbuildings, power or water and no sign of vehicles, or trailers to make the move.
Perhaps a follow up story would be in order if and when the move actually takes place.
“Doug Brekfaust
August 20, 2026 at 1:54 pm
At JV-
Are you up here again crying and whining about conservatives.
Apparently we are in your head now eh? Finally seeing the writing on the wall about the pending blow out of the NDP.
Every media service except CBC is printing stories about one NDP debacle after another.
😂”
Still better than electing NAZlS to public office 😂
Trudeau forced a population explosion on the Canadian people. This is one result.
Citrus. haha.
better learn to grow something else.
And please please please dont overpay for the land, and tell all your friends what a good deal it was.
We are still in shock from the 2022 ontario invasion that doubled and tripled housing costs in an impoverished province.
At JV-
Are you up here again crying and whining about conservatives.
Apparently we are in your head now eh? Finally seeing the writing on the wall about the pending blow out of the NDP.
Every media service except CBC is printing stories about one NDP debacle after another.
😂
Whatever.
Good luck growing citrus in Nova Scotia.
Would love to see a 4 year follow up after a few Atlantic winters . lol
Another dumb story awhile back was about someone for the same reasons move to some cheap home in northern Saskatchewan .
Mid spring. “ I love watching the sun rise from my patio every morning.”
Wait until it doesn’t rise at all mid winter and it’s —30c without the wind chill.
Maybe then she will understand why it’s so cheap.
Lol
Prices on the island should be dropping. Who wants to live in an area with a Cowichan style dump.
The AG Ministers comments read as “We know, and we are not going to change anything”. Simply PATHETIC!!!!!
“Jay
August 20, 2026 at 10:39 am
I saw this on the news, Good for them, I wish them the best .. This is the result of electing political activists to public office ..”
Better than electing NAZlS to public office
I saw this on the news, Good for them, I wish them the best .. This is the result of electing political activists to public office ..
Our Province is getting so FU!KED, no one is going to want to live here. We need to STOP hiring leaders from the nut houses
People I know headed out to Nova Scotia from Langley and there plans failed. They are stuck in Chilliwack.
Good plan. If you can’t afford BC then move to Nova Scotia 👋👋