Despite the pending sale of Woodwynn Farms, Richard Leblanc remains focused on preserving the residential treatment program he set up nine years ago at the 78-acre Central Saanich site.
But the Creating Homefulness Society, which owns the property, hopes to sign a deal with a buyer next week to pay off $5.5 million in debt. The mortgage-holder has started a foreclosure action for $5.3 million.
“I am still focused on saving the organization,” said Leblanc, farm executive director.
The society said money has run out and six employees, some part-time, were told their jobs will end by March 31.
The three residents there for treatment need to be relocated, the society said.
Leblanc said he has been talking to local agencies about suitable housing. Two residents are living in an on-site house and the other is in a trailer, he said.
Teri DuTemple, society chairwoman, said there have been “communication challenges” with Leblanc.
Leblanc said: “It is just tense when things go sideways as an organization.”
DuTemple said the board has not been able to confirm the total number of residents treated.
Leblanc said there have been 52. “I don’t remember Teri asking for that for a long time.”
The board is vowing to pay back $75,000 received in a government grant last year to refurbish the historic East Barn. DuTemple said the board learned in December the money went to operating expenses instead.
Leblanc said the barn work was held up because he was waiting for the contractor to provide a required engineering report.
There is just one farm bank account, he said. “My task is to pay the monthly bills.”
Program backer Rob Reid, a former board chairman, is sponsoring a meeting Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St., on the topic, “Should we save Woodwynn Farms?”
This is to “basically ask the big question: whether there is a place for a therapeutic farm — just how do we look at therapy when we are dealing with a crisis in our community around drugs and recovery, mental health and addiction?” Reid said.
DuTemple said the potential local buyer wants Woodwynn run as a sustainable farm.
Bryce Rashleigh, Saanichton Farm owner, has cut hay at Woodwynn for the past three owners and knows it well. He did not cut there last year.
Payment was slow for a couple of years but that was sorted out, he said.
The farm has good pasture land and everything from sandy loam to black earth, Rashleigh said.
“Woodwynn would be an absolutely ideal place for rotation crops,” he said. Local farms can not supply enough barley, for example, for local buyers.
Rashleigh said the farm is on the right track by raising livestock, such as pigs, cattle and chickens, and growing produce for its market.
Leblanc said 10 piglets have just been born. Meat from cattle and pigs is sold by the farm and by a local butcher.
Rashleigh said it would take effort to see the property more fully utilized but, “the sky can be the limit.”
