Keating Farm is one of the oldest farms in the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, with a history that stretches back to the late 1800s. The Keating family originally developed the property as a grand estate, helping establish the area’s early agricultural roots. Tragedy struck in 1901 when Andrew Keating and two of his sons were lost in the shipwreck of the SS Islander, after which the property changed hands several times while continuing to operate as a working farm.
In the 1940s, the Tews family established a small dairy and poultry operation on the land. Hugo Tews became well known locally for his award-winning grain and memorable homebrew. Over time, however, the farm’s buildings and infrastructure deteriorated, and the once-impressive estate gradually fell into disrepair. In 2005, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia purchased the historic property in hopes of preserving it, holding the farm for eight years before eventually selling it in 2013.
Since purchasing the property, the current owners have spent years restoring the farm and bringing new life to the historic site. The farmhouse, a 5,000-square-foot structure with over 150 years of history, required extensive renovations after years of neglect. Restoring the home became a major undertaking, revealing hidden details and stories from the past along the way.
Following the farmhouse restoration, attention turned to rebuilding the farm itself. Roads, fencing, utilities, and heritage agricultural buildings were carefully repaired and restored. Today, the farm produces eggs, chicken, turkey, pork, and lamb, with livestock playing a key role in restoring soil health through rotational grazing. The farm also supports pollination through an apiary and mason bees while replanting fruit trees to rebuild the historic orchard.
Guided by a commitment to slow, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture, Keating Farm continues to focus on caring for the land and animals while producing food for the surrounding community.
For more information, be sure to visit the Keating Farm website.
If you enjoyed learning about Keating Farm, check out our other blog posts, where we explore historic farms across British Columbia just like this one.