Property Watch: Historic Pender Island farm for sale

Back in 1874, when homesteaders were prospecting for farmland in the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf Islands were high on their list. With a microclimate similar to the Mediterranean — That is, mild temperatures and more sunshine than the mainland — conditions were prime for planting.

The 105-acre property on North Pender Island’s Davidson Bay, known locally as Clam Bay Farm, has long been particularly attractive: set on a cliff overlooking Navy Channel and across to Mayne Island with just under a kilometre of shoreline, the land has remained a wholly self-sufficient, sustainable organic farm over the decades as it has passed through many hands.

“At one point it was considered for a ferry terminal but they would have had to dredge out the whole bay, so that didn’t happen,” says listing agent Nicole Eastman of Sotheby’s International Realty. “One owner thought about turning it into a golf course. Another was known for having pretty good parties with live music in the barn, which still has a dance floor.”

A retired math teacher called it AfterMath; an Air Canada pilot commuted to YVR aboard his private plane; a business owner from Alberta established a 5.5-acre winery (leased to the island’s Sea Star Winery) and hosted weddings; and, in 2011, an American investor envisioned a sanctuary from an increasingly chaotic world. “He didn’t want to have tourism or agribusiness use of the property; he just wanted to have the farm for the sake of having his own farm.”

The property has expanded from the original barn and other outbuildings, as well as an early farmhouse built in the 1960s, to include a sawmill, a water treatment plant, farm worker and guest accommodation, caretaker’s cabin, a beach house, and gazebo.

In addition to the vineyard, the farm grows fruit trees and haskap berry bushes, with open pastureland for more crops or animal grazing. A pond with fountain attracts otters, Canada geese and Mallard ducks.

A 260-foot pier with a 50-foot dock that juts into Davidson Bay can support a vehicle travelling its length.

To create his own private hideaway, the current owner commissioned renowned West Coast Modern architects Bo Helliwell and Kim Smith of Blue Sky Architecture to design and build a uniquely stunning home, called The Point House, that gently blends in with the old-growth forest on one side and overlooks the ocean on the other.

The curved, Douglas fir rooflines, which mimic the shape of the shoreline and the mountains on Mayne Island, guide rainwater to capture points beneath. Red cedar shakes, stone and glass complete the exterior, and a landscaped entry court, expansive decks and patios that open to the sunny south elevation with outdoor barbecue and wine fridge are perfect for entertaining or communing with surrounding forests of fir, arbutus and maple trees.

Unfortunately, family in Europe has kept the owner away too often, so his dream home has never been lived in.

“The builder managed to create a perfectly curved wall, which is crazy,” says Eastman of Blue Sky’s signature curved lines and organic form designs, with wood craftsmanship throughout by Gulf Island Artisan Homes. “The Gulf Islands attract a lot of artists, artisans and craftsmen so you get superior work from such a small community” of less than 3,000 permanent residents.