The Saanich property once home to Babe’s Honey Farm is on the market under a courtordered sale for $1.35 million.

The 5.57-hectare site includes a 2,121-squarefoot house and 11,376square-foot outbuilding at the corner of Walton Place and Oldfield Road.

Clumps of bullrushes and grasses grow on the uneven property where the bright yellow building once used for honey production is locked up.

Babe’s Honey was a long-standing fixture in Greater Victoria. It was launched in 1945 by Alison (Babe) and her husband Charlie Warren.

After Babe died in 2006, a group of investors, headed by Sidney accountant Mark Pitcher, purchased the company.

The company was put into receivership in February. Pitcher was arrested in December 2010 and is facing seven counts of frauds totalling close to $1 million.

Pitcher is next scheduled to appear in court in April 2012 for a trial confirmation hearing.

Secured creditor Coast Capital Savings Credit Union was granted the power of sale for the Babe’s land. The credit union said in a court document it was owed $908,000 in a mortgage. The property is listed with Colliers International’s Victoria office.

Late last month, Abbotsford-based Joiner Sales held a liquidation auction at the property, after purchasing the assets of Babe’s and of Island Vineyards.

Next door to the Babe’s site is 5996 Oldfield Rd., a 1.84-hectare property. Court documents show the property is owned by Island Vineyard Group and Margaret Ann Pitcher.

Coast Capital holds a mortgage of $352,694, as of May 25, on that land and stated in documents that the owners defaulted.

James Russell and Margaret Joan Bechard have been granted a court judgment of $212,201 as creditors of Island Vineyards and Margaret Pitcher. The Bechards are scheduled to seek a court order on Aug. 4 to allow the sale of the Oldfield Road property.

cwilson@timescolonist.com