Sowing Seeds for the Future: Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture

(Updated August 28th, 2010)

The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm is pleased to offer Sowing Seeds for the Future, a hands-on, season-long practicum in sustainable agriculture. For full program details, the Sowing Seeds Program Overview is available for download.

THE SOWING SEEDS PRACTICUM 2011

Established in 2008, this eight month, part-time (520 hour) practicum offers instruction and work experience in small-scale sustainable agriculture.  In a hands-on learning approach, participants work alongside farm staff in the fields and at the market.   Participants attend complementary lectures and participate in a variety of supplementary  educational activities. The practicum is intended as a beginning point for aspiring growers, agricultural professionals, and educators.

The Sowing Seeds Practicum is open to both UBC students and the general public. Please note that the practicum is currently a non-credit course, and therefore participants are not eligible for student loans. However, we are offering a $400 discount for UBC students who register – and successfully earn credits – for a directed studies based on their Sowing Seeds Practicum (see Program Overview for details).

VISITING THE FARM

Prior to submitting applications, all prospective applicants are encouraged to volunteer at the UBC Farm and meet the current UBC Farm staff and practicum students. You are also welcome to visit the farm and look around during our open hours. Visiting the UBC Farm is not a pre-requisite for applying to the program; however it will help give you a feel for the work environment and the community here. Please note that an orientation is required before volunteering – orientation dates can be found on our volunteer page.

A drop-in Open House for the Sowing Seeds Practicum is scheduled for Saturday September 18th, 2-6pm. You’ll have a chance to meet the farm staff and ask the current practicum students about their experience with the program.

APPLICATIONS

To apply for the Sowing Seeds Practicum, fill out the 2011 UBC Farm Practicum Application Form (online form). If you'd like to include a resume as part of your application, please e-mail it as a Word or PDF file to ubcfarm.seeds@gmail.com. The file name should include your last name and the e-mail subject line should read " Practicum application - resume". Including a resume is optional. Before applying, please read the Sowing Seeds Program Overview carefully. It's important that applicants have a realistic idea of what the program involves as well as their ability to fully participate from beginning to end. The closing date for applications is Friday October 29th.

International applicants:  Because we are a small program still in development we don't currently accept international students. In the future we hope to to make the program more accessible to an international audience.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further questions, please contact Elaine Spearing at ubcfarm.seeds@gmail.com

LINKS OF INTEREST

Apprenticeship Programs

Courses

Organizations