Sowing Seeds for the Future: A Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture
(Updated November 5, 2009)
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, established in 2008. For full program details, the Program Overview is available for download. Applications for the 2010 season are now being accepted (see below)!
PROGRAM INFORMATION:
MEDIA:
- View photos from the 2008 practicum
- Watch a short video about the practicum in 2008 (scroll down: "A Unique Urban Agriculture Course at UBC Farm")
- Read about the practicum on our blog
WHAT? THE SOWING SEEDS PRACTICUM 2010
This eight month, part time (600 hour) practicum offers instruction and daily work experience in small-scale sustainable farming . In a balanced, hands-on learning approach, participants work alongside staff in the greenhouse, gardens, fields, and orchard. Students attend complementary lectures, demonstrations, and farm visits, and participate in a variety of practical and reflective educational activities. Direct marketing activities are also a key part of the experience. The practicum has been designed as a beginning point for aspiring growers, educators and agricultural professionals.
Students come from all backgrounds and are expected to be passionate about pursuing a career in sustainable agriculture. A certificate of completion will be issued to students who complete the practicum requirements. Further, we support our graduates to make connections within the BC agricultural community, and to seek out mentors to learn with following Sowing Seeds. Please note, Sowing Seeds 2010 is a non-credit course and therefore participants are not eligible for student loans. However, in 2010 we are offering a $400 fee 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).
WHERE? THE UBC FARM
Located at the southern end of the University of British Columbia 's Vancouver campus, on the traditional territory of the Musqueam people, the UBC Farm stewards a 24 ha site as an integrated, working farm system . The UBC Farm is student driven and all practices voluntarily adhere to COABC standards for organic production. We are currently pursuing organic certification. In a given year, we cultivate approximately 250 different varieties of annual and perennial crops. Vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, edible and cut flowers, transplants, eggs, and honey are all produced. Annual crops and grazing livestock are managed in a multi-year crop rotation.
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2010?
Following two full seasons, the Sowing Seeds practicum is making several changes to its structure to reflect feedback from our 2008 and 2009 Students, our UBC Farm Staff, and our Steering Committee. The information contained on this website and in the Program Overview reflects the current direction of the project (November 2009) and further details, including the course outline, will be posted later this year. Program details are subject to change. In the meantime, we are welcoming applications to the 2010 practicum.
For 2010 we have identified the following:
- The practicum will emphasize applied agro-ecological theory through practical and instructional field activities. Lectures, farm visits and educational activities will complement these core practical activities.
- Sowing Seeds 2010 is directed towards beginning agriculturalists, however, students will benefit most who have some prior theoretical knowledge of agricultural principles.
- Practicum hours have been adjusted both to increase program quality and accessibility to students .
- We aim to increase the participation of undergraduate students in relevant disciplines (e.g. Applied Biology, Applied Science, Botany etc.), while still welcoming applications from the general public.
2010 PRACTICUM LOGISTICS:
Course dates : March 13 - Nov 6, 2010
Course hours : Vary throughout the growing season from 7-21 hours/week. See our Program Overview for details.
Course fee : $3,000
**(UBC Students who register, and successfully earn credits, for a directed studies course based upon their Sowing Seeds Practicum are eligible for a $400 refund)**
Capacity : 10 students
VISITING THE UBC FARM:
Prior to submitting applications, all prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the UBC Farm during scheduled volunteer hours, get a feel for the place and the work, and meet the current UBC Farm staff and students. However, visiting the UBC Farm is not a pre-requisite for applying to the program. The drop-in Open House for the Sowing Seeds program was on Saturday October 31, 2009. Volunteer sessions at the UBC Farm are now finished for the season.
APPLICATIONS:
Please submit your application online. Before filling it out, please read the Program Overview carefully. Consider how well the course might fit your interests and goals. 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. Please answer all questions clearly, thoroughly and succinctly.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 1, 2009. Applicants will receive a response by late December 2009.
International applicants: Because we are a small program still in development we don't currently accept foreign students. In the future we hope to become more accessible to an international audience.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you can't find the info you need on our website, please contact Elaine Spearing at: ubcfarm.seeds@gmail.com
PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, the Sowing Seeds Practicum is being implemented as an activity of the Organic Sector Development Program component of the Agri-Food Futures Fund, funding for which is provided through the Canada-British Columbia Framework Agreement on Agricultural Risk Management.
See you out at the Farm, and thank you for supporting local agriculture and local education!
