Media Advisory: Pollinator Picnic at UBC Farm

June 25, 2025

Media Advisory: Pollinator Picnic at UBC Farm

Saturday, June 28, 2025
UBC Farm, 3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver, B.C.
10 am-2pm

An eastern bumblebee

On June 28 celebrate the hardworking heroes of our food system – pollinators! From bees to butterflies to birds, these tiny creatures play a big role in bringing fresh food to our tables.

UBC Farm is hosting several activities at a special Farmers’ Market dedicated to pollinators: learn to identify pollinators with a smartphone; see cameras and ultrasonic sound recorders used to monitor insects and other animals; sample tea grown at UBC Farm, and more!

UBC Farm is the main teaching and research site for the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS), a living lab that brings together academics, students and the community to address local and global challenges facing food systems sustainability. The CSFS helps to build awareness of how we can build a more food-secure future grounded by our connection to the land.

Pre-Interview with Dr. Sean Smukler – June 26-27

Dr. Sean Smukler, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm, is available for interviews on June 26 and June 27. Dr. Smukler can speak about the pollinator research taking place at UBC Farm, and family-friendly activities planned at the Pollinator Picnic on June 28.

Events at Pollinator Picnic – Saturday, June 28

Free events:

  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – iNaturalist Bioblitz: Bee a citizen scientist! Learn how to identify and record pollinators and plants in this guided walkthrough of the Farm. Participants will need a smartphone with the iNaturalist app downloaded.
  • 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Research tours of projects related to pollinators:
    • Pollinators, pests and predators – how food production is impacted by their relationship and interactions.
    • Bats and insects – monitoring populations using cameras and ultrasonic sound recorders, and what this tells us about climate variations.
    • Designing crops and hedgerows to house pollinators and optimize their lifestyle.
  • All day – Kids pollinator colouring activities
  • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – UBC Saturday Farmers’ Market: Browse more than 30 different local vendors selling produce, fruit, meat, mushrooms, eggs, baked goods, beverages, sweet treats, alcohol, artisan goods, and more! Click here for more information.

Paid events or entry by donation:

  • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Tea tasting (by donation): Taste UBC Farm-made teas, and snag a deal on teas! Plus, picnic blankets will be available to borrow free-of-charge to enjoy lunch from one of our many food truck vendors.
  • All day – Bunny Meet n’ Treat with Rabbitats (by donation)

Other events at the CSFS at UBC Farm:

  • Ongoing – Community Workshops and Short Courses
    • Food security is more important than ever! The CSFS at UBC Farm is offering several Community Workshops and Short Courses in summer 2025 to teach sustainable living skills. All are beginner-friendly and open to everyone.
    • Some upcoming workshops:
      • Restoring and Managing Soil Health By Leveraging the Benefits of High-Quality Compost – Thursday, July 17 (6:00 pm-8:30 pm)
      • Just Ferment It! Reduce Food Waste and Save Money with Fermentation – Wednesday, July 23 (6:00-8:00 pm)
      • Ultimate Foraging for Beginners [Short Course] – Wednesday, July 30 (6:00-7:00 pm)
      • Growing in Small Spaces: Edible, Biodiverse, and Multi-functional Plantings [Short Course] – Saturday, August 16 (9:00 am-12:00 pm & 1:00 pm-4:00 pm)
      • And more…

For more information:

Media Contacts:

Tagged with , , ,
Categories: News