Questions and Answers: Pollinator Picnic at UBC Farm
What is going on during the Pollinator Picnic?
The Pollinator Picnic marks the start of summer when UBC Farm gets into full swing – several activities are planned at a special Saturday Farmers’ Market on June 28, 2025, to demonstrate the important role that pollinators play in the food system.
Some free, family-friendly events include iNaturalist BioBlitz, where visitors can learn to identify pollinators using their smartphones; a Seeds of Knowledge table hosted by UBC graduate students who talk about their pollinator research projects; a research tour of the motion cameras and ultrasonic sound recorders used to monitor insects and animals; a pollinator-themed colouring area, among others!
Paid events include sampling tea grown at UBC Farm, and Rabbitats.
Is the public allowed to visit UBC Farm, and what can they expect to see there?
The public is welcome to visit UBC Farm! Last year the farm welcomed 25,000 people to its Saturday Farmers’ Markets, which are held weekly from June to November.
The farm cultivates over 200 varieties of organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and also features honey beehives at its site at the south end of UBC campus. In addition to the farm’s organic produce, you can browse and buy artisanal crafts, and food and beverages made by local vendors. You can also enjoy music and other entertainment. On Tuesday evenings throughout the summer, UBC Farm hosts a smaller produce market onsite.
Also, UBC Farm is a key part of UBC’s agroecology research and education, as well as an important Vancouver food hub. At the Saturday Farmers’ Markets, visitors can join a tour of the farm, meet UBC students, and learn about research taking place related to biodiversity, climate, and food security.
Who runs UBC Farm?
The Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC oversees UBC Farm, a 24-hectare integrated farm and forest ecosystem. The Faculty conducts research from farm to fork, and UBC Farm plays a pivotal role in hands-on learning for both students and faculty members across campus. It 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.
UBC Farm was started by students in 2001, and the collaborative research network known as the CSFS began in 2011 to support the interdisciplinary research themes at UBC Farm, from land management to Indigenous food sovereignty; from sustainable practices in organic and conventional food production to the study of ecosystem services provided by biodiversity in agroecosystems.
How does the CSFS at UBC Farm make the future more food secure?
The mission of the CSFS at UBC Farm is to design, facilitate and model food system change through innovative research, place-based learning, knowledge mobilization, community building and stewardship of the UBC Farm.
The CSFS currently includes 35 research associates who last year ran 16 research projects at UBC Farm through $2.4 million in research funding. Four new research projects recently launched to address climate change in agriculture: investigating the effects of reducing tillage and tarping; reducing emissions from dairy slurry manure; applying cover crops in blueberries to support beneficial insects; and, running trials on summer cover crops.
Members of the CSFS share their research findings with producers across the Lower Mainland through the BC Food Web, and many work in collaboration with farmers in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Some are also involved in supporting new protocols and policy development.
UBC Farm provides an inclusive space for sustainable food systems teaching and learning. The site hosts popular children’s summer camps so that youth can develop an appreciation for how food is grown and harvested. Several UBC courses include student visits to the farm, and university students may learn onsite through LFS 350: Land, Food and Community II or the career practicum LFS 496: Career Development in Land and Food Systems.
UBC Farm continues to work towards enhancing its Indigenous initiatives and partnerships, and last year opened a Hidden Hut learning space in collaboration with Musqueam.
Does the CSFS at UBC Farm offer courses for the public?
This year, the CSFS is re-introducing Community Workshops and Short Courses – these are open for the public and are beginner-friendly. Topics include fermentation, foraging, medicine from plants, growing food in small spaces, and many more!
Check out Community Workshops and Short Courses (fees apply):
https://secure.touchnet.net/C20435_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=247&SINGLESTORE=true
Check out Children’s Summer Programs:
https://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/childrens-programs/
Where can I find out more about the Pollinator Picnic events?
The activities take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025 between 10 am-2pm. For full details on times and events taking place during the 2025 Pollinator Picnic, you can visit: https://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/events/event/pollinator-picnic/