UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture - Accepting Applications

The 2015 UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture application is now open!

The practicum is an eight-month experiential learning program designed for aspiring farmers, urban gardeners, environmental educators, and students with an interest in applying their learning about sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Our program graduates share a vision of livelihoods and lifestyles grounded in sustainable and community-based food systems. The majority have maintained a practice of farming, gardening, and food growing -- at many different scales and in diverse forms, such as business start-ups, partnerships with seasoned farmers, and in community gardening and outreach settings.

WHERE: University of British Columbia Farm (UBC Farm) hosts the practicum, and provides the foundation for learning. It is a 24-hectare teaching, research, and community farm, located at the southern end of UBC Vancouver's campus.

WHAT: The main approach to learning is hands-on practice. Students carry out seasonal farm activities with leadership provided by the Practicum Teaching Team and UBC Farm Staff in the greenhouses, fields, teaching gardens, orchard, and marketing outlets.

The programming includes guest speakers, field trips, demonstrations, classroom sessions, readings, assignments, and more. Curriculum includes:

Soil fundamentals and soil fertility management
Greenhouse management and horticultural skills building activities
Irrigation set up and maintenance methods
Weed/pest identification and management
Sustainable cultivation methods
Safe operation of small tractors and implements
Harvesting and post-harvest handling techniques
Diverse direct marketing techniques and practices
Larger food systems topics and discussion
Introduction to special topics, such as beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, flowers, herbs, cheese-making, and more.

WHEN: March - October, part-time. In March-April, one day per week (Saturdays); May-August, four days per week (Wednesday and Thursday mornings; and Friday-Saturdays); September-October, two days per week (Friday-Saturdays).

WHO: All are welcome to apply. There are no pre-requisites. The program accepts approximately ten students each year.

To learn more about the UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture, and to submit your application, click: http://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/community/practicum-in-sustainable-agriculture/. Application closes October 22nd.

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Shannon Lambie
Communications Coordinator | Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm
Faculty of Land and Food Systems | The University of British Columbia
3461 Ross Drive (Location)
2357 Main Mall (mailing) | Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z4
Office 604 822 5092 | Cell 604 649 7485 | Fax 604 822 6839
shannon.lambie@ubc.ca | www.ubcfarm.ubc.ca