The University of British Columbia
ER-T2-2: Organic Garden

THE CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS AT UBC FARM http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/apprenticeship.php The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) is home to the UBC Farm, a 24-hectare teaching, research and community farm located on UBC’s Vancouver campus. Forming a rich mosaic of cultivated fields, teaching gardens, forest stands, hedgerows, and orchard plantings, the farm is a unique urban agrarian gem. In close proximity and fully integrated with a world-class community of researchers, the CSFS affords an opportunity to better understand and manage the characteristics of the ecosystems that support urbanizing societies. As the only working farmland within the city of Vancouver, the UBC Farm’s urban interface enhances research opportunities that also address community, ecosystem and global health. The UBC Farm provides many opportunities for students to gain practical skills in organic food production. In addition to several highly active volunteer programs, Community Service-Learning (CSL) opportunities and internships for students, the CSFS at UBC Farm is pleased to offer 'Sowing Seeds for the Future: Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture,' a hands-on, season-long practicum in sustainable agriculture. THE ORCHARD GARDEN http://outdoorclassroomubc.blogspot.com/ The UBC Orchard Garden is the brainchild of students in Agroecology Self-Directed Studies, the Land, Food & Community III (AGSC 450) course and the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm. In the spring of 2007, students tilled and prepared soil on the west side of the MacMillan Building. “The Orchard Garden” title is intended to reflect this particular area’s history as an apple orchard. Previously occupied by portable offices, the Garden is now designated as informal learning space within UBC Vancouver's Public Realm Plan. The Orchard Garden complements the UBC Farm as a garden-scale outdoor classroom for hands-on, holistic learning about sustainable food systems, from production to consumption and disposal. It also provides a space for transforming teacher education through innovative curriculum and pedagogy design. Diners at the student-run Agora Cafe and the Agriculture Undergraduate Society's weekly barbeques enjoy delicious “backyard garden” treats from The Orchard Garden that include early potatoes, garlic, beets, kale and squash.