UBC Farm Student Symposium

Join the UBC Farm and the Friends of the Farm to celebrate UBC student engagement in food sustainability!

With more than 150 student projects conducted in collaboration with more than ten different faculties and schools, the UBC Farm generates much needed information about food system science, farming technologies, community engagement and environmental stewardship while giving students the opportunity to learn in a unique and increasingly rare hands-on way.

This free public event is organized by the UBC Farm and the UBC Sustainability Ambassadors, a UBC Sustainability Initiative program that promotes and develops sustainability education for UBC students.

Come for the whole day or stop in for any part of it! Full schedule below.

When? March 15th, 2013 from 9am-5pm
Where? The UBC SUB
How much? The Symposium is a free event!
Who? Everyone is welcome

Tea and coffee are provided and a local lunch is available for a $3 donation.

Find more information and RSVP here.

Paper-making & Farm walkabout

The Friends of the UBC Farm  held their first walkabout and workshop of 2013 yesterday morning. The sun even came out to greet us as we took a walk around the farm, spotting many different bird species among the fields and trees. We spotted a few varieties growing in the fields, including beets, kale, collard greens, and various herbs. After the tour we made seed paper and little soil pots using recycled newsprint, a variety of seeds, and dried flowers from the UBC Farm. It was a nice way to end the week and start off the weekend!

Coming up in February and March, FoTF will be holding an outreach booth at the Environmental Fair in Gage Residence on Feb 26 (6-8pm) and on March 15 we’ll be at the UBC Farm Student Symposium at the SUB (9-5pm) – Hope to see you there!

Can you spot the Robin?

Help us bring public transit to the UBC Farm!

While many farm friends describe what a special experience it is for them to visit the UBC Farm in the midst of an urban environment, we also hear about the challenge of accessing the farm by public transit. A recent re-route of the TransLink 41 bus has improved the farm’s accessibility, but we now have an opportunity to bring public transit directly to the farm gates!

UBC Campus and Community Planning is working with TransLink to change the campus shuttle routes (C20 and C22). A direct shuttle to the UBC Farm would support UBC’s sustainable transportation plan, improve students’ and researchers’ access to unique academic opportunities at the farm, and create new possibilities for university-community programming for other members of our community. Please help us demonstrate the need for direct public transit to the UBC Farm:

• Online consultation: Open until Wednesday December 12th. Participate in this short online survey.
• Campus+ Community Planning Public Open House: November 26, 4-7pm, Thunderbird Arena (6066 Thunderbird Boulevard, Wesbrook Mall entrance). No registration required.

Warm thanks for your ongoing support!

Une vignette de fraises

Because this most adored of aggregate accessory fruits is so short-lived, we made a special effort to capture a few moments of strawberry-savouring over the past week.

Imagine yourself in a field…

Imagine yourself in a farm field savouring seasonal vegetables, paired wines and other local gourmet, artisan delicacies…

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Fenske

Outstanding in the Field aims to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. This year, Ted Anderson of Campognolo Restaurant will be sharing his culinary talents the guest chef for OITF at the UBC Farm. The dinner will take place on Sunday, July 15th at 4pm, and proceeds directly benefit the UBC Farm. Not to be missed!

For more details or to purchase tickets, please click here.

Southlands Heritage Farm in Vancouver needs volunteers

Interested in supporting local, agroecological food production in exchange for free veggies and/or goat milk or cheese?

As the harvest season is picking up, Southlands Heritage Farm in Vancouver really needs some volunteer help with its market garden! Specifically, they are looking for volunteers to assist with weeding, tying up and pruning tomatoes, and harvesting each Sunday morning for their farm market. For more info, please email Jen Maynard at southlandsfarm@gmail.com.

Young Explorers Summer Camp at UBC Botanical Garden, plus a new Horticulture Training Program

This summer, the UBC Botanical Garden is hosting two awesome children’s day camp programs. In addition, you can attend an orientation for their new Horticulture Training Program this Sunday, June 10th from 1-3pm Read on for more info!

 

Young Explorers Summer Day Camp at UBC Botanical Garden

Campers will learn about the natural world through two great program options. Send your child on an adventure exploring nature and biodiversity this summer.

• The Eco Explorer program investigates the remarkable link that humans have with the environment. Together we will explore how different cultures interact with nature, learn about wild and cultivated foods, and discover how to effectively and safely cohabitate with wildlife.
• The Garden Explorer program teaches skills and knowledge to become a friendly gardener! Campers will get their hands dirty catching squirmy insects, conjure up (almost) magical potions, and cook up a storm with weird vegetables! Making compost tea, wildlife gardening, water conservation, plant needs and surprising plant allies including beneficial insects and companion plants are just of few of the topics in this program.

For more information visit: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/summer-camps

New Horticulture Training Program at UBC Botanical Garden

Registration is open for this new full-time program designed to give students the skills and experience necessary for entering the field of horticulture. Completion of classroom and practical instruction, together with supervised practical work, will lead to the provincially recognized Horticultural Technician Certificate and Levels I & II Apprenticeship technical training credit. An info session will be held on June 10, 2012 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. For more information visit: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/horticulture-program

 

Extension of UBC Farm CSA Box application deadline

UBC Farm CSA Autumn Box

In response to a flurry of demand for beautiful, organically grown veggies, the UBC Farm has decided to extend the application deadline for its Community-Supported Agriculture Box Program to this Friday, June 1^st at 5pm!

This year, the UBC Farm is delighted to offer opportunities for urban CSA members to connect more closely with their food, the farm and each other through (optional) special hands-on CSA volunteer sessions.If you’re unfamiliar with how CSA programs work, check out this concise article from Lindsay Coulter (aka David Suzuki’s Queen of Green) on the topic.

Please click here for details on the UBC Farm’s 2012 CSA program.

Meet the cooks at this year’s Joy of Feeding on June 10th!

“Cooking is the doorway to caring about where our food comes from, taking care of our families, and taking care of our health. It connects our hands to our senses and to everyone’s hearts.” – Meeru Dhalwala

Lix Lopez, one of the cooks at this year’s Joy of Feeding, is also a leader of the Maya in Exile Garden Project at the UBC Farm. He will be sharing Chaan (corn tamalitos with beans) on June 10th.

The UBC Farm is pleased be hosting the second annual Joy of Feeding on Sunday, June 10th! Celebrate and enjoy comfort foods created and cooked from the heart. Sixteen home cooks of different ethnic backgrounds offer you tastes of their family comfort foods at this international food fair and UBC Farm fundraiser. To learn about the chefs and the stories behind the dishes they will be sharing, please visit their bio page.

 

This family-friendly event features children’s activities and special music by Tarun ‘Tspoon’ Nayar (Delhi 2 Dublin), Rup Sidhu (Banyen Roots), Ndidi Cascade, and friends. The countries and ethnicities represented at this year’s event are: Sierra Leone, Ghana, Hakka Chinese, Chile, Mexico, Maya (Guatemala), Pakistan, Goa (India), Egypt, Syria, Tsimshian First Nations, Canada (Vancouver), Vietnam, Southern Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

• Date & location: Sunday, June 10th, 2012, 1:00-4:00 pm at the UBC Farm
• Tickets: Tickets are $50 and include a recipe book with each cook’s story and family recipe. Children 13 and under are free with their parent or guardian’s ticket purchase. Tickets are available at Lower Mainland Choices Markets or online at joyoffeeding.com. Special Vancity member offer: This year, Joy of Feeding is pleased to offer a 2-for-1 ticket deal to Vancity members.
• Want to know more? Visit joyoffeeding.com for full event details, visit the UBC Farm website for an interview with Meeru Dhalwala about the vision behind Joy of Feeding, and check out our photo blog post about last year’s event.
• Connect: “Like” Joy of Feeding on Facebook and search for #joyoffeeding on Twitter.

Spots available! May cheese making workshops at the UBC Farm

Brie ng it on. Cheese maker and organic farmer David Asher Rotsztain draining whey.

Once again, the UBC Farm Growing Season Workshop Series is looking forward to hosting four cheese making workshops this month led by organic farmer and cheese maker David Asher Rotsztain! These popular workshops fill up quite quickly, so please register soon to avoid disappointment.

 

Intro to Cheese Making (Three sessions – May 15, 16 and 29)
Join cheesemaker David Asher Rotsztain as we explore the fascinating realm of cheese. David will demonstrate and explain the techniques for making three basic styles of cheese: paneer, yogourt cheese and camembert, an aged rennet cheese.

Location:  UBC Farm Centre, 6182 South Campus Rd, Vancouver BC
Cost: $40 ($1.99+ registration fee). Materials included.
Dates: Tuesday, May 15th, 6pm-9:45pm: http://intro-to-cheese-making-may.eventbrite.ca/   

Wednesday, May 16th, 6pm-9:45pm: http://intro-to-cheese-making-wednesday-may.eventbrite.ca/

Tuesday, May 29th, 6pm-9:45pm: http://intro-to-cheese-making-late-may.eventbrite.ca/

Advanced Cheese Making

In this advanced workshop, we will explore many different aged and fresh cheeses. Two new classes of cheeses will be introduced: hard cheeses and goat-milk cheeses. We will examine some of the many pathways for ageing soft cheeses by demonstrating the techniques of making blue cheeses, washed rind cheeses and feta. In addition, we will be learning about whey cheeses and mozzarella. 

Location:  UBC Farm Centre, 6182 South Campus Rd, Vancouver BC
Cost: $40 ($1.99+ registration fee). Materials included.
Date: Wednesday, May 30th, 6pm-9:45pm   

For more info and to register: http://advanced-cheese-making-workshop-may.eventbrite.ca/