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.

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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

 

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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/

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March 21 workshop – Knead to know: The basics of baking delicious bread at home

Beginner baking workshop at the UBC Farm with Florin Moldovan

*Please note: This workshop has sold out, and the waitlist is full. We hope to be able to offer additional workshops with Florin this season! To stay posted on upcoming Growing Season workshops, please sign up for the UBC Farm Market email list.*

Artisan baker Florin Moldovan is hosting another beginner baking workshop as part of the UBC Farm Growing Season Series next Wednesday, March 21st from 6-9pm. His last workshop in January sold out quite quickly, so interested folks are encouraged to register soon!

Flour up your hands and get ready to rise into the world of bread. Florin Moldovan will describe the science behind the perfect loaf, the grains that form it and some of the cultural lore of baking bread. This beginner workshop will provide participants with the techniques needed to make excellent loaves at home using readily available ingredients.

“I believe only good people make bread, so when I see someone making bread I Just know. And when bad people make bread, it probably won’t turn out.” - Florin Moldovan, as quoted in the Vancouver Observer’s article on the January ’12 UBC Farm bread baking workshop

• Date: Wednesday, March 21st, 6pm-9pm
• Location:  UBC Farm Centre
• Cost: $30 ($1.74+ registration fee). Materials included.

For more information and to register: http://knead-to-know.eventbrite.ca/

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Apprenticeship with Farmers on 57th – Apply by Feb 1st

Farmers on 57th is accepting applications for its 2012 Urban Farming Apprenticeship! This full season learning experience will immerse apprentices into the world of ecological farming. It is a practical, hands-on experience in which apprentices exchange their labour and commitment for instruction, supervision and mutual commitment.

The position is part-time (16 hrs/week) from February-October, and Fo57th is seeking 3-4 apprentices in total. Besides a wealth of education, apprentices will receive a weekly box of seasonal veggies.

Application deadline: February 1st, 2012

Please submit your application to Tess and Karen at farmerson57th@gmail.com with answers to the following questions:

• What’s your motivation for wanting to apprentice with Farmers on 57th?
• How does this apprenticeship fit into your future plans?
• What is your gardening and/or food growing background?
• Are you able to commit for the entire growing season? Do you foresee any obstacles to fulfilling this commitment?
• What other relevant skills do you have?

 

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Purls of wisdom and eating what you can! November Growing Season Workshops

Preserving the fall: a seasonal workshop in canning what’s local – Sunday, November 13th, 1pm-4pm.

Photo courtesy of mgsimpson999 on Flickr Creative Commons.

In this three-hour session that emphasizes safe canning practices, participants will learn how to make jams and pickles using a boiling water bath canner. The principles of pressure canning, and other preservation techniques, will also be discussed.
The workshop will consist of a presentation followed by hands on canning session in which participants have the opportunity to make both a jam and make pickled carrots using local, seasonal ingredients. Registration includes all supplies and participants will take home a jar of preserves. Cost: $30 (plus $1.74 registration fee,) materials included.  For more information and to register visit the eventbrite registration page.

Knitting it together: an introduction to knitting - Wednesday, November 30th, 6pm-9pm.

In this introductory course on knitting, participants will learn the basics of knitting from the materials required, to reading a pattern. Spend the evening casting on and off, learning the art of knit and pearl. Cost: $25 (plus $1.61 registration fee), knitting supplies included!  Please note there are no refunds for cancellations. For more information and to register visit the eventbrite page. Please note that space is limited to 11 participants. Growing season workshops do sell out fast, so make sure to purchase your ticket early.

Photo courtesy of Dyanna on Flickr Creative Commons.

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FarmAde Ketchup Recipe is Here!

Nancy’s organic, homemade ketchup was all the rage at this year’s 9th Annual FarmAde.

This recipe should yield about 4 litres, which may be a lot for singles or couples. However, because it is time consuming, this quantity is probably worth the time and effort. Ideally, the tomatoes, onions and garlic should be organic, as they were for FarmAde.

• 12# of fresh, ripe tomatoes
• 3# of yellow onion
• 1 head of peeled garlic
• 2 cups of apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup each of honey, molasses and brown sugar (molasses has a pretty distinct taste, so it can easily be substituted for more honey or sugar)

• 1 tablespoon each of dry mustard powder, all spice, black pepper and cayenne pepper (this gives it a bit of a kick and can be adjusted according to taste)
• 1 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 3 tablespoons of salt
• 1.5 to 2 cups of tomato paste

Wash, core and chop  the tomatoes, peel and rough chop the onions and mince the garlic.

Put these 3 ingredients in a large, heavy bottom pot and sweat on low heat until the tomatoes break down.

Add the apple cider vinegar and simmer until the onions and garlic (and tomatoes) have softened completely (about ½ an hour).

Add the sweeteners and the seasonings and simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally, being you sure you don’t scorch the pan.

Remove from heat, transfer to another large container and let mixture cool.  Don’t bother washing the pot, you’ll need it again!

It is at this point that you can go to the trouble of straining out all the seeds and skin for a more sophisticated ketchup, but Nancy does not do this.  Personally, she prefers it  rustic, which is how it was prepared for FarmAde.

Taste for seasonings and sweetness and see how thick your mixture is, once cooled.

Transfer small batches of ketchup to a food processer and blend until smooth.

Tomatoes & onions have varying degrees of water and the thickness of your ketchup is personal taste.  It is at this point where you would add as much or as little tomato paste to achieve the desired degree of thickness.

Once you have added the paste, pour ketchup back into the pot and simmer on very low heat for about ½ hour.

Depending on how quickly you plan on using up the ketchup, you can either pour it into sterilized  canning jars to about an inch from the top, or just put it into clean glass containers and give some to your friends!  It will keep for about two to three weeks like this in the fridge.

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“We need more farmers.” Application deadline for UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture Oct 30!

Simply put, “We need more farmers.” – Bill McKibben.

The application deadline for the UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture is fast approaching! We are accepting applications until Sunday, October 30. We hope to have a response for all applicants by the end of December 2011.

About the Practicum:

2011 Practicum students processing onions for storage.

Established in 2008, this part-time (600 hour), 8-month practicum offers instruction and daily work experience in small-scale sustainable farming. In a balanced, hands-on learning approach, students work alongside staff in the greenhouse, gardens, fields, and orchard. Students attend complementary lectures, demonstrations, and farm visits, and participate in a variety of practical and reflective educational activities. Direct marketing activities are also a key part of the experience. The practicum has been designed as a beginning point for aspiring growers, educators and agricultural professionals.

Students come from all backgrounds and are expected to be passionate about pursuing a career in sustainable agriculture. A certificate of completion will be issued to students who fulfill the practicum requirements. Further, we support our graduates to make connections within the BC agricultural community, and to seek out mentors to learn with following Sowing Seeds. Although the Practicum is not yet registered as a Credit Course, UBC students can enroll in the program as a Directed Study and receive partial reimbursement for the cost of the program.

For more information, please see the Practicum page on the UBC Farm website.

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UBC Farm Heritage Orchard Tours: Apple Festival 2011!

On October 15 and 16, 2011 we’re excited to be joining the UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival.  In addition to a booth on-site at the festival both days, we will be offering tours of the UBC Farm Heritage Orchard on Saturday October 15 at 10am, noon and 2pm.

The UBC Farm Heritage Orchard was designed, grafted and planted as a student Directed Study beginning in 2005.  A sanctuary for apple culture, the orchard is composed of ~120 trees, including ~70 varieties of apples and a handful of plums.  2011 marks our first year of significant harvest for market sales and the orchard is producing gorgeous apples. Come visit this urban agricultural gem for tours with UBC Farm staff who care for the orchard on SATURDAY October 15!  Meet at the UBC Farm entrance gate. No UBC Farm orchard tours will be offered on Sunday.

For more about the UBC Farm Orchard, check out this older post on the blog .

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Cucumbers, dill, and fermentation, oh my!

Pickling Cukes!

The Farm is a-buzz with visions of pickles, and the time is now for making them.  Pickling cukes are crawling out of their beds and into the rows, lending their spiny green skins to harvesting hands, revealing cool cucumbery flesh…  but more so they are ready for pickling!

Did you know? Pickles are loaded with Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Potassium, and are a good source of dietary fiber (the skins!).  The combination of hydrating flesh with fibery skins containing silica, K , Magnesium and other minerals make for an awesome, and nutritious snack.

Mmm, Mmm.  Pickles, gherkins, baby dills.  In a sandwich, on a stick, or by the jar full!  These days a majority of pickles are store bought and available in countless vinegar-based varieties.  You may have tried your hand at preserving your own or had a generous friend pass on a home-canned jar.  Ever had a sour or brined pickle?  I remember a kosher deli in the neighbourhood I grew up in, I’d order a bowl of soup, and most of all enjoy the never ending bowl of  brined pickles and beets on the counter – YUM!  Fermented pickles are easy to make and offer the additional benefits of fermented foods – contributing to a healthy digestive system for starters.

This week the farm has two opportunities for you to engage with Pickling Cukes!  Come on over to the Saturday market for pickling cukes, fresh garlic and herbs, in addition to the many other farm fresh offerings.  Extra special this week is a free Fermentation Demonstration at the Saturday market!  Explore further with the popular Food Preservation by Fermentation workshop on the evening of August 17th.  Join Chef Andrea Potter as she guides participants to create cucumber pickles, sauerkraut, and demonstrate kimchi making (check out the previous blog post about  Growing Seasons workshops or http://fermentaugust2011.eventbrite.com/ to register).

To avoid finding yourself in a pickle, come learn how to make your own – see you at the farm!

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