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The University of British Columbia
- a place of mind
- The University of British Columbia
- Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm
Gifts from individual friends and supporters of the UBC Farm make a lasting impact. Every one of these gifts makes a difference.
A short photo montage released in 2009 highlights some of what is made possible by individual gifts to the UBC Farm. You can also watch the movie through Vimeo or download it directly (QuickTime, 5 MB).
Vancity’s enviroFund has supported projects including “Sharing the Harvest” (2004-05), “Changing the Food System to Change the Climate” (2007-08), and “Growing Farmers: Feeding the City” (2010-11). The Vancouver Native Health Society Garden Project was supported through a 2009 community project grant, and the organóponico demonstration at the farm was made possible through the Vancity director’s discretionary fund.
The Vancouver Foundation supported the “Sharing the Harvest” (2004-05) and “Changing the Food System to Change the Climate” initiatives (2009-10).
The Real Estate Foundation of BC supported the “Bridging the Divide” initiative in 2010, linking the new UBC residential community with the UBC Farm through programming and planning.
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation helped to establish the Children’s Learning Garden in 2002, the FarmWonders summer camp in 2006, and the 2010 Sustainabili-Tea project.
The BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation helped to establish a vision for children’s programming and teaching training programs on the farm in 2001.
The UBC Farm was honoured to be recognized by Tides Canada as one of its “Top Ten for 2009″ projects.
Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks led the way in 2009 for a successful fundraising event at the farm with author Michael Pollan. In the subsequent year, Barbara Jo’s collaborated on a Brian Brett book launch and fundraiser, as well as a fundraising evening with author and farmer Joel Salatin.
Concert Properties, the developer for the new Tapestry senior’s living complex in the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood, donated and built a new greenhouse, picnic tables, and tools to the farm during a work party in 2010.
The Vancouver Native Health Society (VNHS) is the lead agency and sponsor of the VNHS Garden Project, launched in 2005. The Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC) have provided support through the Organic Sector Development Program and the voluntary contributions of members acting as advisors and mentors for the UBC Farm Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture. The 100-Mile Diet Society partnered with the UBC Farm to deliver public education and workshops as part of the “Changing the Food System to Change the Climate” initiative. The UBC Farm is grateful to FarmFolk/CityFolk for bringing five “Feast of Fields” to the UBC Farm in 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2009. Outstanding in the Field has a long history of seasonal dinners in support of the the UBC Farm and sustainable food systems everywhere.
Support from the Post Carbon Institute made possible the “Energy Farms” initiative in 2006-07, which later led to the development of the “Changing the Food System to Change the Climate” project. Thanks to The Tyee magazine for presenting the UBC Farm with the “Green your Campbell Cash” award in 2007, Your Local Farmers Market Society for the “Local Hero” award in 2008, and Edible Vancouver Magazine for their Reader’s Choice “Best Farm” award in 2008 and 2009. The UBC Farm is grateful to Happy Planet for providing juices at a number of UBC Farm public events and workshops, and to Terra Breads for donations to the farm’s harvest lunch program for volunteers and staff members.
The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems delivers programs with wide-reaching public educational, environmental, and social benefits that have received support from municipal, provincial, and federal funding programs.
Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program supported the “Changing the Food System to Change the Climate” project in 2008-10. The Metro Vancouver Agriculture Committee has supported a number of regional agricultural education initiatives led by UBC Farm staff and students. The establishment of the UBC Farm hedgerow network has been supported by the Trees for Tomorrow grant in partnership with the BC Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development (formerly Community Development and Rural Affairs). The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands provided support for annual research symposia held at the farm from 2006-08. Specific farm projects have received support from Service Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the BC Ministry of Environment.
The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems works in partnership with academic and operational units throughout the University of British Columbia and also receives support from independent student and community organizations based on campus.
The Faculty of Land and Food Systems is the Centre for Sustainable Food System’s home at UBC. Leading the reinvention of the UBC Farm in 2001, the Faculty provided the initial financial support required to establish program activity on the site. As the UBC Farm has moved towards a more diversified funding model, Land and Food Systems faculty and staff members continue to provide extensive administrative, technical, operational, and academic support to the farm.
As part of UBC’s strategic financial commitments towards student learning and sustainability, programs at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems have been awarded Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund grants from 2007-11. These programs are administered through the Vice President Academic and Provost’s office, which currently provides financial support to implement the UBC Farm’s academic plan, Cultivating Place, and assists with the development of Aboriginal programming at the farm.
With its student-centred mandate, the farm has participated in UBC Career Services’ Work Study and Work Learn programs. These are administered through the office of the Vice-President, Students, who presented the UBC Farm with the Helen McRae award in 2006-2007. The UBC Learning Exchange’s Community Learning Initiative has provided support for Community Service-Learning projects that take place at the farm with the farm’s community partners. The UBC Farm also works with UBC’s Alumni Engagement office in supporting alumni engagement activities and appeals.
The Campus Sustainability Office continues to work closely with the Centre, particularly in coordinating SEEDS projects at the farm. The CSO has previously supported on-farm projects through the Sustainability Coordinator’s Disbursement Fund (now discontinued) and the Fisher Scientific fund (now administered through UBC Health, Safety, and the Environment). In partnership with the University Sustainability Initiative, the UBC Farm is transforming the UBC campus into a living laboratory for sustainability teaching, research, and action.
The farm works in collaboration with a growing and changing list of approximately 75 different UBC centres, institutes, departments, and Faculties. These supporting partnerships are highlighted wherever possible in our blog posts and other communications outreach activities.
As a student-driven initiative, the UBC Farm has received support since its beginnings from the UBC Alma Mater Society (AMS) and the UBC Graduate Student’s Society (GSS). In addition to formally passing motions of support of the UBC Farm in 2006 and 2008, the AMS has awarded funding to several new student-led initiatives at the farm through the AMS Innovative Projects Fund, the Graduating Class Committee gift, and grants from the Student Environment Centre. Since 2000, the AMS and Student Care have also provided staffing and funding support the annual FarmAde celebration of land, food, and community at the UBC Farm.
The Friends of the UBC Farm, Land and Food Systems Undergraduate Society (LFSUS), the Forestry Undergraduate Society (FUS), AMS Food and Beverage Department, AMS Sustainability, Student Environment Centre, the UBC Bike Co-op, and Sprouts all continue to support the farm through fundraising events and advocacy efforts.
The original establishment of a student-run farmers market on the UBC Farm site was supported in part through a gift from the University Neighbourhoods Association‘s (UNA) Hampton Place Fund. The UNA continues to support the farm through the volunteer and advocacy efforts of its members, along with funding sustainability initiatives such as the complimentary bicycle valet at FarmAde.
