Work Learn Profile: Natalie Hamilton, Farm Ambassador
Work Learn Profile: Natalie Hamilton, Farm Ambassador
What did you work on in this role?
Everyday in this role was a little different and my tasks varied a lot with the seasons as the position involved more outreach events during the fall and the winter was focused on working on design and communications projects. I ran the outreach booth at the Wednesday and Saturday markets and supported various seasonal events. As part of the communications team, I was responsible for social media posts and designing new outreach materials. One of my favourite projects was our video series “Tales of the Farm” where I was able to share short stories and reflections from various people within the UBC Farm community.
What did you learn in this position?
I learned how much I enjoy being able to engage with and talk to various people at outreach events and how wonderful the UBC farm community is. I also learned a lot from the awesome staff and students I was able to work with. Additionally, I valued being able to further my graphic design skills and to understand the process of designing materials for a large organization.
Why does this work matter?
The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and the UBC farm are involved in so much innovative work aimed at community creation, education opportunities, and enhancing food systems research. It is important to be able to share with the community information about what the farm does and how they can get involved to support or learn from available opportunities.
What would you tell a new student taking on this role? Or what do you wish you had known?
If you’re going to be on the farm on a rainy day, bring a warm beverage and 2 more layers than you think you need. It can get really cold, especially if you’re not moving around a lot. Also, design projects always take longer than you anticipate.
What should people know about the UBC Farm that they probably don’t know?
How many cool research projects there are happening onsite at the farm!
What’s your favourite thing to do at the UBC Farm?
Tough to just pick one thing, but I really enjoy walking around and seeing what is growing in all the different fields, and I also love exploring the vendors at the Saturday Farmers Market.
What other roles have you held at CSFS at the UBC Farm?
I spent a summer volunteering at the farm after my first year at UBC and it was a wonderful way to meet so many cool people and to learn about urban farming. This is actually what sparked my interest in urban farming and led to my pursuit of work experience within this area.
Work Learn Profile: Bowen Wright, Saturday Market Worker
Work Learn Profile: Bowen Wright, Saturday Market Worker
What did you work on in this role?
I worked as a Saturday Farmers Market Worker. During the summer and fall I helped organize and facilitate the UBC Farm’s weekly Saturday Farmers Markets, and I often joined the Field Team on Fridays to harvest vegetables and fruits! In the winter I worked from home to organize the applications for the upcoming Farmers Market Season.
What did you learn in this position?
In this position I learned about the amazing connections between food and community. I saw these connections both within the UBC Farm team, and within the many communities that come to gather at the weekly Markets. From the regular weekly Market customers, to the family-run small businesses that vend at the Market, to UBC Farm staff, volunteers, and students who all come together to make the Market run smoothly, the people of the UBC Farm create a lovely and unique atmosphere. In this environment I developed important employable skills that will help me in my future endeavours. I worked on my verbal communication skills, problem solving abilities, and ability to work in a team. My interpersonal work skills were important in this role, as many of my responsibilities required communication between people and teams. After working in this position, I feel more confident in my team communication skills and my presentation skills to large groups of people.
Why does this work matter?
Enabling Farmers Markets at UBC is important to support sustainable, local, and organic food systems! The UBC Farmers Market is particularly important as the application process to become a Vendor is relatively low-barrier compared to other local Markets. At the UBC Farm, we hope to encourage new local Vendors who are developing small and sustainable businesses to thrive in a welcoming space.
What would you tell a new student taking on this role? Or what do you wish you had known?
To a new student taking on this role, I would encourage them to connect whenever possible with community members at the markets, vendors, and UBC Farm staff! There are so many friendly people in the UBC Farm community, and as a Saturday Farmers Market Worker I believe that it is important to try to make everybody feel welcome at weekly Markets. Additionally, I would encourage any WorkLearn students to spend extra hours that they may have at Friday Harvests. Going to Friday Harvests was one of the highlights of my summer; I loved spending time working in the fields chatting, laughing, and getting to know the Practicum students and Field staff. While the physical work itself can be hard, it is also rewarding and fun! You don’t need to be a WorkLearn student to participate in Friday Harvests, Farm Volunteers can also sign up for harvesting shifts.
What should people know about the UBC Farm that they probably don’t know?
The UBC Farm was once in danger of becoming a housing development! However, in 2008 thanks to student and community activism through the “Save the Farm” campaign, the UBC Farm was protected as an important sustainable site at UBC.
What’s your favourite thing to do at the UBC Farm?
I have so many favourite things to do at the UBC Farm! At Markets I loved getting to know the vendors and customers, and trying many new foods. I also enjoyed trying produce that I had never tried before, that I helped to harvest at the UBC Farm. I can’t wait to have my fridge stocked with fresh and organic veggies again, and to buy fresh bouquets from the Market!
What other roles have you held at CSFS at the UBC Farm?
Before being employed in this WorkLearn position, I had volunteered at the UBC Farm harvesting vegetables and working at the 2019 FarmAid event.
Have a little hope for the globe on Earth Day
Have a little hope for the globe on Earth Day
News Source: Toronto Star
April 22, 2022
“The answer to a world in which humans and nature are in sync starts with a transformative change that realigns the economic, political and societal.” – Dr. Kai Chan
CSFS Associate Dr. Kai Chan, research chair at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, was quoted in the Toronto Star about the need for system change to address the climate crisis.
Read the full article to learn more at Toronto Star.
Farmers Can Profit By Setting Aside Marginal Lands As Habitat
Farmers Can Profit By Setting Aside Marginal Lands As Habitat
News Source: Forbes
Mar 27, 2022
“If you can help farmers do this profit mapping, essentially, on their farm, they can see ‘Wow, I’m losing money on this bit of my field, it wouldn’t be so bad to put this into habitat'” – Dr. Claire Kremen
CSFS Associate and UBC Professor in the Department of Zoology and Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Dr. Claire Kremen, discussed what can be done to render agriculture less hostile to biodiversity and the climate. Kremen suggests using global positioning to identify specific areas of low productivity within a farmer’s field. Kremen acknowledges that taking these small marginal areas out of production might actually increase the profitability of a farm and provide opportunities to restore habitat and increase agricultural biodiversity.
Read the full article to learn more at Forbes.
New social media hub at UBC to address climate change
New social media hub at UBC to address climate change
News Source: CBC BC Today, CBC On the Coast, Global, CKNWMornings with Simi, Spice Radio, Vancouver Sun, and The Province
May 16, 2022
“Transformative social change really takes way more than those private actions … when you change social norms and put pressure on the system to change in particular ways. That’s when you have power.” – Dr. Kai Chan
A team led by CSFS Associate Dr. Kai Chan, a UBC professor at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, has launched CoSphere, a new social media hub where people can connect to take action for a sustainable future.
Check out the full story by CBC BC Today, CBC On the Coast, Global, CKNW Mornings with Simi, Spice Radio, Vancouver Sun, and The Province.
CANOVI Carrot Breeding Webinar
CANOVI Webinar: Breeding Carrots for Production, Resilience, Flavour, and Fun in Organic Systems
Media Source: eOrganic
Mar 25, 2022
“Learn about fundamental concepts and strategies that are key to successful carrot breeding work”
CSFS Associate and CANOVI Project Lead, Solveig Hanson, recently visited Washington State to cohost a carrot breeding webinar with our collaborators at Organic Seed Alliance. The webinar titled “Breeding Carrots for Production, Resilience, Flavor and Fun in Organic Systems” covered basic genetics, colour expression, trait expression and selection, and demonstrated how to cut, evaluate, and select roots from a diverse array of orange and rainbow-coloured roots. Learn more about the CANOVI Project’s contributions to the resilience and growth of Canada’s organic vegetable sector.
Watch the full webinar recording on YouTube.
First Nations in British Columbia come together to put in a bid for the 2030 Olympics
First Nations in British Columbia come together to put in a bid for the 2030 Olympics
News Source: CBC’s The Current
Feb 7, 2022
“The prospect of hosting itself is an exciting one if it gets combined with the notion of reconciliation. Maybe the games are the antidote; the kind of event that can bring people together in a big nation.” – Dr. Robert VanWynsberghe
Dr. Robert VanWynsberghe, CSFS Associate and UBC Education Professor, joined CBC’s Matt Galloway to discuss the bid to bring the 2030 Winter Olympics back to Vancouver and what lessons there are to be learned from the 2010 Olympics. Dr. VanWynsberghe explains that while the 2010 Olympics championed major improvements in infrastructure, the #1 disappointment that has led people to be skeptical of future bids is unfulfilled commitments to improve social housing. VanWynsberghe believes that the International Olympics Committee is going to have to relinquish some control so things are “done properly not just timely” and that they will benefit greatly from a bid led by indigenous communities to become a more legitimate source for social change in the world.
Tune in to CBC’s The Current to learn more.
Food prices climbed during the second year of the pandemic and climate disasters contributed
Food prices climbed during the second year of the pandemic and climate disasters contributed
News Source: CTV News
Jan 27, 2022
“We’re seeing an increased pattern of impacts to production that are currently impacting the capacity of farmers to produce food and this will only get more challenging as we move forward.” – Dr. Sean Smukler
Dr. Sean Smukler, CSFS Associate and chair of agriculture and environment at UBC, spoke with CTV News about how the extreme weather conditions in 2021 impacted food production and subsequent inflation of food prices. Statistics Canada reported that food prices in Canada increased to a decade high, following record-breaking heat, severe drought and devastating floods last year. Dr. Smukler says we’re seeing what climate scientists have long predicted becoming reality, and as the food supply continues to be affected, the markets will react accordingly. Smukler goes on to state that this is just a “taste of what is to come” and advises the development of strategies to improve farmer resilience to weather volatility, reduction of greenhouse gases, and commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change are crucial next steps.
Check out the original article at CTV News.
The BC Land Matching Program: Explained and Evaluated
The BC Land Matching Program: Explained and Evaluated
Hannah Wittman
Véronik Campbell
News Source: Centre for Sustainable Food Systems
Jan 27, 2022
The agricultural sector in British Columbia (BC) is facing a farm renewal crisis, and the long-term viability of the sector depends on attracting and retaining a new generation of farmers.
CSFS Associates Dr. Hannah Wittman and staff member Véronik Campbell conducted an evaluation of the BCLMP to determine how the outcomes of the BCLMP are aligning with the needs of new entrant farmers. The evaluation looked at the factors contributing to successful land matches and identified areas of potential growth for the future.
Amongst the key findings, land matching is identified as a key opportunity to link new farmers to arable land. The research team found it takes on average 6 to 7 months to create a successful land match, and 66 percent of land seekers and 63 percent of landholders indicated that their farming operation and the land were more stable after matching through the BCLMP. Essential aspects of an effective land match are a strong agricultural community network, availability of region-specific resources, aligned goals of land seeker and landholder, and business and legal literacy. It’s also recommended that the BCLMP continue to deliver education and business resources, track long-term outcomes, and develop programming to meet new entrants’ needs.