Saturday Farmers’ Market Vendor Feature: UBC Farm Practicum Stall

This week, we’re featuring the UBC Farm Practicum market stall, which sells produce grown by amazing practicum students who are learning more about farming and how to grow and sell their own food. Come by their stall to pick up some groceries and hear more about their stories! Want to know more about the practicum program and hear about Rylan’s (a current practicum student) experience? Read on!

Practicum students Rylan and Emil

What do you sell here?

It’s a large variety of things- right now, we have carrots, beets, zucchinis, summer squash, peppers, tomatoes, and we’re going to have more coming in eventually. Oh, and flowers of course!

Can you give us an overview of practicum program?

The practicum program is a year long program. Basically what we do is we come in, take classes and work on the farm to gain life experience and real work experience with a farm and learn the science and techniques behind the actual process of farming and how to do it sustainably. We have different professionals and experts that come in and teach us and we go on educational field trips! It’s a very broad program that encompasses a lot of aspects.

What’s your favourite part of the practicum program?

My farm-ily! We have such a great group of people here. Honestly, it’s helped me grow a lot as a person. I was expecting to just come here to gain skills but I have grown so much as an individual as well; I think all of us have. I think that was actually, while unexpected, the biggest takeaway.

Is there anything you want people to know about the stall and the program?

That we exist! No, but actually know that there are people out there who are passionate about farming, and not to lose hope. Things are looking bleak but I’ve seen a lot of awesome people who are looking to do really great things in the future of farming and in the future of sustainability. I’ve had the pleasure of being in class with them and it gives me hope for the future.

Can you tell us more about the upcoming Open House?

We are super excited and nervous. We’re so proud and want to show our pride to people and have them as enthusiastic to join the practicum next year as we were about doing it this year! It was such a great time and hopefully people get to experience that.