7-Month Farmer Training Program:
The Richmond Farm School provides participants with over 200 hours of practical training! This program offers hands-on training supplemented with classroom learning through weekly sessions over 7 months from March – October. Upon completion, participants have the opportunity to rent an incubator plot to start their farm business journey. The Richmond Farm School is a fully integrated, innovative, and experience-based program. Immerse yourself in Farm School and learn everything from soil health, plant life cycles, organic vegetable production, basic marketing and business principles, to ergonomic small-scale farming practices.
Who is this program meant for?
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener looking to take your skills to the next level, a novice farmer wanting to gain more knowledge, or have never planted a seed in your life, Richmond Farm School will take you through a season equipping you with the skills and confidence to pursue a career in regenerative agriculture. Applicants must be 18+ by the start of class, there are no prerequisites to apply.
Location:
KPU Teaching and Research Farm on the Garden City Lands in Richmond B.C
Schedule:
Start date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
End date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
30 Weeks in class with 3 weeks off = 33 weeks total
Day and time:
Cohort 1: Saturdays from 9am to 5pm (subject to slight variation in summer)
Program Specifics:
- One 12-person cohort
Cohort 1: Saturday - full day
- 200+ hours of learning
- 30 Farm Work hours
- Potential field trips to other farms in the region
- Participants will receive a 10'x10' (3m x 3m) personal plot that they will have the freedom to grow on and the responsibility to manage.
- Participants will receive fresh produce from the Farm School learning plot
Program Learning Outline
- Market Crop Production - This will be the bulk of the program with a focus on hands-on learning.
- On-Farm Construction
- Caring for the Soil
- Farm Business Planning
- Orchard Management
- Mechanics/machinery
- Managing Pests
- Fruit production
- Cut flower Production
- Indigenous Foodways
- Seed Saving
- Organic Certification process/ Land Access
*This program outline is tentative and subject to change
Program Fee
$5,500 + 5% GST
A non-refundable $500 deposit + 5% GST is due upon acceptance to the program.
It is up to every participant to ensure they have appropriate clothing, including steel-toed shoes. All tools will be provided.
Check out our registration page to start the registration process!
Incubator Program:
If you want to take the next step in pursuing a career in farming, KPU Richmond Farm School offers graduates of the first-year 7-month farmer training program the opportunity to apply for our second year incubator farming program! Upon the approval of your submitted business plan, incubator farmers will gain access to land, water use, tool and machinery sharing, and continued mentorship for up to 3 years.
You will be solely responsible for managing your own operation on your allocated plots, and for all aspects of planning, budgeting, implementation, growing, and selling of your produce.
You will also be joining an ever-growing community of diverse farmers and teachers, be provided with learning opportunities, classes and workshops, receive continued mentorship and provide mentorship to new participants entering the program.
More information about our incubator program is coming soon!
Follow us on social media!
