General
Q: What kind of program is the Farm School?
A: The Richmond Farm School is a fully integrated, innovative, and experience-based farmer training program. It is an extension program conducted by the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at KPU. Extension programming includes informal education such as our Farm Schools. The Richmond Farm School is intended to prepare people to engage in intensive, small-scale, ecologically sound agriculture and otherwise contribute to the advancement of our local food systems.
Q: Who is this program meant for and are there any prerequisites?
A: Whether you are 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 on the farm, equipping you with foundational skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue sustainable food production. There are no entrance requirements for Farm School. There are also no exams, assignments, or grades. Through practical on-the-farm training, we transform knowledge in theoretical discussions into real hands-on farming experience. As this is a non-credited extension program, prospective participants are not required to have any prerequisites upon registration.
Q: What are you looking for in an applicant?
A: We are looking for dedicated individuals who are interested in building a sustainable food system and are committed to the program; want to be a part of the local farming community after the program ends; are dedicated to a lifetime of learning; are invested in local, sustainable agriculture; and are looking to integrate local food production into their life and be part of the sustainable food system movement.
Q: How much is the program fee for the first year 7-month Program?
A: $5,500 + 5% GST
Note: We accept registration at the single fee rate if you want to join the program with your spouse, a family member, or a close farming partner. Both of you will share the same participant plot under the single fee rate.
Q: Will I receive the T2202 - Tuition and Enrolment Certificate to claim on the income tax return for this program?
A: No. The farmer training program at the Richmond Farm School is a non-credit extension program. It is not an eligible academic credit-bearing course for receiving the T2202 form. For more information, please visit the T2202 - Tuition and Enrolment Certificate FAQ page.
Q: Are scholarships or financial aid available?
A: On a case-by-case basis, participants will be informed of any opportunities as they become available. Scholarships available to degree program students are not available to Farm School participants.
Q: Do you accept international applications?
A: Since this program is primarily hands-on, you must be legally staying in BC during the period and be able to get yourself to the farm in Richmond for in-person discussion sessions starting in March. This extension program is non-credited. International participants who wish to take this program will not be eligible for applying student visas.
Q: What academic recognition do I get upon compilation of the program?
A: You will receive a certificate of completion. This is a non-credit farmer training program run by the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at KPU. This extension program does not afford academic credits and cannot be transferred toward formal academic degree programs.
Q: How do we measure the success rate of the program? What have program participants gone on to do? What are my options?
A: Our goal is to equip participants with the confidence to start their own farming business after completing this program and build the culture to engage their local food systems in practical and meaningful ways to help foster sustainability. Our objective is to expose our participants to small-scale, ecologically beneficial, direct-to-consumer agriculture - and share the techniques, methods, values, and ethics that go along with this. We want to foster a strong base of knowledge and passion for our participants to then bring that back into their communities and industries. Participants have gone on to work on other farms, manage other farms, buy their own land, start their own farm, go into teaching in farming, policy development, not-for-profits, food industry, farmers markets, work for farming businesses like West Coast Seeds, etc. We try to hire past participants to work with KPU Farm Schools whenever possible. There are many avenues that participants can pursue after completion of the program depending on their interests, experience, and aspirations and we consider all of them a “success”.
Q: If I am interested in learning about topics that won't be taught/won't be a main focus at RFS will there still be opportunities for me to learn these topics or for them to be incorporated into the program?
A: Yes, we want to support your learning and skill-building in any way we can. The lower mainland is full of wonderful farmers eager to see more people engaged in ecologically sound, community-focused farming so we would love to connect you with someone in our network, or other farms to volunteer at, etc. We are also constantly updating the program, so we stay updated with what people are looking to learn. Therefore we welcome the feedback to keep making the program better.
Q: What is the difference between the Sustainable Agriculture Degree Program and KPU Richmond Farm School? Do they both cover the same material? Would it make sense to enroll in both?
A: There is a similarity between the Richmond Farm School and the Sustainable Agriculture Degree Program, however, they are two distinct programs having different target audiences and desired outcomes. The Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture degree program is a formal credit-bearing, 4-year academic program that consists of 123 credits of course work with a transcripted academic credential. Our Farm School program is a 7-month hands-on farmer training program that consists of theoretical workshops and experiential on-the-farm training practices that equip individuals with the foundational skills and know-how to start farming after one full growing season. It is not a credit-bearing program. The Farm School also provides the opportunity for continued learning and skill building through the Incubator farming component.
Q: Is the farm Certified Organic? Are there any sessions covering the topic of organic certification process?
A: Yes, the KPU Farm on Garden City Lands is a Certified Organic Farm. All practices that we will teach will be in line with the Organic Guidelines and therefore all the produce we grow will be certified organic. In addition to being certified organic, we value regenerative and sustainable practices that care for the earth and are constantly seeking to improve and align with agroecological principles. There will likely be a discussion session on the basics of the certification process.
Specific
Q: What does a typical day look like?
Answer: Saturday program time is 9 am - 4 pm - possibly earlier start in summer (8 am earliest)
Schedule Breakdown:
8:45 am - Arrive and get situated
9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Morning session
The subject matter of our morning session changes every week and we will cover things like soil science and pest management. The usual program rundown is typically a lecture, Q+A, and then a hands-on activity and some farm work if the lecture wraps up early.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - LUNCH
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Afternoon session
The afternoon is typically reserved for our market crop workshop where we get out into the field and do farm work together.
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Harvest (June-October)
At the end of the day, we will do a harvest together. If we are harvesting anything new that day, we will come together and the teacher will demonstrate harvesting and processing techniques.
Q: Will I be receiving fresh produce from the farm?
A: Yes, whatever produce is harvested from the Farm School field and is not used for vegetable sales learning purposes will be shared between the participants who want to take it home.
Q: What will be provided and what do I have to purchase?
A: We will provide all hand tools and machinery but you are responsible for purchasing all the farming gear you will need for the season - clothing, steel-toe footwear, personal knife, etc. We will send an email at the start of the season with our recommendations of what to have and from where it can be purchased.
Q: What happens if I have to miss a couple of sessions?
A: All participants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions. A minimum attendance of 90% of all sessions is required to successfully complete this program and receive a certificate of completion. If you do have to miss a session for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to let us know and coordinate with us to catch up on what you missed outside of usua program time. Unfortunately, by nature of our program being very hands-on, there might be things that you miss that we can’t redo for you.
Q: Is there any homework or assignments that need to be completed?
A: No, there will be no mandatory homework, assignments, or tests. However, some teachers may provide or suggest non-mandatory readings or independent exercises to help facilitate your learning. We like to say that you will get as much out of the program as you put into it.
Q: I saw that there is a mandatory 30 farm work hours outside of standard program time and that there is a farm working day on Fridays. Do the 30 hours all have to be completed specifically on Fridays or they can be any day of the week?
A: No, you can satisfy this program requirement any day of the week during daylight hours. The Friday farm working day is optional, but we will have organized tasks for participants to do on this day which will assist in completing your hours.
Q: What type of tasks can be completed to fill the 30 mandatory hours? Would working for the Vancouver Farmers Markets, for example, qualify as farmer-related activities?
A: The focus and intention of these community hours is around expanding the participants' farming experience and skills development, preferably through our farm, or another pre-approved farm. We want these hours to directly contribute to supporting the Richmond Farm School site and farming community, that is- the farmers operating on our farm, and the community that we are a part of in Richmond. So working for VFM wouldn’t qualify.
Q: Will we have time to work on our personal participant plots during program time? How do we water/maintain our plots outside of program time?
A: You can come early, stay late, or work on your plot during lunchtime, but do not expect to have time to tend to your personal plot during the program time. Outside of usual program time, it is your responsibility to tend to your plot, staff will not be watering it for you. If you are unable to come out to the farm during the week we encourage you to coordinate with other participants to see if someone can water your plot for you. But again, this is up to you to manage.
Q: Can I come out to the farm outside of the usual program time?
A: The farm is open 7 days a week during daylight hours for you to come to work on your personal plots.
Q: Are there any concessions available if I want to join the program with my spouse/ a family member?
A: You and your spouse, a family member, or a close farming partner, can join the program for a single fee. Both of you will share the same participant plot under the single fee rate. Please indicate clearly in your application if you are applying for yourself and your partner under this single fee rate option.
Q: Can a friend or family (not registered in the program) come and assist with our personal plot?
A: Yes, you can bring anyone you like out to the farm on a case-by-case basis. If you have someone who regularly volunteers to work with you, they will need to fill out a waiver form and a volunteer form. Please keep in mind that you are responsible for the person/people you bring to the farm. They are required to follow all on-farm rules.
Q: Can we bring our kids out to the farm?
A: No. For safety reasons.
Q: Can we bring dogs/ cats/ pets to the farm?
A: No, we are sorry but please don't bring your pets to the farm.
Q: More questions?
A: Email us at farmschools@kpu.ca