Earthwise Society recently said good bye to the third class of high school seniors to complete an independent directed studies program in sustainable agriculture at the Earthwise Farm.
Sustainable Agriculture 12 is offered as a science credit through Delta School District to give students an opportunity to learn outside of a classroom setting and experience how food gets to our tables. Students don't just learn about farming. Through readings and discussions, they learn about issues facing the future of agriculture, and how to make wise choices about food. The skills they learn to grow their own food will last a lifetime, wherever they go, and some, hopefully, will be inspired to pursue farming careers.
Young people are changing the way they think about farming. Long perceived as a hard and thankless career with limited financial rewards, farming is increasingly being viewed as a creative entrepreneurial enterprise that can yield real rewards to farmers and contribute positively to local economies and environmental health. Locally, Cropthorne Farm is recognized as an example of this. Tsawwassen's Earthwise Farm provides a range of opportunities to support the education and entry of young people into farming. With the average age of farmers approaching 60, it is important to ensure that there will be farmers in the future. Each year, the farm provides employment for summer students and farm interns and mentors a team of young volunteers to further their understanding of growing food. Often the young farmers at Earthwise are post-secondary graduates who seek on-farm experience to round out their formal education.
Many are women. One day, they hope to have farms of their own. They will be the new face of farming.
The Certified Organics Association of B.C. reports that the average farm in B.C. is 60 acres. Start up costs for a farm this size can create a daunting barrier for aspiring young farmers.
The Earthwise Farm models an alternative that make farming more accessible. The two-acre farm markets certified organic produce directly to the local community at its on-site store. It grows a diversity of crops including many specialty varieties like yellow and purple carrots, green cauliflower, or striped beets.
A key element of the farm business plan is a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). CSA members help support small-scale local farms by purchasing shares in the farm harvest at the start of the season, and receive weekly boxes for freshly harvested produce throughout the growing season. The Earthwise Farm is a social enterprise that raises funds for the society's education programs through farm gate and CSA sales.
This fall, Earthwise Society will open its Sustainable Agriculture course to the community at large. A diversity of ages and experiences will enrich the discussion and create a cross generational model of working and learning together.
Those interested in taking the course either for high school credit or as an adult should contact Earthwise Society at 604-946-9828 or info@earthwisesociety. bc.ca.
