Farmworker Fundamentals - July 2021 to Sept 2021

This fully funded program provides students with the skills they need to be productive agricultural workers in greenhouses and market garden farms.

Date

July 12 - September 03, 2021

Organization

North Island College

Contact

T:
250-724-8705

Outline:

North Island College has the funding to support 8 participants in their Farm Worker Foundation training program, to be held this summer at Shelter Farm in Port Alberni. The funding includes full tuition for 8 students AND accommodation and living expenses for 3-4 coastal community residents.

This fully funded program provides students with the skills they need to be productive agricultural workers in greenhouses and market garden farms. The program is designed to familiarize students with the main theories of organic market garden operations and production techniques. The course covers safety training, planting, transplanting, weeding, pest identification and control, irrigation and fencing. Students will also learn in-greenhouse propagation, pruning, seeding, pest identification and control, irrigation and humidity. 

Individual courses include: 

  • Greenhouse Fundamentals (2 week course)
  • Market Gardens, Fieldwork and Safety (4 week course)
  • Harvesting and Market Sales (2 week course) 

The training program will run July 12 - September 2, 2021. The program is comprised of 240 hours of training delivered over 8 weeks.

    The program is presented by several experienced organic farmers and horticulturalists. 

    With the cost of produce from California continually increasing and a growing awareness of the environmental costs associated with trucking and transportation, there is a huge opportunity for market gardening to expand in the Alberni Valley and beyond. This expansion will require trained gardeners to work on the farms and to own and operate market gardens. 

    Registration Deadline: June 25, 2021 

    This program runs 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (times may vary depending on weather) Monday - Friday, July 12 - September 3, 2021 

    Prerequisites:

    No prerequisites. Prospective students should be able to lift up to 20 kilograms. General physical fitness and the ability to use hand tools for extended periods of time - such as garden hoes, weeding tools, and shovels - are also requirements.

    Course fee:

    Fully funded

    How to register:

    Registration Deadline: June 25, 2021 

    To register please click the "Register Now" button below or see below for contact details. 

    For more information contact Leanne Moore: 250-724-8705 or leanne.moore@nic.bc.ca 

    or Heather Shobe: acrdagriculture@gmail.com