The Acadia Community Farm

About the Acadia Farm

The Acadia Community Farm was started in 2008 by Acadia students Alex Redfield and Hillary Barter. Since that first season it has grown to host over 40 individual campus and community plots as well as the original University and Food Bank gardens. Produce is grown and harvested by volunteers for the Acadia dining hall and also donated to the local food bank. This internal organization is primariily student-run with staff support from the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment and the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre abd harriet Irving Botanical Gardens. As a volunteer initiative, the Acadia Farm is always looking for new volunteer members to join the team. Contact info@acadiafarm.org or jodie.noiles@acadiau.ca to find out how to get involved.

Residence Sustainability Program: "Back to the Farm"

Photo Credit: Acadia Farm historic photo provided by Esther Clark Wright Archives, Vaughan Memorial Library.

 In the early days of Acadia University all students worked at the original Acadia Farm to produce food for campus. Continuing with this tradition, "Back to the Farm" is a residence sustainability program that allows students living on campus to help grow organic food for the Acadia dining hall and for the community food bank. Work sessions are normally held twice a week, usually Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm-8:00pm and Sunday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm from May to October. Contact your RA to learn more about this opportunity or email info@acadiafarm.org to volunteer. No experience, just enthusiasm required!

Acadia Farm Annual Workshop Series

Each year, with support from local funding agencies such as the Eastern Kings Memorial Health Foundation, the Acadia Farm hosts workshops open to the community. Topics cover all aspects of organic gardening, local food systems and security and community sustainability and are facilitated by experts in the field.  Workshops from the 2011 series included organic gardening, permaculture design. seed saving and sustainability and holiday preserving.   . Check back for details about 2012 workshops.

Farmer in Residence Program

The Farmer in Residence program offers students interested in organic gardening, community sustainability, and outreach and education an opportunity to live on campus and work at the Acadia Community Farm throughout the year. The Farmer in Residence provides leadership and pursues excellence in the operation of the Acadia Community Farm. Similar to an internship position, the Farmer in Residence will have access to support and resources from staff and faculty to meet learning objectives determined jointly by the student and supervisor at the beginning of each term. Accommodations are provided in Eco-House Residence and the Farmer in Residence will receive an annual stipend of $1500. Annual membership in ACORN, the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network, is included as well as registration for the annual conference and trade show.

2012 Farmer in Residence job posting. Deadline March 2nd, 2012 4:30pm

Visit the Acadia Farm website to learn more: www.acadiafarm.org