Welcome to my site!

I have never had a site/blog before but I've decided to attempt to maintain this site about my experiences over the next 8 months in the Linnaea Ecological Gardening Programme.

Linnaea Farm is a land trust that has a variety of programmes that occur on this 300 acre piece of land, located on Cortes Island, BC.... check it out: http://www.linnaeafarm.org/

The programme that I am participating in is an 8 month programme filled with classes that aim to educate the students about ecologically-minded small scale farming practices. This includes, organic agriculture, permaculture, bio-dynamics, etc. Throughout this programme, each student (there are 11 of us) maintains their own garden plot (7.5h+/week); we all assist in the production garden (5h/week) that produces food for the families on the farm, the gardening students as well as 20 other families on the island who pay for a subscription to a CSA box; we have classroom discussions on a variety of topics (6h/week); we complete readings; do individual projects; do hands on activities (2.5h+/week); and participate in field trips around the island and beyond.

When we complete the program we will be trained as 'permaculture designers' and have the skills to create and maintain our own market garden.

I decided to take this course because I have been studying and working in the area of community food security but felt as though I had little knowledge about the challenges facing small scale farmers. As well, after many years in an academic setting, it became apparent that it was important (as well as completely refreshing) to attain practical skills related to the topics that I am passionate about...and will contribute to a more complete understanding of the issues. 

I hope that this is informative and interesting. Please let me know if I am leaving holes in the info or tiring you all with excruciating detail :)

Enjoy!

with love,
Jess

Farm Photos

Below are a bunch of shots that I've taken around the farm property...