The University of British Columbia, located on Musqueam traditional territory, is home to the last working farm in Vancouver. The 24 hectare UBC Farm/ Centre for Sustainable Food Systems serves as a model for urban agriculture, a research site for sustainable food production and sustainability education, a unique and beautiful ecosystem balancing cultivated and native plants and animals, a sourceof fresh, local produce, and a hub for community and service learning.
Unfortunately The UBC Farm is currently under threat as housing at UBC expands. It is entirely possible to save the farm and still meet housing needs as laid out in the community and campus plan.
In recognition of the unique experiential learning and academic research space at UBC Farm please support the following proposal to retain and enhance the existing UBC Farm/ Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the University of British Columbia as an innovative centre for sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, food systems and community health:
Retain UBC Farm in the current location in South Campus where soils have been built up for 40 years.
Retain UBC Farm at its current size (24 hectares) to ensure that it can continue its varied, innovative research and community programming, as well as its demonstration of sustainable production-scale agriculture.
Preserve significant wildlife corridors around the Farm which serve as integral habitat for frogs, eagles, hawks, owls and at least 60 other species of birds living in balance with an integrated farm ecosystem.
The University of British Columbia, located on Musqueam traditional territory, is home to the last working farm in Vancouver. The 24 hectare UBC Farm/ Centre for Sustainable Food Systems serves as a model for urban agriculture, a research site for sustainable food production and sustainability education, a unique and beautiful ecosystem balancing cultivated and native plants and animals, a sourceof fresh, local produce, and a hub for community and service learning.
Unfortunately The UBC Farm is currently under threat as housing at UBC expands. It is entirely possible to save the farm and still meet housing needs as laid out in the community and campus plan.
In recognition of the unique experiential learning and academic research space at UBC Farm please support the following proposal to retain and enhance the existing UBC Farm/ Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the University of British Columbia as an innovative centre for sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, food systems and community health:
Retain UBC Farm in the current location in South Campus where soils have been built up for 40 years.
Retain UBC Farm at its current size (24 hectares) to ensure that it can continue its varied, innovative research and community programming, as well as its demonstration of sustainable production-scale agriculture.
Preserve significant wildlife corridors around the Farm which serve as integral habitat for frogs, eagles, hawks, owls and at least 60 other species of birds living in balance with an integrated farm ecosystem.
In recognition of the unique experiential learning and academic research space at UBC Farm, we the undersigned support the following proposal to retain and enhance the existing UBC Farm/ Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the University of British Columbia as an innovative centre for sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, food systems and community health:
Retain UBC Farm in the current location in South Campus where soils have been built up for 40 years.
Retain UBC Farm at its current size (24 hectares) to ensure that it can continue its varied, innovative research and community programming, as well as its demonstration of sustainable production-scale agriculture.
Preserve significant wildlife corridors around the Farm which serve as integral habitat for frogs, eagles, hawks, owls and at least 60 other species of birds living in balance with an integrated farm ecosystem.
10:23 am PDT, Oct 27,Tracey Kinney, Canada
UBC Farm (and the Farm Market) are valuable community resources. There's more than enough development around UBC - leave the farm where it is (and the same size it is now)
# 4,949:
7:58 am PDT, Oct 27,Name not displayed, Canada
# 4,948:
7:11 am PDT, Oct 27,Mairghread Murray, Canada
The UBC Farm is a unique site and, once lost, is completely irreplaceable. To eradicate such a positive structure of learning is an act of wanton, thoughtless destruction with no eye to the future.
# 4,947:
5:37 am PDT, Oct 27,Alice Macpherson, Canada
We need more of this type of research and modelling, not less. Do the right thing and support the continuation of the Farm.
# 4,946:
2:49 pm PDT, Oct 25,Hiruni Jayatilake, Canada
# 4,945:
3:57 pm PDT, Oct 20,Christine Lester, Canada
save the farm!!
# 4,944:
7:03 pm PDT, Oct 19,Laurence Brillant, Canada
# 4,943:
10:39 pm PDT, Oct 18,Shareen Chin, Canada
# 4,942:
9:23 pm PDT, Oct 18,Gail Brown, Canada
# 4,941:
11:21 am PDT, Oct 18,Name not displayed, United Kingdom
# 4,940:
10:48 pm PDT, Oct 17,Name not displayed, Canada
# 4,939:
7:47 pm PDT, Oct 17,Jessica Havisto, Canada
The benefits of this farm far outweigh any monetary gain offered by contracting companies wanting cleared land.
# 4,938:
8:23 pm PDT, Oct 15,Derrick Hastings, Canada
Farms are necessary for a healthy future for the planet and human beings. To know what is right and do nothing is cowardice.
# 4,937:
11:04 am PDT, Oct 14,Joe Baker, California
# 4,936:
12:44 am PDT, Oct 12,Mairi Lester, Canada
# 4,935:
8:48 pm PDT, Oct 10,Sandy Lee Gonye, Canada
# 4,934:
6:58 pm PDT, Oct 10,Katie Pocha, Canada
# 4,933:
5:32 pm PDT, Oct 9,Naomi Pauls, Canada
The pace of growth at UBC is alarming, especially the loss of greenspace to housing, commercial buildings and roads. UBC Farm provides urban dwellers with a respite from the nearby "city" -- never mind all the valuable agricultural production, research and outreach that goes on there. Looking to a sustainable future and respecting the past, UBC Farm deserves an adequate amount of land that is also agriculturally viable. It is ideally situated and deserves to stay, illustrating that there are various ways to "value" land.
# 4,932:
5:00 pm PDT, Oct 8,Angela Willock, Canada
# 4,931:
9:55 am PDT, Oct 5,Name not displayed, Canada
# 4,930:
11:22 pm PDT, Sep 29,Jesse Hodsman, Canada
# 4,929:
7:35 pm PDT, Sep 26,Joanne Lambert, Canada
# 4,928:
4:46 pm PDT, Sep 26,Shellina Velji, Canada
# 4,927:
4:36 pm PDT, Sep 26,Jocelyn Thorpe, Canada
# 4,926:
10:24 am PDT, Sep 22,Philip Tsao, Canada
With all the concern about climate change and scarce resources, I am appalled that UBC would destroy the UBC Farm for housing. UBC always claims it is sustainable, but if it were to tear down the farm for houses, it would be a deep contradiction of their promoted values.
The farm not only promotes sustainable, local, and organic food, but it brings the local society together in ways that are very rare these days. I think it is great for people to be able to learn how food gets to our tables, and the work needed to produce food. We don't seem to appreciate food and how it gets to our tables, since supermarkets are always so abundant with food from around the world. UBC Farm is an essential piece in educating the society about sustainable food and the environment. We all know about climate change and the scarcity of resources, so we should start acting on it, instead of waiting around till the last minute. UBC should not even consider replacing this important land with housing!
# 4,925:
6:16 pm PDT, Sep 20,Name not displayed, Alaska
I am a Senior in high school, looking at UBC as my first choice for college. I want the farm to still be there if I go.
# 4,924:
8:58 pm PDT, Sep 15,Melanie Begalka, Canada
Please do not damage this important resource! Housing is not worth it.
# 4,923:
4:55 pm PDT, Sep 11,Allyne Maccke, Canada
# 4,922:
10:36 pm PDT, Sep 9,Marine Joos, Canada
The UBC farm is a truly visionnary initiative and sets a strong example of sustainability within the city of Vancouver. It is a place where everyone can feel that they belong there, it helps bring communities together and encourages safe and quality nutrition. UBC should be proud to have such a site and should do everything in its power to keep it alive, not the opposite.
# 4,921:
9:48 pm PDT, Sep 8,Elizabeth Belflower, Alabama
# 4,920:
2:46 pm PDT, Sep 8,M Thompson, Canada
UBC Farm is a vital part of Vancouver, acting as a space for learning, sustainability, community growth, wildlife corridor and refuge from the city, to name just a few. To even consider using the land for any other purpose is extremely short sighted and foolish.
# 4,919:
7:58 am PDT, Sep 8,Karen Knowles, Canada
Vancouver will be a vital food source when we can no longer afford to inexpensively ship cheap fruit and vegetables from California year-round. Or Mexico, Guatemala, New Zealand, South Africa or Thailand for that matter.
Vancouverites will be able to grow 50-60% of their fruits & vegetables in their back yards, front yards and sidewalk green spaces. ($1 spent on planting translates to approximately $9 saved at the grocery store.) Where will the urban farmers learn to farm?
UBC farm is the only Vancouver farm left. Keep it.
# 4,918:
8:28 pm PDT, Sep 6,Meaghan Burford, Canada
UBC's farm is an essential part of Vancouver, not to mention the agriculture programs of UBC. Set an example, combine urban agriculture and sustainable development to meet housing needs. Maintain the farm at current size.
# 4,917:
7:01 pm PDT, Sep 4,Nohemi Garza, Mexico
Please!! keep the farm!!! Agriculture is the beginning of food and life, I will spend my life to study, to improve and to take care of it; in my city we are traying to have mini farms in public parks.
# 4,916:
10:20 pm PDT, Sep 1,Cheryll Forge, Canada
This is a no brainer. Farming first, development somewhere else.
# 4,915:
11:47 pm PDT, Aug 22,Martha Adem, Canada
The UBC Farm is an essential part of the Vancouver community. If it were to go away, I think that we would be losing one of our most valuable resources. It is a place where everyone can go and enjoy the benefits of sustainable farming, and learn how to lessen their impact on the world's ecosystems. Destroying this wonderful farm would not only cause us to lose a wonderful supplier of locally grown produce, but also a bit of our humanity and our care for fellow earthlings.
# 4,914:
1:54 pm PDT, Aug 15,Lynn Shepherd, Canada
# 4,913:
12:52 pm PDT, Aug 15,Karen Jettmar, Canada
I am a local resident who has supported both development of community gardens on campus and the continued presence of the farm. I am completely opposed to UBC's plans to develop the farm.
# 4,912:
12:48 pm PDT, Aug 15,Alyssa Joyce, Canada
# 4,911:
3:52 pm PDT, Aug 10,Anika Vervecken, Canada
If UBC claims to be all about sustainability there shouldn't even be any discussion about this item.
# 4,910:
11:29 am PDT, Aug 5,Becky Pocock, Canada
Becky Gavigan
# 4,909:
1:42 am PDT, Aug 4,Hasahya Godfrey, Uganda
Great to have such a farm in the area
# 4,908:
12:47 am PDT, Aug 4,Dallas Hinton, Canada
We need more farm land, more green space generally - not more housing!! The UBC Farm provides a unique opportunity for students and public alike. Please don't destroy it!
# 4,907:
6:15 pm PDT, Jul 25,Name not displayed, Canada
# 4,906:
12:53 pm PDT, Jul 25,Karmen Ngan, Canada
# 4,905:
2:57 pm PDT, Jul 22,Jeremy Eisenhauer, Canada
BC needs this farm right now - with the Olympics coming, and marketing itself as the 'Green Olympics', Vancouver needs to put their money where their mouth is and keep green space in our urban settings.
# 4,904:
3:17 pm PDT, Jul 20,Don Robertson, Canada
# 4,903:
6:44 am PDT, Jul 19,Louise Taylor, Madagascar
The UBC farm is a fantastic place that needs to be perserved so that people can buy organic produce and students can learn how to grow organic produce in Vancouver. Hands off developers!
# 4,902:
11:24 am PDT, Jul 18,Nishi Dhawan, Canada
To UBC
I was shocked to hear about UBC farm being under threat. I think it would be a very nonprogressive and detrimental decision to relocate or reduce or eliminate this farm.What message are we sending to politicians, to the public and most importantly to your students and children who are the futre generation? WIth sustainability issues are the forefront and UBC being a leading contributor to positive education,research and technology, why would we make a decision to make it take a back seat to urbanization and housing? It is sending the WRONG message as to what is more important. My daughter has particiapted in the UBC camps at the farm last year and this year did the cooking program aT UBC where they worked with produce fromt the farm and visited the farm to see where an how the food came from. I cannot tell you the degree of positive impact in has inher mind and at such a young age she it has already created inher mindset the power of local produce, sustainability and the effect of nature on what and how we eat. PLEASE SAVE THE FARM FOR OUR FUTUREand send a message to be a role model of a university that is willing to stand behinfd what it believes in
