Farmworker Fundamentals
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Statement of completion |
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Domestic applicants only |
Pursue a career in farming and horticulture with the Farmworker Fundamentals program. You’ll learn how to be a productive agricultural worker in greenhouses and market garden farms. Gain skills in greenhouse operations, planting and transplanting, fieldwork, harvesting and farmer’s market sales.
This is a non-credit program offered through Continuing Education and Training.Stay tuned
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Overview
Farmworker Fundamentals is an 8-week program taught in Port Alberni. As a student, you’ll become familiar with organic market garden and greenhouse operations and production techniques. The program covers safety training, pruning and seeding, planting and transplanting, weeding, pest identification and control, irrigation and fencing.
This program is offered Monday - Friday during the daytime at Shelter Farm.
Requirements and courses
- SSF-015 Market Garden Fieldwork & Safety
- SSF-011 Greenhouse Fundamentals
- SSF-014 Harvesting & Market Sales
Students must successfully complete each core course required within the program.
Admission requirements
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.
Supplies
Please come to the first day of class with comfortable clothes and shoes and be prepared to work outside.
Careers
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.
Costs
This training is free for qualified applicants. Funding eligibility is reviewed as part of the application process.