Get started on a career in the growing field of Community Food Systems. This program will introduce and deepen learners' knowledge and teach the skills needed to run equitable and resilient community food programs. A mix of theory and practice, learn about permaculture design, food-systems policy, ecological gardening, program management, social enterprise, food preparation, processing and more.
Course outline
fOOD, sOCIETY AND ECOLOGY CFS-010
Examines politics and power within the global and local food systems. Discussion topics include food security, food sovereignty, and the global history and current politics of food. Students gain a basic understanding of key factors contributing to the dominant global economy of food. This course also looks at food policy and various food systems designs and farming models, which attempt to address, amend and build new localized food economies. Students consider how food systems and their involvement as eaters affect their lives, their place and the lives and places of others.
food system project management cfs-011
Focuses on project management specifically tailored to non-profit and community-based permaculture and food systems projects and programs. Topics of study will include: leadership and management, project and partnership development, budgeting, fundraising, HR, project evaluation and communications. We will spend time discussing ways to access land and resources, and importance of evaluation and continued learning. Students will be provided with tools and frameworks to apply when working on different types of projects.
eco-gardening and permaculture cfs-012
Hands on food-growing skills and practical applications of food growing in community gardens, community orchards and other community food programs, with a focus on ecological gardening. Students will learn to apply the permaculture design principals to design a food growing project.
food preparation, processing and access cfs-013
Practical work learning the basics of cooking in a community/ commercial kitchen with groups. The program includes Foodsafe certification, cooking basics, use of food processing equipment, and other skills required for serving the community. The course will include the practical experience of volunteering for a food access program.
food systems social enterprise cfs-014
Hands-on practical experience working with a local food social enterprise and/or local food business. The course focuses on the business skills required to run a successful social enterprise.