Organic Council member organizations offer courses on everything from agronomic support to marketing strategies to personal food policies.
Farmer Training
Ecological Farmers of Ontario has provided farmer to farmer training through workshops, field days, kitchen table meetings, and courses for 30 years.
EFO publishes a bi-monthly magazine focused on organic production. EFO lists its offerings on the Ecological Farmers of Ontario Events page.
Canadian Organic Growers have chapters throughout Ontario. COG National publishes handbooks, guides, and a monthly magazine. COG offers webinars, workshops and is the host of Eastern Ontario’s organic conference, Eco Farm Day. For the latest COG events and course listings, please visit Canadian Organic Growers Events.
FarmStart offers training, financial support and land linkages for new farmers and farmers new to Canada. FarmStart operates an incubator farm.
Upcoming Farmer Training Courses
2012 Generation Organic Conference-Guelph : January 26-29, 2012, University of Guelph
Workshops, featured speakers, Organic Expo, Organic Awards, and more!
Eco-Farm Day: February 25-26, 2011 – Ramada Inn, Cornwall
Workshops, featured speakers, Trade Show
Organic Web-based Courses (OACC)
The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada offers webinars, on-line extension courses, and the latest organic research.
Organic Agriculture Courses Offered on Campuses at Canadian Universities and Colleges
Visit the link above to learn more about formal education opportunities for organic and ecological practice.
Organic Agriculture at Univ. of Guelph
Canada’s first degree program in organic agriculture. Founded through the efforts of the now retired Dr. Ann Clark, the OA program at U of Guelph offers agriculture students a new perspective on what is possible for Ontario’s farms.
College and University Programs (Canada)
B.Sc.(Agr) Organic Agriculture
University of Guelph
www.organicag.uoguelph.ca/major
B.Sc. Major in Agroecology
University of British Columbia
http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/ikbarberschool/options/agroecology.html
Minor in Ecological Agriculture
Certificate in Ecological Agriculture
McGill University
www.agrenv.mcgill.ca/agrecon/ecoagr
Certificate of Specialization in Organic Agriculture (Distance Education)
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
http://nsac.ca/cde/courses/DE/Organic/default.asp
Organic Agriculture Certificate Program (Distance Education)
Assiniboine Community College
http://public.assiniboine.net/xDefault.aspx?tabid=60&mid=374&prgID=67
Organic Inspector Certificate Program (Distance Education)
Assiniboine Community College
http://public.assiniboine.net/xDefault.aspx?tabid=60&mid=374&prgID=67
Organic Crop Production on the Praries (Course for credit and non-credit)
University of Manitoba
www.umanitoba.ca/afs/organic_prairies
Sustainable Local Food for All Canadians Certificate (Distance Education)
St. Lawrence College
http://www.sl.on.ca/parttime/OnlineCredit-SustFood.htm
College and University Programs (International)
Organic Farming Certificate Program
Michigan State University
www.msuorganicfarm.com
Horticultural Sciences Minor – Organic Agriculture
University of Florida
www.hos.ufl.edu/undergraduate/minor.htm
B.Sc.(Agr) Organic Agriculture
Washington State University
http://academics.wsu.edu/fields/study.asp?ID=ORGAG
Interdisciplinary Studies Program in Organic Agriculture
Colorado State University
http://organic.colostate.edu/
Courses and Seminars
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
Transition to Certified Organic Farming (Elmira, Ontario)
Considering Certified Organic Farming? Now offering the Transition to Certified Organic Farming course, specifically designed for practicing farmers who are considering organic certification. Space is limited – register now!
Facilitated by Garry Lean, course offered by the Ecological Famers Association of Ontario and Canadian Organic Growers. Cost is $150 and includes course materials & lunch. To register, contact Karen Maitland, EFAO.
EFAO Contact:
Karen Maitland
Member Services Co-ordinator EFAO
5420 Highway 6 North RR5 Guelph, ON N1H 6J2
Tel: 519-822-8606
Email: info@efao.ca
Growing Forward – Agricultural Skills Development
The Agricultural Skills Development (ASD) List of Eligible Training Opportunities.
Trent University
Ecological Agriculture (course)
Environmental & Resource Science – 335H
http://www.trentu.ca/academic/ers/files/syllabi/335Hsyllabus_04-5.pdf (syllabus)
www.trentu.ca
Agriculture & Agricultural Alternatives (course)
Environmental & Resource Science – 336H
http://www.trentu.ca/academic/ers/files/syllabi/336H_syllabus_05-6.pdf (syllabus)
www.trentu.ca
Switch Farm Marketing
10 Web Marketing Tips for Farmers – a FREE ebook that covers everything from marketing strategy to how to get a great logo!
Internships
World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
www.wwoof.org
www.wwoof.ca
CRAFT Ontario
www.craftontario.ca
CRAFT Ontario is an informal, member-driven organization made up of more than a dozen southern Ontario organic farms. The goal of CRAFT Ontario is to enhance the internships offered by its member farms.
Everdale Organic Farm & Environmental Learning Centre
www.everdale.org
Everdale offers a full-season internship called Future Farmers. The internship is primarily a hands-on field-based experience. It also includes a series of one-day fieldtrips and seminars on organic farming as well as a rich variety of other training opportunities.
For application details and more information please contact:
Gavin Dandy, farm manager, at 519-855-4859 x104 or gavin@everdale.org
Organic Farm Apprenticeship Program
www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/agriculture/apprenticeships.htm
Sustainable Farming Apprenticeship Program
Stewards Of Irreplaceable Land
www.soilapprenticeships.org
Sowing Seeds for the Future: Apprenticeship in Organic Agriculture
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/apprenticeship.php
Good Work Canada Internships
www.planetfriendly.net/gw.php?theme=f&type=intern
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