Downtown Squamish School Farm

Our
Vision

To develop a school farm in downtown Squamish located between two schools that meets both the community and students’ needs by:

Providing fresh, nutritious, sustainably-grown and culturally appropriate food for families, community members, and nearby schools

Increasing food literacy in students through hands-on learning, connection to land, and various course integrations (i.e. business, food studies, leadership, woodworking and more)

Cultivating an accessible, sustainable and interconnected local food system in Squamish

Fostering social and environmental awareness in students and community

Helping to combat the climate crisis

Involving volunteers, community members, and partners to develop Good Food Box program that offers produce at accessible costs

Modelling a sustainable farm in all aspects, including reaching financial self-sustainability after three years

Farm to School BC Pollinator Award 2023

Squamish CAN is proud to announce it was selected as a recipient of the Farm to School BC Pollinator Award for the Vancouver Area Regional Hub for 2023. This award celebrates K-12 schools in BC that display exceptional leadership in farm-to-school initiatives.

The Downtown Squamish School Farm, a result of years of visioning, policy development, and community efforts, had its first full season in 2023. This collaborative farm embodies the Farm to School (F2S) model: supported by the district, led by community partners, fueled by teacher enthusiasm, and backed by community support. Students have the chance to participate in the Farm Studies course, utilize the produce in the Culinary Arts program, and engage in various collaborations, including donations to local food programs and interactive activities with elementary school students.

Congrats to all the teachers, including Erin Eidsvik and Jake DePodesta (pictured here), SquamishCAN, Howe Sound Secondary, School District 48, and the students for their success so far! We are excited to see this program grow!

Read more about Farm to School BC program below.

Farm to School BC

The First Year in Pictures

March 2022 - Indigenous land offering and groundbreaking

Spring 2022 - Digging In

Summer and Fall 2022 - Reaping what we've sown

Aug. 17, 2022 Squamish by Anita Bonnarens-7418.jpg

2023

Winter

Second semester of Farm Studies class begins
Weekly farm programming with Squamish Elementary students begins

2022

Fall

Farm Studies Class first offered at Howe Sound Secondary
Inaugural Community Harvest Celebration
Plant Indigenous and perennial garden beds

Summer

Build and install greenhouse
Harvest and sell produce at weekly farm stand and Good Food Box
Donated excess produce to Under One Roof

Spring

Students participate in preparing land and sowing seeds
Establish School Farm Club
Carpentry Class installs perimeter fence as final project
Coordinate Good Food Box Program, sliding scale weekly harvest box

Winter

Squamish Nation land offering and groundbreaking ceremony
Establish basic farm layout on property
Installation of water and electrical services
Purchase essential supplies (i.e. fencing, farm equipment etc.)
Soil delivery

Timeline

Donations of any size are appreciated, though donors will receive the most prominent recognition if donations are over $5,000 (Tier 1). This is followed by donations between $1,000 and $4,999 (Tier 2), and under $999 (Tier 3). Every little bit helps!

Platinum Full Harvest ($15,000+)