Seeding Young Farmers is a youth-led engagement project, created to address the growing need for a diverse, next-generation agricultural workforce by inspiring and connecting BIPOC and equity-deserving youth to meaningful opportunities in food and agriculture. Through these 10 video shorts we have focused on amplifying the visibility of diverse farmers and food makers while building accessible entry points into the sector in the Capital Region and beyond!

This project was funded by Investment Agriculture Foundation BC and led by CRFAIR in partnership with the Youth Food Network, Victoria Community Food Hub Society, South Island Farm Hub, Kitchen Connect, Flavour Trails, and Iyé Creative.

Young Agrarians (YA) is a farmer to farmer educational resource network for new and young ecological, organic and regenerative farmers in Canada. YA website has a plethora of resources for the farm curious including guides and tool kits. These resources span Land-Access guides (by province) to inhouse courses and internship opportunities.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is responsible for the production, marketing, processing and merchandising of agriculture and seafood products, as well as supporting our province’s food security, and developing a resilient food system and economy.

The Black Farmers of Canada (CBFA)

A non-profit organization that empowers Black, African and Caribbean Canadians to thrive in the agricultural sector by breaking down barriers. They have put together resource kits to help folks navigate through the landscape of the Canadian agriculture industry.

Canada-China Agricultural Promotion Association (CCADC)

“This non-profit organization, initiated by Chinese farmers and related professionals in Canada. Through agricultural knowledge and technology exchanges, organizing training for farmers, and developing agricultural trade between Canada and China, it is committed to promoting the concepts of green agriculture, ecological agriculture, and healthy agriculture, and promoting the healthy development of the agricultural sector between Canada and China.

Young Agrarians

YA offers coordinated apprenticeship programs. These apprenticeships are fully immersive and puts participants into the thick of running a farm business. These programs are a beautiful trifecta of offering hands on experience, 1:1 peer mentorship, and participants gets paid to learn.

  • Course: How to Start Farming: An Introductory Course for the Farm Curious

  • Course: Business Bootcamp for New Farmers

    (both of these are offered through a sliding scale payment model)

  • YA Apprenticeship programs

  • YA Job Board

Volunteering

Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF): “in return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.”

WWOOFing allows folks to experience farming all over the world. This organization promotes educational and cultural exchange.

Capital Region Connections

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CRFAIR promotes healthy and sustainable food systems.  This considers our relationships with each other, and the land and waters of this region.  We endeavour to honour the land and its treaties by strengthening our relationship and responsibilities to them. We live and work on unceded Coast Salish Territories*, specifically of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations here in the core area, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations {W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱,(Tsawout) W̱SIKEM (Tseycum)} out on the Saanich Peninsula and Gulf Islands, to the west Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke, and Pacheedaht, and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) and Pune’laxutth’ (Penelekut) Nations.

The presence of settlers (non-Indigenous peoples who live on these lands) is not neutral; it has had and continues to have devastating impacts on many aspects of life for Indigenous peoples. Many of our practices, including the seeds we plant, the ways we educate, and our methods of growing food came to these lands through the ongoing process of colonialism. Settler colonialism has suppressed local well-being by harming Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ food systems, whether they be land-based or of the sky and sea. We hold this understanding in our interactions and engagements with this land and its people. 

There is important work being done by many nations and allies to ensure the continued thriving of these food systems, communities, and knowledge systems. Those of us who are settlers need to recognize that our knowledge and way of doing things may not be the priority as we work towards food security for everyone in this region.

* The term Coast Salish is used to encompass a number of Indigenous peoples, including Esquimalt, Hul’qumi’num, Klahoose, Lekwungen, MALAXEt, Musqueam, OStlq’emeylem, Pentlatch, Scia’new (Beecher Bay), Sliammon, Shishalh, Skxwú7mesh-ulh Úxwumixw, Stó:lo, Straits, Tsleil-Waututh, T’Sou-ke, W̱SÁNEĆ, and Xwemalhkwu.