04.12.23

Around The Farm

By Perry Acworth, UW Farm Manager
 

Seattle Sister City is First in France to Offer Degree in Urban Agriculture 

A year ago three delegates from Nantes, the sixth largest city in France requested a tour of the UW Farm. With the help of a translator, provided by the Seattle-Nantes sister City Association, and vocabulary learned from my high school french language class decades ago, I explained how we manage three different models of urban farming on campus and how we engage with students. We found out that we have a lot in common, beyond the popular carrot variety

One of the delegates, Vincent, a teacher at a school for horticulture and agriculture, was quite enthusiastic and mentioned as the delegates left the UW Farm, "we should set up a student exchange!"  This comment set (at least) one wheel in motion for me to explore this idea in the future. As the season slowed here in the fall, I began my research on the city only 30 miles from the Atlantic coast.

Though it has a dark history as part of the triangular trade, I learned that Nantes today is a European Green City. This award was given in 2013 for, "unwavering commitment and long-term strategy for safeguarding all aspects of the environment, be it in relation to ecological, human or social concerns. It highlighted our efforts and successes in key areas such as urban planning, transportation, housing, water, energy and waste management."

To my surprise, the University of Nantes (38,000 students) is a longtime partner of the University of Washington. UW has an established exchange program in the French department. Study abroad in a city only 2.5 hours west of Paris via high speed rail, offers full immersion in a "French-speaking environment, and experience living in one of France's most dynamic cities for four months."

A trip to France began taking shape in January when I  signed up for classes in French. By mid-February I was communicating with Vincent and on March10th I was on a plane to Paris! During my two-week stay in the "City of Lights," I made an overnight trip to Nantes. Vincent had lined up a visit to gardens, a microgreens farm and the Lycee Professional Agricole. While there I met a number of teachers and some students who were engaging and described, in English, their farming and gardening internships. 

Vincent described that in 2019 the Licence Pro Métiers de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Urbanisme – Parcours Agricultures Urbaines et Périurbaines (Professional Degree in Urban and Suburban Planning and Development – Urban and Suburban Agriculture), was launched. This undergraduate degree is attached to the Institute of Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Nantes (IGARUN), and is the first course of its kind in France.

This professional degree, which is a "sandwich course," allows students to obtain a technician or category B status in the civil service and to enter the professional world immediately.

Below is information from the website describing the key areas of learning.

Knowledge and acquired skills:

• Urban and peri-urban eco-agrosystems, plant and animal production techniques (beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry farming, eco-purification, etc.), production methods (permaculture, bio, biodynamics, etc.) ;
• Urban and peri-urban agriculture (AUP): its challenges and actors ;
• Urban planning, architecture, landscape, geography to design an AUP project ;
• Finance, sociology and economics to design and manage your project ;
• Project management (preliminary diagnosis, management, operational stages) ;
• Marketing and processing systems for AUP products and services ;
• Communication, group work, IT tools ;
• Regulations, legislation and policies on AUPs.

Practical information

• Professional degree (Bac+3).
• One year of work-study courses leading to 60 ECTS credits, comprising 412 hours, 18 weeks at university and 34 weeks in a company.
• Course website: https://igarun.univ-nantes.fr/les-formations/licence-professionnelle/
• Promotion: 15 apprentices
• Location of the training course: Nantes
• The conditions of the work-study program must be followed: finding an apprenticeship or professionalization contract of at least 6 months on the dates requested by the University and the completion of a defense and an apprenticeship thesis at the end of the course.

Plus the training course entitles the student to the benefits of an apprenticeship: remuneration and professional training, housing assistance and activity bonus (in addition to salary). The E. Pass Jeunes offered by the Loire Region, Apprentice Social Fund offered by the Loire Region.

After returning, the wheel(s) kept spinning in my head….we have such a rich program of farming, gardening, P-Patches, urban planning, food systems, engineering, and so many other courses offered here at UW that cover the same topics. Why aren't we offering our own degree? 

News and Noteworthy:

UW Farm Hosting Special Events for Earth Day

Plantings and a Ladybug Release Party will occur over two days!
To learn how to sign up visit the Volunteer Schedule page https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/center-for-urban-horticulture/gardens/uw-farm/volunteer/volunteer-schedule/

The SER-UW Native Plant Nursery's public plant sale catalog is now live!

Career Opportunities in Agriculture & Food Systems:

• Kirsop Farm hiring for multiple positions
• Ecolibrium – Multiple Positions
• EarthCorps – multiple job opportunities 
• Pike Place Market – Season Farm Program Assistant
• Red Dog Farms – Multiple positions available
• Rogue Farm Corps – Multiple positions available
• U-District Food Bank – Development Coordinator 
• WA Farmland Trust Development Coordinator
• Tilth Alliance – Environmental Stewardship Specialist

Food Access Resources

The UW Farm donates regularly to the UW Food Pantry. During peak season we also donate to nearby food banks. The links below are resources to help you or someone you know with food access.  

• UW Food Pantry: The UW Food Pantry | Any Hungry Husky (washington.edu)
• Northwest Harvest Food Donation sites: Public Drop Sites – Northwest Harvest
• University District Food Bank: Donate Food and Items – University District Food Bank (udistrictfoodbank.org)
• Food Lifeline: Volunteer – Food Lifeline

Help The Farm Grow!

Every year, we have the capacity to grow more food and increase our educational and research program at the UW, but not without your support. Every contribution goes to work immediately, helping us better serve students. Your support can sustain our momentum and help seed new opportunities for student internships, academic work, and future growth. Please consider making a gift to the Farm online

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Our mailing address is:
The UW Farm
3501 NE 41st St, 
Seattle, WA 98105

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Box 354115

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