Neighbourhood Farmer Training Registration

Why Join

The Neighbourhood Farmer Training is an immersive, community-rooted program that prepares capable growers to step confidently into a farm management role on one of the neighborhood farms. This is done through hands-on training, mentorship, and real connections with the island’s food network.

The Neighborhood Farmer Training takes place at Chorus Frog Organic Gardens, a 2-acre Organic farm located on Salt Spring Island. The first training phase of the program will run full-time (5 days a week) from April through September 2026.

By the end of the first phase, you’ll not only be ready to manage your own farm, you’ll also be matched with land on Salt Spring through our established partnerships with local landholders who are eager to welcome new Neighbourhood Farmers. Your first growing season on your own site begins in year two of the program.

At the heart of this initiative is the Neighbourhood Farm, which is a partnership between farmers and neighbours working together to grow, share, and process food within their community.

Who Should Apply

Participants in the Neighbourhood Farmer Training are growers who:

Are willing to relocate to Salt Spring Island, or are already residents.
Have a strong interest in local, organic food production.
Have completed one or more farming related courses (e.g. vegetable production, soil science, agroecology, pest management, etc).
Have one or more years of experience growing vegetables at scale.
Are comfortable multitasking, managing volunteers or workers, and communicating with a range of people, including landholders, neighbours, peer growers, and community services staff.
Are comfortable working in an outdoor setting in all weather and conditions.
Are physically fit and able to lift 40-50lbs.
Are dedicated to building the local food system and are ready to make a multi-year commitment to growing food for the community.

Program Fees

This fee covers all educational program costs, including hands-on mentorship, shared infrastructure, and evening classes.

Tuition Fee: $5,500 (plus 5% GST)

Deposit: $500 (plus 5% GST) due upon acceptance (applied toward total fees)

This fee covers:

Six months of full-time instruction and experiential learning (April - September 2026)
Continued mentorship and guidance for 12 additional months (October 2026 - October 2027) as you transition into managing your own Neighbourhood Farm

Accommodation Options:

Live-in Participants: $600/month (Covers three meals per day and lodging in fully serviced shared rooms with shared bathroom and kitchen)
Salt Spring Residents: $150/month (Covers five meals per week at the training centre)

Buddy Registration Option:

We can offer a reduced rate for participants registering with a spouse, family member, or close farming partner. Both individuals share a single Neighbourhood Farm site under this option. If you wish to register with a partner, please indicate this clearly in your application.

Introductory Interview

Between November and February, we’ll invite you for an in-person or online interview. It’s a chance for us to learn more about each other and ensure the program and potential participants are a good fit.

Acceptance & Payments

Only 8 spots available. Applications close January 31st, 2026.
$500 non-refundable deposit (plus 5% GST) due upon acceptance
Remaining fees due mid-April 2026

Have Questions?

Read the Neighbourhood Farmer Training FAQ for additional details about the training experience, daily schedule, and what to expect while living and farming on Salt Spring Island. Or email us at nfp.saltspring@gmail.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to common questions about the training, accommodations, and life on Salt Spring.

Program Overview

Q: What kind of program is the Neighbourhood Farmer Training?

A: The Neighbourhood Farmer Training is a comprehensive, hands-on educational experience developed by Island Natural Growers (ING), the Salt Spring chapter of Canadian Organic Growers (COG), in cooperation with the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). This training is a component of the Neighbourhood Farm Program (NFP) which is a community supported agriculture model bringing together training, access to land, and grass-roots funding to enable farms to grow food for their community. Together we are exploring new models of agriculture which support and empower local farms, provide food security and strengthen our collective resilience. The 18-month educational program combines intensive training and a supported transition into farm management. From April to September 2026, trainees take part in full-time instruction at Chorus Frog Organic Gardens / Quarry Collective and on the future Neighbourhood Farm sites where they’ll later be placed. The curriculum covers Neighbourhood Farm development, crop planning, soil and plant health, distribution systems, and organic certification practices all taught by experienced instructors and working farmers. Following the initial training phase, participants will begin growing on their matched sites, supported by ongoing peer and mentor guidance through the following season.

Eligibility & Application

Q: Who is this program meant for, and what are the prerequisites?

A: The program is designed for experienced growers who want to take the next step toward managing a small-scale organic farm and becoming part of Salt Spring’s local food network. Participants in this program are preparing to establish and operate a Neighbourhood Farm, which is a community-based model where farmers grow food for nearby households in a reciprocal relationship. Neighbours support the farm financially or through labour, and in return receive a share of the harvest. For details on participant qualifications and experience requirements, please see the Who Should Apply section above.

Fees & Lodging

Q: How much is the tuition, and what does it cover?

A: Tuition is $5,500 + GST. It includes six months of full-time training (April–September 2026) and 12 months of continued mentorship as you establish your own neighbourhood farm. See the Program Fees section above for full details and accommodation options

Q: What is the Buddy Registration Option?

A: Pairs such as spouses, family members, or close farming partners can share growing on a single Neighbourhood Farm site under a reduced-fee rate. See Program Fees for details.

Q: Are meals and lodging included?

A: Yes. See Accommodation Options above.

Academic & Administrative Details

Q: Do you accept international applications?

A: International participants are welcome if they are legally permitted to stay and work in British Columbia during the program period and can relocate to Salt Spring Island by April 1, 2026. Because this is a non-credited extension program, student visas are not available for participation.

Q: What academic recognition will I receive?

A: Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion for the Neighbourhood Farmer Training, issued by the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at KPU. This certificate is non-credit and cannot be transferred toward formal academic degrees.

Learning Experience

Q: What does a typical week look like?

Monday / Wednesday / Friday - at the Training Centre (9am - 4pm)

9:00 - 12:00: Morning farm work (seeding, planting, harvesting)
12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 3:00: Afternoon farm work
3:00 - 4:00: Wrap-up and debrief

Tuesday / Thursday - at neighbourhood sites (9am - 1pm + evening sessions)

9:00 - 1:00: Prep and project work at neighbourhood sites (rotating)
1:00 - 2:00: Lunch
Afternoon: Free
6:00 - 7:00: Dinner
7:00 - 9:00: Evening study session

Q: What equipment is provided, and what do I need to bring?

A: We supply all hand tools and machinery. Participants will need to bring their own personal gear such as work clothing, boots, and other essentials. A recommended gear list will be emailed before the season begins.

Q: What if I miss a session?

A: Attendance is crucial to the hands-on learning process. Participants must attend at least 90% of sessions to receive the certificate of completion, and to be guaranteed placement on a Neighbourhood Farm site. If participants must miss a session, they’ll need to inform their instructor and arrange to catch up outside of regular program hours.

Q: Are there assignments or homework?

Q: Will we have time to work on our new Neighbourhood Farm sites during the program?

Q: How do you measure program success?

A: No formal tests, or assignments are required. However, participants will need to dedicate time to plan the operation of their own Neighbourhood Farm for the 2027 growing season. Instructors may offer optional readings or exercises to deepen your learning.

A: Yes. During the intensive six-month phase, we’ll schedule rotational cohort workdays at the new Neighbourhood Farm sites. After September 2026, maintaining and preparing your site for 2027 production becomes your independent responsibility.

A: Our goals for participants are to:

Develop and apply leadership and management skills in collaboration with neighbours;
Learn and share advanced techniques for crop production, harvest, and distribution;
Design and implement a site plan for a new food production site;
Deepen knowledge of regenerative, ecological and organic practices;
Prepare and apply emergency management plans, including evacuation protocols.

Participation & Site Policies

Q: How are meals prepared and delivered at the training centre?

A: Meals are prepared by program participants. The ingredients will be produce grown on the farm, or staples purchased through program fees.

Q: Can friends or family help out at the farm?

A: Yes, visitors are welcome case by case. Regular volunteers must complete a waiver and volunteer form and follow all program rules. Participants are responsible for anyone they bring.

Q: Can I bring children during program hours?

A: Unfortunately, no. For safety reasons, children cannot be present at the Training Centre during scheduled program hours.

Q: Can I bring pets to the Training Centre?

A: Generally, no. However, under special circumstances, we may consider applicants with a pet. Please indicate this clearly in your application.

Ready to Register?

Complete the online application form here: Neighbourhood Farmer Training Application