APHG Visits Providence Farm
Mr. Loiselle’s AP Human Geography class is currently studying agriculture and visited Providence Farm to experience a working farm community in action. Providence Farm is a therapeutic community that works with people and groups in need. Although Providence Farm is a self-sustaining, organic farm, their number one priority is growing people, not crops. Craig Evans, the farm’s Market Garden Manager, showed the class around the fields, greenhouses and plant nursery. Craig believes that the Cowichan Valley is one of the best places in the world to farm with its abundance of clean water and its long growing season: “I do this because it is life-sustaining and because I can fully enjoy the changing seasons. Farming is like a huge, life-long science experiment. I believe in fair food, organic food and socially just food.”
The students had many questions for Mr. Evans and were impressed with his knowledge and with the beauty of the farm. They enjoyed tasting a selection of plants and were greeted by friendly staff everywhere they went. The class would like to thank Providence Farm for welcoming and educating Shawnigan.
Students also microblogged using twitter while on the trip, sending messages and photos. Alex sent this twitter, “The tour guide just said something pretty interesting, saying that if we want to focus on something that could help farmers, we should create something that can prepare a field and can be operated by someone who wouldn't be able to operate a tractor due to a mental or physical circumstance.”