News

Sustain by Cultiv8, a student-run vegetable production farm on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill, provides opportunities for students to develop skills in sustainable vegetable production through hands-on experience.

Students become involved in managing weekly farm stand sales as well as coordination of community supported agriculture (CSA) subscription boxes.

“We want to provide opportunities for students to explore,” says Jason. “They should feel empowered to work on their own projects individually as well as collectively as a team. Opportunities exist to enable students to intern, apprentice, conduct honours and grad projects, build involvement with community, and explore value-added ag entrepreneurship.”

Community members are invited to visit the Sustain by Cultiv8 garden during weekly farm stand sales throughout the spring and summer at 77 Pictou Road as well as to consider purchasing a CSA box for themselves or the local United Way.

In 2021, operating out of the demonstration garden on Pictou Road, Sustain by Cultiv8 sold farm gate vegetables to the public, wholesale vegetables to Chartwells, the campus food services provider, and was also able to provide donations to the Colchester Community Food Bank.

In 2022, Sustain by Cultiv8 added an additional sales option – a community supported agriculture (CSA) subscription box. The CSA model connects producers and consumers within the food system by allowing the consumer to subscribe to the harvest of a certain farm.  Sustain provides a variety of options for weekly subscriptions, varying by time of year and number of weeks.  

A total of 59 FarmBox subscriptions were sold in 2023 including six donated to families in need via a partnership with The United Way.

In 2024 garden sales and subscription boxes will continue, along with donations to the food bank, United Way, and the Dal AC food pantry.

For more information on weekly farm stand sales or to purchase a CSA subscription box please visit cultiv8ag.com and follow on Instagram (cultiv8ag) and Facebook (Cultiv8Ag)

“These students are our future leaders,” says Jason. “We owe them the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and passions that motivate them, so they become advocates for a sustainable future.”