XXX The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society - Request for assisting with hiring staff for the Trent Market Garden
To: Shaun Watmough – Director of the Trent School of the Environment, Stephen Hill – Associate Director of the Trent School of the Environment, Tom Hutchinson – Professor of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program
From: Supporters and Members of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society
April 5th, 2017
We, the under signees, support the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society (SAFS Society) request for facilitation of the hiring of two summer student positions at Trent Market Garden, both of which will help to sustain the ongoing success of the farm. As all other avenues of hiring have been exhausted to date, we are requesting that the Trent School of the Environment support the hiring of students for this enterprise through the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems department.
The Trent Market Garden is a student driven space for experimental learning and a thriving food production hub for the campus and surrounding community. It supplies locally produced and healthy vegetables to the campus cafeterias, as well as to local businesses in increasing amounts. In collaboration with Trent Foodservices and Chartwells, the Trent Market Garden provides employment opportunities for students and creates an economically viable food production system. This inclusive space for students, faculty, and community members helps to not only grow food, but also encourages research initiatives, contributes to ecological knowledge, promotes environmental stewardship and fosters social networks, allowing our community to blossom.
Through the Trent Market Garden, Trent University and the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society have provided an amazing opportunity for students to gain invaluable experience and learn what’s at stake in effectively managing a small scale market oriented farm. This opportunity is like no other in Canada, and the SAFS Society requires the assistance of the SAFS department in order to prevent years of efforts from going to waste.
The Trent Market Garden and the SAFS Society are committed to prioritizing the hiring of SAFS students whenever possible. The Trent Market Garden has the funds required to pay for two part-time positions over the course of the summer, and yet lacks the institutional mechanism needed to hire the necessary help required to keep the farm operational. The TMG is already dependent on students providing their time as volunteers but cannot effectively operate on volunteerism alone.
With students already showing their commitment to the farm, the SAFS Society asks that the SAFS department and the Trent School of the Environment help contribute to the success of the TMG by facilitating the hiring of the students required to run the TMG this summer. Such support for Trent University students will contribute to the efforts of students in developing a site for experiential learning and community building known as the Trent Market Garden.
Thank you for your time and consideration3 Comments
Am I reading this correctly - the funds are available but the issue is the absence of an institutional process? I can't imagine what the administrative roadblocks could possibly be. Have they been shared with you? Within the institutional context this is an apparently simple, and small-scale project but one with significant student and community benefit.
Such an important initiative. Encourage this and future generations to care about continued access to healthy food and sustained food production practices.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
XXX The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society - Request for assisting with hiring staff for the Trent Market Garden
To: Shaun Watmough – Director of the Trent School of the Environment, Stephen Hill – Associate Director of the Trent School of the Environment, Tom Hutchinson – Professor of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program
From: Supporters and Members of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society
April 5th, 2017
We, the under signees, support the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society (SAFS Society) request for facilitation of the hiring of two summer student positions at Trent Market Garden, both of which will help to sustain the ongoing success of the farm. As all other avenues of hiring have been exhausted to date, we are requesting that the Trent School of the Environment support the hiring of students for this enterprise through the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems department.
The Trent Market Garden is a student driven space for experimental learning and a thriving food production hub for the campus and surrounding community. It supplies locally produced and healthy vegetables to the campus cafeterias, as well as to local businesses in increasing amounts. In collaboration with Trent Foodservices and Chartwells, the Trent Market Garden provides employment opportunities for students and creates an economically viable food production system. This inclusive space for students, faculty, and community members helps to not only grow food, but also encourages research initiatives, contributes to ecological knowledge, promotes environmental stewardship and fosters social networks, allowing our community to blossom.
Through the Trent Market Garden, Trent University and the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society have provided an amazing opportunity for students to gain invaluable experience and learn what’s at stake in effectively managing a small scale market oriented farm. This opportunity is like no other in Canada, and the SAFS Society requires the assistance of the SAFS department in order to prevent years of efforts from going to waste.
The Trent Market Garden and the SAFS Society are committed to prioritizing the hiring of SAFS students whenever possible. The Trent Market Garden has the funds required to pay for two part-time positions over the course of the summer, and yet lacks the institutional mechanism needed to hire the necessary help required to keep the farm operational. The TMG is already dependent on students providing their time as volunteers but cannot effectively operate on volunteerism alone.
With students already showing their commitment to the farm, the SAFS Society asks that the SAFS department and the Trent School of the Environment help contribute to the success of the TMG by facilitating the hiring of the students required to run the TMG this summer. Such support for Trent University students will contribute to the efforts of students in developing a site for experiential learning and community building known as the Trent Market Garden.
Thank you for your time and consideration3 Comments
This is a vital role that needs to be filled on the farm. It is unsustainable and unrealistic for this wonderful project (the TMG) to be run on volunteer-power only. It requires a MINOR role of the faculty to enable this to happen successfully, so I encourage those that have the power to make this happen to show their support. The TMG contributes much to the health and well-being of ALL Trent students, and I would personally love to see that continue with the full support of Trent staff and faculty.
Am I reading this correctly - the funds are available but the issue is the absence of an institutional process? I can't imagine what the administrative roadblocks could possibly be. Have they been shared with you? Within the institutional context this is an apparently simple, and small-scale project but one with significant student and community benefit.
Such an important initiative. Encourage this and future generations to care about continued access to healthy food and sustained food production practices.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 50 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
This is a vital role that needs to be filled on the farm. It is unsustainable and unrealistic for this wonderful project (the TMG) to be run on volunteer-power only. It requires a MINOR role of the faculty to enable this to happen successfully, so I encourage those that have the power to make this happen to show their support. The TMG contributes much to the health and well-being of ALL Trent students, and I would personally love to see that continue with the full support of Trent staff and faculty.