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Where to Get an Organic Education in Canada?

December 2017 Growing Organic

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Organic agriculture is often considered knowledge-intensive and pulls from disciplines like biology, ecology, chemistry and many others.  Luckily, there are many courses out there to help you navigate your understanding of organic agriculture and its practices. What better way to invest in your organic farm or business than by taking an organized course?  Not only will you benefit from the learnings, but you’ll also share experiences with like-minded growers and classmates.   

We’ve compiled a list of courses, certificates and programs offered across Canada—from practical gardening courses to university-level programs. Many of them are even online, so you can join from the comfort of your farm or closest café with Wi-Fi! 

Did we miss one? Write to us at editor@cog.ca and we’ll add it to our list online. 

 

ORGANIC MASTER GARDENER COURSES:

 

Canadian Organic Growers 

Vancouver Island, Calgary, Toronto 

www.cog.ca/our-services/OMG/ 

education@cog.ca  

1-877-375-7383 

 

Burnaby Community and Continuing Education (in partnership with Gaia College) 

Burnaby, BC 

www.burnabycce.ca/courses/organic-master-gardener-certificate/  

burnabycce@sd41.bc.ca  

604-296-6901 

 

Royal Roads University (in partnership with Gaia College) 

Victoria, BC 

secure.royalroads.ca/cscourses/organic-master-gardener  

250-391-2511 

 

Stony Plain Agricultural Society (in partnership with Gaia College)

Stony Plain, Alberta

http://multicentre.org/education/organic-master-gardeners/

jennifer@multicentre.org

 

Gaia College – Online course 

Duncan, BC 

www.gaiacollege.ca/organic-master-gardener-online.html  

info@gaiacollege.ca  

250-709-2229 

 

 

PRACTICAL AND CERTIFICATE-LEVEL COURSES AND PROGRAMS:

 

Certificate in Organic Vegetable Seed Production – Online course 

Canadian Organic Growers 

Ottawa, ON 

www.cog.ca/our-services/seedproductioncourse/  

education@cog.ca  

1-877-375-7383 

 

Fundamentals of Organic Land Care – Online course 

Fundamentals of Growing Food Organically – Online course 

Organic Land Care Accreditation Course (in partnership with Gaia College) 

Organic Land Care (Fundamentals – Level 1; Professional – Level 2; Advanced – Level 3) 

Seneca College 

Toronto, ON 

www.senecacollege.ca/ce/index.html  

Cherry.Langlois@senecacollege.ca 

 

Sustainable Farming Certificate 

Everdale Farm 

Hillsburgh, ON 

everdale.org/farmertraining/sustainable-farming-certificate/  

david.alexander@everdale.org 

 

Sustainable Agriculture Co-op Program 

Fleming College 

Peterborough, ON 

flemingcollege.ca/programs/sustainable-agriculture-co-op 

sara.kelly@flemingcollege.ca  

705-324-9144 ext. 3557 

 

Sustainable Local Food – Online certificate program (6 courses) 

St. Lawrence College 

Cornwall, ON 

www.stlawrencecollege.ca/programs-and-courses/full-time/programs/n_z/sustainable-local-food/online-part-time/  

ontariolearn@sl.on.ca  

613-345-0660 

 

Sustainable Food Systems – 1-year advanced diploma program 

Assiniboine Community College 

Brandon, MB 

assiniboine.net/program/162/sustainable-food-systems/program-details 

ag.enviro@assiniboine.net 

800.862.6307 ex.6685 (toll free) 

 

Weed Control in Organic Agriculture – Online course 

University of Saskatchewan 

Saskatoon, SK 

continuing.usask.ca/professional-development/weed.php  

jill.turner@usask.ca 

306-966-1382 

 

Organic Horticulture Specialist – Online and classroom courses 

Ecological Plant Knowledge for Organic Gardeners – Classroom course 

Organic Land Care Accreditation – Classroom course 

Gaia College 

Duncan, BC 

www.gaiacollege.ca  

info@gaiacollege.ca  

250-709-2229 

 

Diploma in Organic Land Care – Diploma program (5 courses) 

Gaia College 

Duncan, BC 

www.gaiacollege.ca/diploma-in-organic-land-care.html  

info@gaiacollege.ca  

250-709-2229 

 

Farm Schools – 9-month practical training program 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University 

Institute for Sustainable Food Systems 

Richmond, BC and Tsawwassen, BC 

www.kpu.ca/farmschool  

studentinfo@kpu.ca 

604-599-2000 

 

Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture – 8-month experiential learning program 

University of British Columbia, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm 

ubcfarm.ubc.ca/community/practicum-in-sustainable-agriculture/practicum-application-form/ 

farm.team@ubc.ca  

604-822-5092 

 

UNIVERSITY COURSES AND PROGRAMS:

 

Transition to Organic Agriculture – Online university course 

Composting and Compost Use – Online university course 

Principles of Organic Horticulture – Online university course 

Organic Field Crop Management – Online university course 

Organic Livestock Production – Online university course 

Dalhousie University 

Truro, NS 

www.dal.ca/faculty/agriculture/oacc/en-home/education/undergraduate-level-courses.html  

rveenhuis@dal.ca  

902-893-7256 

 

Certificate of Specialization in Organic Agriculture – Online certification program 

Dalhousie University 

Truro, NS 

www.dal.ca/faculty/agriculture/extended-learning/programs-courses/credit-courses/organic-agriculture.html  

For university credit: dean.agriculture@dal.ca  

For non-credit courses: extended.learning@dal.ca  

902-893-6600 

 

Microprogramme en Agriculture Biologique – Bachelor of Science 

Université Laval 

Québec, QC 

www.fsaa.ulaval.ca/nc/les-etudes/programmes-de-1er-cycle/programmes-courts/microprogramme-agriculture-biologique/  

fsaa@fsaa.ulaval.ca  

418-656-2131 ext. 5582 

 

Introduction à l’agriculture biologique – University course 

Compostage et utilisation du compost en agriculture biologique – University course
Production biologique des cultures en champ – University course
Productions d’animales durables – University course 

Université Laval 

Québec, QC 

www.fsaa.ulaval.ca/plg.html  

fsaa@fsaa.ulaval.ca  

418-656-2131 

 

Ecological Agriculture Specialization – Bachelor of Science (AgEnvSc) 

McGill University 

Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC 

www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/prospective/degrees/bscagenvsc/specializations/ecolagr  

bsc-advisor.agenvsc@mcgill.ca  

514-398-7707 

 

Certificate Ecological Agriculture – University certificate program 

McGill University 

Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC 

www.mcgill.ca/study/2017-2018/faculties/macdonald/undergraduate/programs/certificate-cert-ecological-agriculture  

bsc-advisor.agenvsc@mcgill.ca  

514-398-7707 

 

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems – B.A., B.Sc. 

Trent University 

Peterborough, ON 

www.trentu.ca/agriculture/sustainable-agriculture-and-food-systems  

maryogrady@trentu.ca  

705-748-1011 ext. 7199 

 

Organic Agriculture Certificate – University certificate program (beginning in fall 2018) 

University of Guelph 

Guelph, ON 

www.uoguelph.ca/oac/news/university-guelph-introduces-new-organic-agriculture-certificate-enhance-educational  

519-824-4120 

 

Introduction to Organic Agriculture – University course 

Design of Organic Production Systems – University course 

Social Issues in Organic Agriculture – University course 

University of Guelph 

Guelph, ON 

www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/2017-2018/c12/c12oagr.shtml 

519-824-4120 

 

Organic Crop Production on the Prairies – University degree and diploma course 

University of Manitoba 

agfoodsci@umanitoba.ca 

204-474-9295 

 

Agroecology – Bachelor of Science, with co-op option 

University of Manitoba 

www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/programs/agroecology.html 

agfoodsci@umanitoba.ca 

204-474-9295 

 

Sustainable Agriculture Systems major – Bachelor of Science 

University of Alberta 

www.ualberta.ca/agriculture-life-environment-sciences/programs/undergraduate-programs/degree-programs/agriculture/sustainable-agricultural-systems  

afns-chair@ualberta.ca  

780-492-2131 

 

Key Indicators of Agroecosystem Sustainability – Online course 

University of British Columbia 

Vancouver, BC 

courses.students.ubc.ca/cs/main?pname=subjarea&tname=subjareas&req=5&dept=APBI&course=361&section=199 

delisa.lewis@ubc.ca  

 

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems – Bachelor of Applied Science 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University 

Richmond, BC 

www.kpu.ca/agriculture/program  

studentinfo@kpu.ca 

604-599-2000 

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