Roots on the Roof Mentorship, Growing Food, Building Community, Cultivating Change.
Course Description
The Roots on the Roof Summer Mentorship Program is a six-week immersive learning experience designed for youth and emerging growers passionate about food, ecology, and community resilience.
This hands-on course blends practical farming skills with ecological literacy and critical discussions around food justice. Each week focuses on a core theme, ranging from soil health and compost systems to planting strategies, crop maintenance, and ethical harvesting. Participants will learn to identify local plants, manage tools and garden infrastructure, and understand the rhythms of growing in an urban environment shaped by Vancouver’s unique climate and cultural diversity.
Beyond cultivating plants, this program fosters a deep-rooted community. Through group activities, storytelling, and collaborative reflection, students will explore how food systems intersect with environmental and social justice. We’ll examine how colonial histories and current inequities influence access to land and nourishment, and how community-driven urban farming can offer hopeful alternatives.
Led by experienced mentors and community leaders, this program is grounded in care, curiosity, and collective learning. Participants will leave with practical skills in organic gardening, an understanding of food sovereignty principles, and a strong sense of connection to place and purpose.
No prior farming experience is needed—just a willingness to learn, collaborate, and get your hands in the soil.
