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Sustainable Urban Horticulture Program Presents First Graduate

September 13, 2011

Elizabeth MacInerney, the first graduate of the new on-line certificate in Sustainable Urban Horticulture, has a key message to share about the program.

“The emphasis on sustainable issues and the urban element is very attractive.  As horticulturalists and agriculturalists, we must adapt our methods to be sustainable and environmentally responsible.  These skills need to be in our toolbox,” says MacInerney, who is currently a horticultural lead hand for the City of Toronto municipal gardens and parks. 

MacInerney joins a growing number of people looking for environmentally- and ecologically-sound ways to manage food production and landscapes.   Since their introduction in September 2010, the programs in Sustainable Urban Horticulture (SUH) and Sustainable Urban Agriculture (SUA) have attracted enrollment from across Canada, including the Northwest Territories, as well as California, Virginia, Colorado, Bahamas and the West Indies. Students in careers as diverse as teaching, municipal planning, architecture and environmental advocacy, and even the coach of Canada’s Aboriginal snowboard team, have enrolled in the program that is conducted jointly by OAC’s department of Plant Agriculture, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and U of G’s Centre for Open Learning and Educational Support. 

“While the geography and backgrounds are diverse, they all share an interest in similar issues – eating locally, the 100-mile diet, knowing your farmer, food security, greening the urban environment, and the carbon footprint,” says Pat Shaver, manager of program development at the Centre.  “People are asking more questions around sustainable options, such as how the distance food travels affects its nutritional value.”

“We don’t believe the success of these programs is a brief trend, but the result of a growing movement around urban food production and the urban landscape which is changing and evolving dramatically,” says Steve Fleischauer, also manager of program development. 

“People want to be savvy about caring for their landscape and managing their food safety and production in a sustainable fashion.  As a leader in agricultural, horticultural, environmental education, the credentials that come from the U of G are valued.”

MacInerney completed the requirements of the SUH certificate in only eight months and added these credentials to a diploma in Environmental Landscape Management from Seneca College, and two other U of G on-line certificates in Horticulture and Sustainable Landscapes which she achieved concurrently with her diploma. 

“The programs are extremely accessible and convenient for many different kinds of learners.  The course material is fresh and up-to-date.  The instructors currently work in the industry in one capacity or another and are aware of the top issues and needs in urban horticulture and agriculture,” adds MacInerney.