Flavour of the Month: Contrasting Flavours
We asked Tim Carter, Field Manager at UBC Farm, what his favourite flavour was! Read more about Tim’s take on contrasting flavours.
What is your favourite flavour and why?
This feels like an impossible question. It’s a little like asking what my favourite musical note is. So much depends on context and the interplay of different flavours, many of which would be unpleasant on their own. Perhaps it’s not a flavour, but I’ll go with contrast. I love foods and meals that are full of contrast.
How long have you worked for the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and what is your role?
I’ve worked for LFS for a little over twenty years. I oversee field, sales, and site operations at the UBC Farm.
What are your highlights of working on UBC Farm?
Between the people, the place, and the food, there are lots of highlights. I love watching people’s lives be transformed by their experiences here, and I love watching plants grow. I particularly love watching the growth of cover crops at this time of year.
Which research collaboration at the UBC Farm have you enjoyed the most?
My favorite research collaboration is generally whatever project I’m working on at the moment. I get to work on the fun creative part of field research—the initial design, set up, and problem solving—and can then move on and leave the painstaking data collection and analysis to others.
Please share your top tips for students and alumni interested in working on farm, in the agriculture sector and in sustainability?
Get to know and love particular places and people wherever you are. This takes time; don’t be in too big of a rush. Ground your work in this.
What emerging technologies do you see being integrated into the work that you do?
In my line of work, technology transfer generally lags painfully far behind technology development. A large portion of my work involves applying existing technology well (I hope) in the context of the UBC Farm. I tend not to get excited about emerging technologies, but I’m thankful that there are others working in this area.
And finally, where on campus is your go-to place to eat and/or place to relax?
To eat: with colleagues at the farm. To relax: forest edges at the farm.
Tagged with: 2025, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Staff, UBC Farm