The site provides field plots for undergraduate, graduate and Faculty research projects. At the present time, turfgrass research is the largest user of the field area. This includes variety trials,soil amendments and fertilizer trials for both golf greens and sports turf. Strong links have been established with the Western Canada Turfgrass Association and UBC has been host to the annual Turf Day and Exhibition in previous years. The Totem Field garden is one of 52 sites in North America and one of five in Canada.
Trials consist of annuals and perennials.
Also included in this plot are cut flower trials and vegetable garden. At the North end of the field, an alder planting has been established for research in insect ecology and entomology, with a particular focus on tent caterpillars. The application of botanical extracts were applied to cabbage to study their affects on some of the common pests found locally. Forestry Raised beds have been constructed and are currently home to conifer seedlings and associated research projects that will continue for the next few years. Cranberries Raised beds, as well as container-grown plants are located in different parts of the site.