Blog Category: Seed

EVENT RECAP: MOBILE SEED CLEANER DEMO & TOUR AT WINDERBERRY & EDIBLE ACRES FARM

Posted by Hailey Troock on July 29, 2019

On Tuesday, July 23rd, twelve active and aspiring farmers gathered at Winderberry Farm and Edible Acres in beautiful Windermere, BC, to participate in a seed cleaning demonstration, farm tour and potluck. Participants included some of the host farm’s young farm staff, new and returning, some local Windermere farmers and a few who drove in from as far away as Fernie. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to join us for some or all of the afternoon and of course to our hosts Lin and Oliver! During the seed cleaning demo, Chris Thoreau from FarmFolkCityFolk provided a detailed explanation of … Continue reading EVENT RECAP: MOBILE SEED CLEANER DEMO & TOUR AT WINDERBERRY & EDIBLE ACRES FARM →

July 30, 2019: EDMONTON, AB – From Seed to Sourdough: Plant Breeding for Low Input Systems

Posted by Dana Penrice on July 10, 2019

Learn about the selection process, organic wheat agronomy, and the traits farmers, buyers, and bakers are looking for. The day will feature new research from the University of Manitoba Participatory Plant Breeding program and a tour of new organically-bred wheat varieties and farmer-bred wheat lines. Speakers: Michelle Carkner, Natural Systems Agriculture Lab, University of Manitoba Ward Middleton, Midmore Farms and Farmer Breeder Kaelin Whittaker, Real Bread Alberta When: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 | 1:00PM to 4:30PM | $10 Where: University of Alberta Research Farm, Edmonton, AB For more information and to register contact info@organicalberta.org or call 587-521-2400

JULY 23, 2019: WINDERMERE, BC – Mobile Seed Cleaner Summer Tour & Potluck at Winderberry & Edible Acres Farm

Posted by Michalina Hunter on June 27, 2019

Join Young Agrarians and FarmFolk CityFolk at Winderberry & Edible Acres Farm in Windermere, BC for a mobile seed cleaner demo, farm tour, and potluck social! This event is free and open to everyone. Join us as anytime from 3:00 onward as we: – Introduce you to the FarmFolk CityFolk mobile seed cleaner – Talk about the essentials of seed cleaning – Give you a chance to use some equipment and clean some of your own seed Guided farm tours will be offered at 4 pm and 5 pm. Join in the Young Agrarians potluck social at 6:00 pm with members of the local farming … Continue reading JULY 23, 2019: WINDERMERE, BC – Mobile Seed Cleaner Summer Tour & Potluck at Winderberry & Edible Acres Farm →

JOB: OTTAWA, ON – USC Canada, Indigenous Seed Sovereignty Manager

Posted by Michalina Hunter on May 17, 2019

USC Canada, in partnership with the Indigenous Seed Keepers Network, is hiring a Program Manager for a one-year Indigenous Seed Sovereignty Project. Apply by June 6, 2019 12 PM EST for an opportunity to join the team! Position details: Start date July 9, 2019 (negotiable) to April 30, 2020, possibly renewable Location: Ideally Ottawa, Canada. Remote work may be possible. Why This Project Indigenous Peoples and smallholder farmers are the original plant breeders. The diversity of crops all people benefit from today is thanks to their careful stewardship and knowledge of their territories. Despite the disruption of traditional land-based practices, … Continue reading JOB: OTTAWA, ON – USC Canada, Indigenous Seed Sovereignty Manager →

Kootenays, BC: Biodynamic Seed Collection for Sale

Posted by Michalina Hunter on April 18, 2019 2 Comments

Seeking an aspiring organic/biodynamic grower/seedmeister to carry on the stewardship of a biodynamic seed collection from Aurora Farm, the first commercial BD heirloom seed company in North America. These seeds were cultivated in accordance with Biodynamic principles allowing life forces to give rise to nutrient dense crops with many varieties grown out for 30 years. They were cultivated on a hilltop in the Kootenay River Valley that was particularly suitable for seed production and Demeter and Organically Certified. Aurora Farm concurrently hosted a biodynamic apprenticeship training program from the early 90’s until the early 2000’s. Seed harvesting screens (6) and … Continue reading Kootenays, BC: Biodynamic Seed Collection for Sale →

SURVEY: Understanding Farmers’ Need for Seed!

Posted by Michalina Hunter on March 29, 2019

Seed Savers Exchange is looking for insight from farmers and seed breeders about how you source seeds. Please consider taking the short survey. Thank you! Survey for BREEDERS: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SSEBreederSurvey Survey for FARMERS: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SSEFarmerSurvey Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit that aims to conserve and promote America’s culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants. We are seeking to understand how farmers source seeds and how this process can be improved. Providing input from your experiences will help us better serve the farming community. Questions about this survey can be directed to kgilbery@seedsavers.org

Northern Prairie Growers Wanted for Butternut Squash Landrace Breeding Project

Posted by Michalina Hunter on March 04, 2019 7 Comments

Northern Prairie C. Moschata Landrace Project The Northern Landrace Project is seeking volunteer growers for 2019 to landrace/swarm breed some large, early, cold night tolerant, resilient Curcubita moschata (butternut squash) with the end goal of a loveable butternut flavor. Learn more on Winston’s website. Volunteer to grow via the contact form. The Rationale A good crop of butternut squash is a difficult thing to achieve in many northern Canadian gardens even with shorter season varieties. On top of that, shorter season varieties achieve this by breeding for smaller fruit but other species of squash can be grown in our climate without sacrificing size. There is … Continue reading Northern Prairie Growers Wanted for Butternut Squash Landrace Breeding Project →

EDUCATION: SEED FARMING – PILOT SEASON AT THE COWICHAN INCUBATOR SEED FARM

Posted by Azja Jones Martin on January 03, 2019

ABOUT THE INCUBATOR SEED FARM On the path to Food Security, Cowichan Green Community is thrilled to present the 2019 Pilot Incubation Season at the Cowichan Incubator Seed Farm. Without seed security there can be no food security, basically without seeds there would be no food. What does seed security look like? It looks like a diverse, regionally adapted, sustainable and organic supply of seeds, enough for our region. ABOUT THE PROGRAM The Pilot Incubation Season will run from May 1st to October 31st where a variety of topics will be researched as a group cooperative and then applied through … Continue reading EDUCATION: SEED FARMING – PILOT SEASON AT THE COWICHAN INCUBATOR SEED FARM →

JUL 10,11,15: WINLAW & PRINCE GEORGE, BC: Seed Production Workshops

Posted by Moss Dance on June 18, 2018

Demand for organic seed is increasing across North America and many regions of BC offer a great growing environment for seed crops. On-farm seed production can bring additional revenue to your farm and help you grow seed optimally suited to your farm environment. SEED PRODUCTION WORKSHOPS WITH PATRICK STEINER Join long-time organic seed producer and founder of Stellar Seeds, Patrick Steiner, for these seed production workshops and field days in Winlaw (July 15) and Prince George (July 10 & 11). These workshops include both classroom and field time as Patrick covers the fundamentals of seed production in the classroom and … Continue reading JUL 10,11,15: WINLAW & PRINCE GEORGE, BC: Seed Production Workshops →

Online Course: BAUTA Seed Production Course (Grants available)

Posted by Dana Penrice on March 15, 2018

Want to learn more about producing organic seeds? Want to learn about their commercial production, harvesting, quality, marketing, breeding and more? Want to build your own business following your own unique seed-farm business plan? If so, this course is for you! In partnership with USC Canada through The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, COG is excited to open registration for Canada’s only intermediate-level Organic Vegetable Seed Production e-learning certificate! This 22-week program runs April 9th – November 2nd, 2018 (with a summer break from July 9th – September 2nd). Designed with flexibility, this certificate program will be delivered in a part-time blended format featuring live, online instruction … Continue reading Online Course: BAUTA Seed Production Course (Grants available) →