The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security

Through Training & Networking Opportunities

Through conferences, field days, workshops, webinars, and mentorships, The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security co-creates engaging learning spaces with farmers and seed savers in the communities where we work.

Peer exchange is one of the best ways to learn, be it about technical aspects of seed production, strategies for running a seed business, or how to conduct on-farm research. Training opportunities are organized in each region to facilitate farmer-to-farmer exchange, foster and develop the skills and knowledge of local seed stewards, and to provide opportunities for everyone in the community to visit and hear about this important work in the field.

For information about training and networking opportunities in your region, please contact your local Regional Program Coordinator.
To access online learning about seed crop production, the seed sector in Canada, running a seed business, and more, consult the Resources section of our website.
For more information about on-farm research, visit the Create Seed Diversity webpages. If you’re interested in learning about establishing a community seed project, please visit the Community Seed Network.

TRAINING SURVEY

Though the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted many of our usual training platforms--such as in-person farm tours and conference gatherings--we would like to continue offering meaningful learning opportunities for growers. Your answers to this survey will help guide us as to how best to support you in your learning goals. Thank you for taking the time.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Faces and Places of Seed Learning across Canada

Dave Luce, Mike Boissonneault, and Ryan Cameron attend a Farm Club in Central Alberta Photo Credit_ Sarah Preston

Dave Luce, Mike Boissonneault, and Ryan Cameron attend a Farm Club in Central Alberta. Photo Credit: Sarah Preston

Dr. Jennifer Mitchell Fetch at Plant Breeding for Low Input Systems Field Day Photo Credit_ Emma Newhook

Dr. Jennifer Mitchell Fetch at a field day for plant breeding for low input systems. Photo Credit: Emma Newhook

Farmer-Breeders in the Participatory Plant Breeding program with potato breeder Duane Falk at Beet Box Farm, ON

Chris Thoreau demonstrating isolation cages for carrot seed crop pollinators in BC

At the University of Alberta, Dr. Martin Entz leads farmers, researchers, and government officials through test plots diverse populations of organic, farmer-bred wheat developed through participatory plant breeding

Farmers and Seed Savers Valerie Gabriel, Sonny White, Johanne Paquet Sioui, John Bonapart, Curtis Lazore, Teprine Baldo, and Stephen McComber at the 2019 Gathering for the Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers_ Network (ECOSGN), in Montreal, QC

Chris Wooding with Red Fife Wheat at Ironwood Organics, Ontario

Angela MacDougall leading a farm tour at Fundy Farm, NB

Greg Wingate demonstrating cucurbit for hand pollination at Mapple Farm, NB

Frank, Kathy, Annie of Kitchen Table Seed House, in Ontario

Frank, Kathy, Annie of Kitchen Table Seed House, ON

Farmers learning about regionally important seed adaptations with Petra Page Mann (Fruition Seeds) at Annapolis Seeds, NS

Growers taking part in a BC Seed Trials evaluation field day

George Wright with Aabir Dey, Michelle Carkner and others selecting oats at Castor River Farm, Metcalfe, ON

Maritime Seed Growers after a 2 day Seed Business Workshop with Mary _ Dan of Cottage Gardener Heirloom SeedHouse

Maritime seed growers after a 2 day Seed Business Workshop with Mary & Dan of Cottage Gardener Heirloom SeedHouse

Prairie Coordinator, Iris Vaisman, talking with growers about rolled green manure at Newells field day

Participants at a Plant Breeding for Low Input Systems field day at the University of Alberta

Michael Mazourek (Cornell University) discussing plant breeding for peppers with growers at Patchwork Gardens, ON

Participants at the 2019 Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers_ (ECOSGN) Gathering, Montreal, Quebec

Participants at the 2019 Eastern Canadian Organic Seed Growers' (ECOSGN) Gathering, Montreal, Quebec

Regional Coordinator Hugo Martorell with André Comeau, breeder, and Yatandi Djiguiba, student, at a workshop about wheat and oat selection at Laval University’s experimental farm in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec

Ontario Coordinator, Rebecca Ivanoff, with community members at the Ontario Showcase Garden and Hub Site Variety Trial Tour

Renata Thiboutot at Mile Hill Farms with Olympic Red Kale, in Thunder Bay, ON

Seed mentor Niki Clark with mentees at Nikian Farm, NS

Seed Saver Sarah Crocker showing off her radish seed crop at a field day in Portugal Cove, NL

Mel Sylvestre and volunteers cleaning bean seeds at UBC Farm, University of British Columbia, Vancouver