THE PRAIRIES

 EMAIL US

SUBSCRIBE

EVENTS

Prairie Seed Growers Mentorship Program

Are you just starting out as a seed grower and eager to learn from someone who’s been there before? Or are you a more experienced grower who loves sharing knowledge and supporting others on this path? The Prairie Seed Growers Mentorship program is a way to connect, learn, and grow together - farmer to farmer.  Mentors are paid to provide 20-25 hours of one-on-one support, helping mentees reach their seed-growing goals. The program is flexible and self-directed, running from May through November. Please note: this is not a hosted internship, so mentees should already have their own space to grow seed crops. Applications for both mentees and mentors open up in February. Have questions? Reach out anytime at spreston@weseedchange.org.

Variety Trials for Vegetables and Grains

Prairie farms (like Summit Hill Farm, in AB, pictured here) have been engaged in trialing and variety development through the Canadian Organic Vegetable Improvement (CANOVI) program since its inception, with about twenty Prairie farmers participating in 2025! These national on-farm research trials allow organic farmers to evaluate Open Pollinated varieties to share data on how each one performs in different regions, help identify traits for future breeding work, and learn new skills by making selections for participatory breeding projects through our partnerships with researchers at UBC. Crops of interest for this region have included radicchio, rutabaga, lettuce, and carrots. For more information about the CANOVI program, click HERE.

Farmer-Led Plant Breeding and Variety Adaptation

Having a diverse range of seeds that are well-adapted to current climate conditions and to agroecological farming systems is a crucial part of farm resilience and seed security. Farmers have traditionally been leaders in preserving agrobiodiversity and in creating new varieties, but changes to modern farming have made it much harder for them to participate in the plant breeding process. When farmers are included in variety development, their insights lead to seeds that reflect the true diversity of ways to grow good food and offer diversified benefits like better performance under high-stress conditions or unforgettable flavour.

Much of our work is about building farmers’ capacity to participate in plant breeding - whether for climate-adaptation, improving yields in organic and low-input production, serving regional food sheds and artisan markets, or simply for the joy of intentionally tending seeds over multiple generations. Here are some of the ways we can help:

Prairie grain farmers have bred some outstanding lines that are unique to their farms and are growing markets through collaborative relationships with artisan millers and bakers or through direct-to-consumer sales. To learn more or find out about current programs, reach out to spreston@weseedchange.org.

Seed Libraries & Community Seed Projects

This region is home to dozens of community-based seed programs which aim to share seed and educate about seed saving. If you're part of such a project, or looking to find one/start one, please visit the Community Seed Network. Add yourself to their growing membership by putting yourself on the map, and check out their long list of resources. For more information on this sector in the Prairies, contact spreston@weseedchange.org.

The Prairie Pod Newsletter

Want to stay rooted in the community of Prairie seed stewards? The Prairie Pod is a (mostly) bi-monthly newsletter celebrating ecological seed work across the Prairies. Each issue brings you updates on our Prairie programs, plus resources to grow your seed skills and seed news for organic and regenerative farmers. Discover new ways to support local seed growers and strengthen a resilient, diverse seed system close to home. Click here to subscribe, or check out our newsletter archive to revisit past newsletters.