Farmers in Atlantic Canada play an important role in keeping our seed diversity and seed heritage alive. Let's explore some of the once-endangered varieties that local farmers are bringing back into commercial circulation for gardeners and farmers to grow, enjoy, and share!

 

According to Mary Tress “being connected to a local, knowledgeable seed grower” was key to her success launching Sunwild Seeds, which offered 12 varieties in 2022. In readying her Green Curled lettuce seed for sale to local gardeners, Mary was able to access support from her mentor, and from Farm Folk City Folk, for not only growing the seed crop but addressing the many challenges of getting it to market!

 

Atlantic Canadian growers came together in 2018 to launch the Atlantic Grown Seed label to educate consumers, increase transparency, and distinguish themselves in an opaque industry. According to the Atlantic Canada Regional Coordinator, Steph Hughes, “there’s not a lot of transparency in the seed industry and we want seed buyers to be able to know where their seed is coming from, and who grew it.” Alongside the label is a comprehensive directory listing all known seed sellers and what kind of seed they sell.

 

According to Frank Bueckert, “the future of farming is farmers adapting their crops to their own microclimate, and their own circumstances and situations.” He has put this into practice by engaging with the participatory oat breeding program, including oat lines that have turned out to be top performers in adaptation trials across western Canada!

 

Three Forks Farm is a certified organic farm on Manitoulin Island that Peggy Baillie has been operating with her husband, Eric Blondin, since 2016. They produce mixed vegetables, chicken, and … seeds!

The Demonstration Gardens at Fertile Ground Farm will showcase 80 varieties of vegetables, grains, and potatoes; host variety trials as part of the Ecological Farmers' Association of Ontario's Farmer-led Research Program, and The Bauta Family Initiative's CANOVI Program; as well as house grow-outs from 6 varieties in partnership with Seeds of Diversity Canada. Each project contributes uniquely to regional seed systems.

For 10 years, Stewart Wells has been selecting lines of Hard Red Spring Wheat to achieve not only superior agronomic performance, but also to shape a more democratic seed system. “I think the most important thing that the PPB system could do, in terms of becoming an insurance system against monopolization by the private trade, is actually getting one or two varieties registered. That would … provide an opportunity for farmers to freely exchange seed and sell seed to each other.”

Farmers have long been on the frontlines of climate change, reckoning with the unpredictable changes it creates, the extreme weather events, and new pest and disease pressures. For Ward Middleton of Midmore Farms, breeding his own genetically variable wheat is a key strategy for climate change adaptation.

Tiffany Traverse is an Indigenous seed and land steward at Fourth Sister Farm, a guest in the Peace Region of what’s now known as BC, on Treaty 8 territory, homeland of the Dane-zaa peoples. In this episode, Tiffany talks about the mentors who have helped guide her seed work, the incredible seeds and plants that inspire her reverent curiosity, and the importance of listening and having "uncomfy conversations" in order to heal ourselves, each other, and our food and seed systems.

“When you start getting into seed saving, it's very quickly a very generous pursuit,” explains Sarah Crocker of Seed to Spoon Farm in Portugal Cove, NL. Founder of the St. John’s Seed Library and SeedChange Board Member,  Sarah is passionate about localizing the food supply, and exploring varieties that will thrive in the damp, grey growing conditions of Newfoundland– from Eastern European tomatoes to hardier legumes.

Richard and Monique are pioneers in terms of organic agriculture in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, where they are now retired vegetable farmers. For 20 years, they grew 1.4 hectares of vegetables on thin, rocky ground with uneven areas. However, that did not stop them from feeding their neighbours and supplying the most renowned restaurants in the region. Over time, Richard developed a real passion for seeds.

Rav Singh has her sights set high. Equity and inclusivity, climate resilience, food justice and seed sovereignty. At Shade of Miti Farm, Rav has been leading okra trials in partnership with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario for the past two years, and is experimenting with ginger, peanuts, and saffron. “I'm just really hoping that this will get people to think a little bit differently around research… who's involved in research and what types of things are being researched.”

In this SeedHeads Podcast episode, Hugo speaks with Jim Ternier, long-time proprietor of Prairie Garden Seeds and the largest private collection of cereal germplasm in the country. Jim has been gardening all his life. He began as a market gardener selling food before transitioning to growing and selling seeds, which for him represent the many stories of the people who introduced and grew them.

Just 10%. That’s the yield increase, compared to the best commercial varieties, that would make it possible for Ian Cushon to save his own wheat seed on-farm. For ten years, Ian has been selecting wheat populations for the right combination of superior agronomic qualities and increased yield. Four of these are currently in comparative trials and he’s optimistic that a good organic variety will emerge. “We've seen yield increases with some of the varieties, significant yield increases, within even a few years. So I think the process works.”

Young Quebec farmer, David Whiteside, has begun breeding a new variety of purple bok choi to integrate into his horticultural operation. Inspired by his peers, encouraged by seed companies contributing genetic material, and mentored by a nearby seed producer, David is feeling the love for this new project. He will continue selections in 2023 in the hopes of making his variety accessible to other farmers in turn.

Three years ago, Catherine June Wallenberg began developing a sturdy yellow bush bean variety that would yield well and taste amazing. Being in touch with other seed growers and the CANOVI trialing network has guided her plant breeding choices and helped her refine her methods and access data about comparable varieties on the market. According to Catherine, "it is immensely rewarding to be part of a larger network of producers and organisers working together to create a resilient, diverse and community and producer serving agri-food system."