Seed Saving

Learn how to grow, harvest, clean and store seeds with the knowledgeable Rebecca Jehn at Welland Orchard

Workshop Description

In this workshop we will begin by discussing each participant's farming and seed saving experience and top goals for this workshop, before launching into learning how to grow, harvest, clean and store seeds.

We will also talk about seed history and biology, look at and talk about equipment used for cleaning and processing seed and have a hands on demo of cleaning and processing of seed heads supplied by a local farmer.

This workshop will finish with a question and answer period to make sure nothing is missed, as well a chance to peruse some of the books in Rebecca's collection.

The formal part of this workshop will run from 10am-12pm. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch with them and continue the conversation about seed saving, ask additional questions and have more time to look though the books from 12pm-1pm

Be sure to come dressed for the elements as this workshop will be held outdoors.

Getting here

As there is limited parking available at the orchard, please bike, walk, bus or carpool if possible. We are located right on the galloping goose, and you are welcome to bring bikes into the orchard to lock them up safely.

If you are driving, there are 8 parking spots located at the end of stancil lane, 1 of which will be reserved as accessible for the duration of the workshop. Please be mindful of our neighbours and do not park in the large driveway on the south side of the street. Additional parking can be found along the street on High St and Eaton Ave.

About the Instructor

Rebecca Jehn farmed in the Greater Victoria area for over 35 years, growing produce, seeds and bedding plants for sale at the Moss Street Market, as well as making and selling preserves from her produce. She began saving seeds when she noticed some of her favorite varieties were disappearing from the seed catalogs and she didn’t want to lose the ability to grow those varieties which often tasted better and were usually hardier.She only grew open pollinated seeds most of them heirloom varieties. Her main focus has been to share her knowledge, teaching workshops and seminars on growing, harvesting and preserving techniques as well as mentoring potential young farmers on the business and marketing aspects of farming. When she began saving seed it was mostly for farm use and friends but soon realized that seeds grown locally become adapted to localconditions, producing better than others so she decided to share her seed with the local population and shortly after Rebecca’s Garden Seeds was born. Now after more than 35 years of farming Rebecca has retired but still wants to share her experience and knowledge with other farmers and backyard gardeners. Helping with food security and preserving our seed knowledge for future generations.

How to Register for this Event

This workshop is in person only. Please dress appropriately for all types of weather, as the workshop will be hosted outside in the orchard.

This workshop is available on a sliding scale basis. Please pay in alignment with your financial privilege to help us continue to offer tickets in this way, and support those in your community with less financial privilege to attend our workshops. There are also a limited number of by donation tickets available for this workshop, these tickets are prioritized for folks who are low income and would otherwise be unable to attend. If the ticket cost is a barrier for you, please utilize these tickets.

LifeCycles Project Society is always working to learn more about, and breakdown, barriers that may exist in accessing our programming. We understand providing sliding scale tickets is by no means an exhaustive look at systems of oppression that exist for people. We welcome your ideas and feedback as we work to continue learning.

Please contact us if you are no longer able to attend but hold a ticket so we can make your space available to someone else and work to process your refund.

You can also register for the event by calling our office at 250 383-5800 or via email by contacting welland@lifecyclesproject.ca

Accessibility

Access from the parking area off Stancil Lane is through a latching unlocked gate. There is a gravel/dirt path sloping downward from the gate that leads to a wide flat grassy area with picnic table seating. If you are coming from the Galloping Goose entrance, which also has a latching unlocked gate, you will find a gravel/dirt path that slopes upward to the wide flat seating area. The steepness of the path varies throughout the Orchard and is steepest at the top of the Orchard closer to the Stancil Lane entrance, and at the bottom between the Galloping Goose trail and the Orchard entrance. The pathway from the Galloping Goose to the entrance to the Orchard has several sharp turns.

The Orchard has a single-stall gender-neutral composting toilet facility on site with ramp access and transfer bars which will be open during the workshop. The composting toilet is located below the flat area and toward the Galloping Goose entrance. Hand sanitizer is available inside the toilet.

The workshop will be held outside rain or shine, please dress appropriately for the weather. The seating provided is picnic benches. Please feel free to bring a cushion or your own folding chair, a limited number of cushions are available at the orchard.

There is access to potable water on site. Please bring your own water bottle.

Photo Credit Que Banh