The Seed Farmer Podcast

Fred Thériault is a farmer and founding member of Tourne-Sol co-operative farm in Les Cèdres, Quebec, where they grow vegetables for 500 weekly CSA baskets and an acre of seed crops. I say "they" but I should guess I mean "we" because I farm with Fred at Tourne-Sol and we've been great friends for the last 25 years and have done all kinds of things together. Such as - Fred and I also co-authored the book Crop Planning for Organic Vegetable Growers.   In this episode, we talk seeds, but I also brought Fred on to explore what it's really like to be part of a co-op. We dive into the challenges and rewards of shared decision-making, balancing individual and collective goals, and building a farm culture where collaboration supports both production and innovation. Fred shares practical insights on how cooperative structures can help farmers thrive while maintaining flexibility and creativity on the farm..   In the deep dive, we focus on on-farm tomato breeding. Fred explains how he selected the Ruby-Sol tomato from a red hybrid, honing in on earliness, yield, and flavor. We explore the trade-offs between production efficiency and experimentation, and the lessons he's learned from years of tomato selection.   I hope you enjoy this conversation. Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links Fred's Farm Co-Op Academy Watch Fred's  Free webinar: Start Your Agricultural Co‑op 101 Tourne-Sol farm's website  Tourne-Sol on instagram       The The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations     Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Here's a peek inside the Seed Farmer Mentorship—a guided learning experience I've created to help growers build the skills, systems, and confidence to produce high-quality seed on their farms. This winter, I'll be hosting the mentorship for the second time, and I'm excited to guide a new group of growers through hands-on learning, practical tools, and a season of intentional seed projects.   In this episode, you'll learn: • Who the Seed Farmer Mentorship is for - both new and experienced seed growers • How the mentorship combines pre-recorded videos with interactive live sessions • What past participants have gained from the program, including skills, confidence, and inspiration • The value of learning alongside a community of seed growers and sharing experiences • How this mentorship can help you take your seed projects to the next level   Here are the 7 modules we cover in the mentorship: 1 - Seed Basics & Choose Your Seed Crops 2 - Recording Keeping For Seed Harvest & Cleaning  3 - Germination Tests, Seed Storage & Inventory Management 4 - Crop Planning & Growing Seeds On A Market Garden 5 - Plant Selection & On Farm Plant Breeding 6 - Sharing & Selling Seeds 7 - Seed Harvest & Cleaning Techniques Registration for the winter cohort is now open. If you've ever wanted to grow seed more intentionally and connect with other growers, this is your chance to get started.   Find out more and register the Seed Farmer Mentorship here.   Enjoy the episode! Episode links Support the Utopian Seed Project for matching funds   Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

David Catzel is the BC Seed Security Program Manager at FarmFolk City Folk, the Regional Program Coordinator for the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, and serves on the board of the BC EcoSeed Co‑op. He also grows seed at Fraser Common Farm Co‑op.   In this episode, David shares his experience supporting growers, organizing cooperatives, and stewarding seed networks. We talk about on‑farm plant breeding, including his efforts to select an open‑pollinated white peacock kale.   In the deep dive, David and I get into the nitty-gritty of growing sea kale (Crambe maritima), covering its tricky germination, perennial habits, and seed production. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links BC Seeds Gatherings https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/bc-seed-security-program/bc-seed-gathering/   Farm Folk City Folk https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/bc-seed-security-program/ https://www.instagram.com/farmfolkcityfolk/   BC Seed Suppliers https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/find-seeds/bc-seed-suppliers/ The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security https://www.seedsecurity.ca/en/ News Links   The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations!     Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

You've reviewed your field records, gathered feedback from your team, looked at your sales channels, and even listened to your customers. Now it's time to bring it all together.   This is the final episode of the 2025 Season Review Challenge! Let's pull together everything you've learned and turn it into a clear picture of your season.   I'll also share a few examples from Tourne-Sol - including my frustration with cleaning Tithonia seeds and how amazing melons can be when everything goes right.   In this episode, we'll cover: •  Summarizing insights from all your seed reviews •  Celebrating your seed successes •  Learning from your seed challenges •  Identifying your biggest bottleneck in seed work •  Getting better with tool solutions, system solutions, and planning solutions •  Why saying "no" to one thing means saying "yes" to something better   Enjoy the episode — and congrats on completing the Season Review Challenge! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links   The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations! Find our more about Organic Seed Alliance: Regional Seed Summits   Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Matt Bell has worked at Johnny's Selected Seeds in Albion, Maine, since 2018. He is currently a trial technician focusing on cucurbits, but today's conversation dives into some of his previous work with brassicas.   Matt comes from a family with a long history of seed saving and continues that tradition by growing seed at home outside of his work at Johnny's. He also grows vegetables for his partner's café, Café Grazie, in Rockland, Maine.   In this episode, Matt shares how he approaches seed production with intentional goals, five-year selection plans, and the value of diversity over uniformity. We dive deep into overwintering brassicas — from digging and potting plants, pruning, and greenhouse setup, to managing cold-hardiness, rodent and aphid pressures, and drip irrigation. Enjoy the conversation! The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations!   Episode links Johnny's website   Cafe Grazie instagram Cafe Grazie website   Register for the Free 2025 Midwest Organic Seed Summit     Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

This week we're turning our attention to your customers. The people who actually buy your seeds. Whether you sell seed packs through your online store, seed racks in retail shops, or bulk seed on contract to other companies, this is the perfect time to connect, listen, and learn.   This minisode is part 4 of the 2025 Season Review Challenge, where I want to make sure you take the time to learn from this season so you can plan an even better next season.   In this episode, we'll get into … • Why customer feedback is the heart of a thriving seed business • How to survey or interview your customers effectively • When to use personal calls instead of online forms   We also talk about Chufa nuts in the intro. Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links   Registrations for The Seed Farmer Mentorship open on Nov 6 The BC Seed Gathering is on Nov 28 Watch Last year's Season Review Challenge Videos      Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

It's time to review your seed sales channels to see what's working and what isn't.    Whether you're selling seed packs through your own company or bulk seed to other seed companies, there are a few metrics that will help you plan for next season.   This minisode is part 3 of the 2025 Season Review Challenge, where I want to make sure you take the time to learn from this season so you can build an even better seed business next year.   In this episode, we'll get into … • How to top and bottom-selling varieties • The seed cost per pack for different crops • The potential sales per growing space for different crops • Considering non economic reasons why you choose certain varieties • Get ready to plan next season   Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links   The Seed Farmer Mentorship registration starts November 6 Behind the Packet: Open-Pollinated Seeds in Focus on October 28 Watch my Pivot Table tutorial Watch Last year's Season Review Challenge Videos      Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Gather the crew - it's time for a season review!   This week on the Season Review Challenge, we're talking about doing a team season review. That means gathering everyone who worked alongside you this year, and looking back together on how the season went - not just from your perspective, but from theirs.   Taking time for a team review might feel risky during fall harvests and cleanup, but it's one of the best investments you can make for your systems, your sanity, and your staff retention. When people feel heard and see their feedback shape next season's plan, they're a lot more likely to stick around and keep growing with you.   This minisode is part 2 of the 2025 Season Review Challenge, where I want to make sure you take the time to learn from this season so you can plan an even better next season.   In this episode, we'll get into: • How to structure a team season review • Questions to ask that draw out useful insights • How to use surveys to gather input efficiently • Why sharing everyone's responses matters • How this feedback can directly improve your seed systems   So, before you dive into winter planning, take an hour to harvest your team's experience. The seeds of next season's improvements are already there. You just have to ask for them.   Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links The Seed Farmer Mentorship is coming back soon. Breeding tomatoes on a farm: practical selection advice. Article in Growing For Market Watch Last year's Season Review Challenge Videos        Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

You might be busy harvesting carrots, planting garlic, and wrapping up the season - but this is also the perfect time to pause and look back at your growing season.   Before all the details of the season fade away, take a moment to review what you actually planted, what you harvested, and how it all turned out. Completing your field records now, while the season is still fresh in your mind, will make your future planning so much easier.   This minisode is part 1 of the 2025 Season Review Challenge, where I want to make sure you take the time to learn from this season so you can plan an even better next season.   In this episode, we'll get into …  • Why to do a season review while you're still busy in the field  • What planting and harvest records matter most for seed growers  • How to complete your records if they have a few holes  • How to figure out your own seed yields  • Why your own numbers are more valuable than any reference book (Though the Seed Farmer book is still a pretty good reference!)   Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links   The Seed Farmer Mentorship is coming back soon. Help Shape the 12th Seed Library Summit Watch Last year's Season Review Challenge Videos      Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

All those roots you're harvesting for fall storage aren't just good for eating or selling at market. They are also the first stage of a biennial seed crop!   If you've planted carrots, beets, turnips, onions, or winter radishes this season, you can choose the best roots now to grow a seed crop next year.   This is another Seedy September minisode to realise that there is seed growing in your garden right now and all you have to do is go and harvest it.   Actually - this might actually be an October minisode.   In this episode, we'll get into …  • How to choose the best roots to overwinter for seed  • How to store and handle biennial roots through winter  • Tips for starting biennials and breaking dormancy in the spring  • Keeping genetic diversity and avoiding accidental crosses  • How many plants do you need and how much seed can you get   Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast   Seed News links Canadian Farmers! Sign the petition to protect your right to save certain protected seed varieties on your farm. https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6778     Stay in Touch   Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Your bean plants might be winding down but that doesn't mean there isn't one last harvest in them.   If you've been picking bush beans or pole beans all summer, chances are a few pods got missed. By now, those pods are starting to mature—and even if you didn't plan to grow beans for seed - those missed pods mean that you still have a chance to harvest some bean seed!   This is another Seedy September minisode to realise that there is seed growing in your garden right now and all you have to do is go and harvest it.    In this episode, we'll get into …    • Whether to pick individual pods or whole plants  • How green you can pick a pod and still get good seed  • Easy threshing and cleaning methods  • How likely beans are to cross pollinate  • The joys of better germination   Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast   Seed News links Pre-Order Crop Stories from Utopian Seed Project Read the Organic Task Force report   Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Head to your squash patch and grab a fruit or two — because inside, you've got a pile of seed waiting for you!   Another Seedy September Minisode about what seed you can harvest from your fields right now.   Now, squash is a bit different from peppers or flowers. Most of the time, I wouldn't tell you to start your seed journey with squash. But if you've only got one variety of a squash species in your garden — especially a butternut or another Cucurbita moschata — then squash seed might be the perfect seed crop.   In this episode, we'll get into …  • The four main species of squash and how they cross (or don't)  • Why Cucurbita pepo squash (like zucchini, pie pumpkins, and delicata) are tricky seed crops  • Why  Cucurbita moschata squash (like butternut) is the easiest starting point  • How to harvest and clean squash seed right in your kitchen  • The challenge of mystery squash   Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Head out to your flower beds and look for those blooms that have dried up and turned brown! This is another Seedy September minisode to realise that here is seed growing in your garden right now and all you have to do is go and harvest it.  This episode is about all the opportunities in your cut flower garden. In this episode, we'll get into … • How to spot when flower seeds are ready to harvest • Simple ways to collect and store dried blooms for later cleaning • Why cross-pollination in flowers is something to embrace, not fear • Which flowers are the easiest to get seed from • Tips for cleaning seed and how clean does you seed really need to be   Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Head out to your fields and pick some peppers then cut them open and take out the seeds!    That's what I"m hoping you do as soon as this episode ends - or better yet, that is what I hope you do while you're listening to this episode.   My goal with this podcast is to get more farmers to grow their own seeds. And September is the perfect time to do that. So this month I'm talking all about the crops that are just waiting there in your garden waiting for you to harvest their seeds whether you planned to or not.   And peppers are the first crop I want you to go pick.   In this episode, we'll get into … • How likely peppers are to cross pollinate • What to worry about when growing sweet and hot peppers side by side • How easy it is to harvest and extract pepper seeds • The difference between growing pepper seeds for yourself and for sale   Enjoy the episode!   Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/     ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Adam Alexander is a film maker, writer, and gardener based in Wales. Adam is also the author of the upcoming book Accidental Seed Heroes: Growing A Delicious Food Future for All of Us. A chance meeting with a delicious pepper in a Ukrainian market in 1989 kicked off his career as a Seed Detective tracking down rare, endangered, culturally important and above all, delicious vegetables from around the world. In this episode, Adam and I talk about how accidental plant breeding has shaped agriculture for millennia and about the seed heroes who are doing that work these days. We talk about what this looks like for a number of crops including grains, eggplants and peas. And we wrap up talking about how Adam grows peas for seed in his own garden and why growing seed locally matters for genetic diversity and food security.  I hope you enjoy this conversation Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast Links for this episode   Visit the Seed Detective website & follow on Instagram.   You can also preorder The Accidental Seed Heroes       Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Sebastian Aguilar runs Summertime Seed with his wife Kelly Gelino in Dayton, Oregon. This year they're growing 190 varieties on 16 acres.   In this episode, Sebastian shares how they transitioned from vegetable farming to seed production, the challenges and benefits of mechanizing seed cleaning and harvesting, and how they recently launched their own retail seed company.   In the deep dive, Sebastian and I talk about growing onions for seed. We get into growing the bulbs, trellising the bolting plants, and when exactly to cut the seed heads, In addition to all the nitty gritty in between steps. I hope you enjoy this conversation Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast Links for this episode   Visit the Summertime Seed Co.website & follow on Instagram.     Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Chris Smith is the founder of the Utopian Seed Project, a hands in the earth non-profit based in Asheville, North Carolina. Chris is also the author of the book the Whole Okra: A Seed To Stem Celebration Chris grew up in the UK and moved to the U.S. in 2012 with no formal background in farming, But that all changed when he received an okra pod and a gift card to a local seed company as wedding shower gifts In this episode, Chris shares his journey to become a seed grower and advocate. We talk about his time at Sow True Seed, where he began his deep dive into seed systems and community engagement. This led to launching the Utopian Seed Project to develop a seed system rooted in the Southeast U.S. And later the Appalachian Growers Seed Collective, a farmer-led network focused on growing, adapting, sharing, and selling seeds that know the South   Chris and I talk about the importance of meaningful relationships with seed over time rather than simple rigid preservation, climate resilient crops like taro and chayote, and then we talk a lot about growing okra for seed. I hope you enjoy this conversation Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast Links for this episode   Visit the Utopian Seed Project website & follow on Instagram.   Find Utopian Seed Project on Patreon.       Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!  

Patrice is the owner of La Société des Plantes, a farm based seed company in Kamouraska, Quebec.   On his website, Patrice describes La Société des plantes as "une agence de rencontres entre les plantes et les jardiniers" which roughly translates to "a Dating Service for Plants and Gardeners."    In this episode Patrice shares his journey from city boy to seed farmer, and how being an artist inspired his approach to farming and growing seed.   Patrice and I talk about how he's rooted his business into a rural community with deep historical roots, his philosophy on growing with nature's rhythms, and whether you can really trust the seed longevity charts you find in reference documents.   We finish with growing biennials for seeds. Patrice talks about overwintering lettuce in the field in our Quebec winters, which really impresses me. And then he does a deep dive on growing carrots for seed.   Please note that the episode was recorded in February - there are a few seasonal references where this matters in the conversation. I hope you enjoy this conversation Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast Links for this episode • Visit La Société des Plantes website & follow on Instagram. • Watch the trailer for the Sower   Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram   Get my weekly seed newsletter   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

Jared Zystro is a research and education director at the Organic Seed Alliance. Jared is based in Arcada, California. I invited Jared onto this episode so he can tell you about the Organic Seed Growers Conference in Corvallis, Oregon that is taking place from February 26th to March 1st, 2025. I first went to this conference in 2008 and it was the single most important learning experience to my seed career. I also made so many great friends and contacts that have followed me throughout all my CD endeavors. And I think that you would probably enjoy an experience like this also. So in this episode, Jared and I talk about what is happening at this year's conference and how you can participate not only in person, but also virtually if you can't make it to Corvallis. Jared and I talk about more than just the conference in this episode. We start with Jared's seed story and how it went from working summers on vegetable farms to ultimately getting a PhD in plant breeding and plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin Madison. And we finished with a deep dive into growing quinoa on both a larger commercial scale using a combine and a smaller scale with manual techniques. Free, Crop Planning for Seed Farmers minicourse: www.spreadsheet.farm/seedcropplan Follow Dan on Instagram, get his newsletter, & follow Tourne-Sol Cooperative Farm ORDER Dan's new book, The Seed Farmer, from notillgrowers.com to further support our work! Folks who support The Seed Farmer Podcast The goal of the Culinary Breeding Network is to improve communication between plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, produce buyers and others to improve quality in vegetables, fruits and grains. Learn more and check out upcoming events! Are you a farmer looking for educational resources in Canada? Check out Young Agrarians! They are a farmer-to-farmer educational resource network for new and young ecological, organic, and regenerative farmers. This February, join thousands of farmers like you from across the U.S. for three days of community building and farmer-led learning at the 36th annual Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Truelove Seeds is a farm-based seed company offering culturally important and open pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Check out their podcast, Seeds & Their People, wherever you're listening to The Seed Farmer Podcast!

Léa and Ferdinand are two of the twenty-two members of Buzuruna Juzuruna, a 2 ha seed farm and school farm in Lebanon. In this episode, Léa and Ferdinand define the terms "peasant seeds" and "balady seeds" and the challenges of finding local seeds in Lebanon. They also discuss the role of international seed banks in preserving seeds and the importance of reclaiming these seeds and bringing them back to where they originated. Ferdinand describes the seed house at Buzuruna Juzuruna and how they control temperature and humidity. Léa explains how the seeds and crops they grow are distributed. In the deep dive, we talk about growing cucumbers for seed and how you shouldn't assume every cucumber is a cucumber. Léa and Ferdinand also discuss how they work with ancient wheat varieties. Free, Crop Planning for Seed Farmers minicourse: www.spreadsheet.farm/seedcropplan Follow Dan on Instagram, get his newsletter, & follow Tourne-Sol Cooperative Farm ORDER Dan's new book, The Seed Farmer, from notillgrowers.com to further support our work! Folks who support The Seed Farmer Podcast The goal of the Culinary Breeding Network is to improve communication between plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, produce buyers and others to improve quality in vegetables, fruits and grains. Learn more and check out upcoming events! Are you a farmer looking for educational resources in Canada? Check out Young Agrarians! They are a farmer-to-farmer educational resource network for new and young ecological, organic, and regenerative farmers. This February, join thousands of farmers like you from across the U.S. for three days of community building and farmer-led learning at the 36th annual Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Truelove Seeds is a farm-based seed company offering culturally important and open pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Check out their podcast, Seeds & Their People, wherever you're listening to The Seed Farmer Podcast!