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This minisode is a conversation with Rebecca Newburn of the Seed Library Network. We talk about seed libraries: what they are, how they work, and how anyone (yes, anyone) can start one. And we talk about the Seed Library Conference on February 14th, focused on helping people get started with seed libraries in their own communities.  Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links   The Seed Library Network's website The Seed Library Network on substack The Seed Library Network on instagram     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!  

Shannon Jones runs Broadfork Farm with Bryan Dyck in River Hebert, Nova Scotia. They grow vegetables and cut flowers for market. I've been trying to get Shannon on the podcast since the beginning of the pod because Broadfork is a great example of how a market farm can integrate seed production into their vegetable and flower fields. And we finally found a time that worked for us to have a conversation. In this episode, Shannon shares how she and Bryan choose the seed crops they grow and how they manage seed harvest through the season, and clean seeds in the off season. She also explains about how they sell some of their own seeds during their spring seedling sales. In the deep dive, we explore growing Salad Turnips for seed. We start with why Shannon was looking for a Hakurei turnip alternative, then get into trialing different OP salad turnips to figure out which variety to work with, and finally cover planting, harvest, and cleaning. We also talk about Bupleurum and Onions for seed.   Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast   Episode links Broadfork's website Broadfork Farm on instagram Freed Seed workshop: Botany of Seed Formation    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!  

Episode 50 of the Seed Farmer Podcast!!!! Wow!   Let's do something a bit different to pause and mark the occasion.   In this episode, I'm joined by my podcast producer, Molly Brisebois, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about how the podcast gets made, how it's changed over time, and what we've learned along the way.    We talk about how sharing seed stories and talking about seed work brings hope when it is so easy to feel hopelessness these days.    And we talk about the intimacy and the feeling of being "in the room" when listening to podcasts.   We wrap up the conversation with how Molly would approach being a seed farmer.   For those with a keen eye (or ear) for detail, you may have noticed Molly and I share the same last name. Molly happens to be my sister.   Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     News links My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.   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!  

Chris Belnap is the owner of Cambridge Pacific, based in Cambridge, NY. Their tagline is The Folks Who Make The Packets, and that's exactly what they do: printing seed packs for a wide range of seed companies.   In this episode, Chris shares the history of Cambridge Pacific and walks us through how seed packs actually get printed. We dig into what you should think about when designing your own seed packs. And we explore the Packet Maker magazine, their annual publication that documents Chris's travels to meet the companies that use their packs.   In the deep dive, we talk about dragons and how they have become a signature of Cambridge Pacific.   Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links   Cambridge Pacific website News Links My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.     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 crop planning time!   I'm sharing the spreadsheet system I've been evolving on farms for over 20 years. These sheets start with your financial goals and work backwards through your sales plan to your field plan. You end up with field schedules, nursery schedules, and a seed order.    Crop planning can feel overwhelming, but when it's done right, it brings clarity, confidence, and less stress to your growing season. And ultimately, when you grow the right amount of crop for your sales channels without extra work, you're on the road to a more profitable farm.   In this episode, you'll hear about two sets of spreadsheets: 🌱 The Basic Farmer Spreadsheet Academy Crop Plan templates. 📊 The Full Crop Plan & Harvest Management Framework that are part of my Farm Spreadsheets for All Seasons course.   You can use these spreadsheets to plan your market garden, your cut flower production, or even your seed crops.  I'll share how these systems work, why pivot tables are a game-changer, and how you can use spreadsheets to plan, track, and grow smarter this season.   It's time to figure out what to grow next season. Enjoy the minisode!       Episode links   Pivot table tutorial   Basic Farmer Spreadsheet Academy Crop Plan Templates   My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.   News Links Find our more about Permastead:https://github.com/curvedspace/Permastead   Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     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!  

I invited Janisse Ray for this New Year's Eve episode because I wanted to start the year grounded in the idea of place, rooted in connection, and inspired in your seed work.   Janisse is a writer, naturalist, and farmer based in south Georgia.She is the author of The Seed Underground and Journey in Place, and writes the Substack Trackless Wild.   In this episode, Janisse and I talk about how you learn to be in place and the concept of place-keeping. We explore how this works its way into seed work and foodways. We also dive into the tension between trying to save every seed and focusing on growing a few crops.   In the deep dive, we talk about growing okra for seed.   I invited Janisse for this New Year's Eve episode because I wanted us to start the year grounded in the idea of place, rooted in connection, and inspire you in your seed work. Enjoy the conversation and happy new year! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     Episode links Janisse Ray website  Janisse Ray on substack  Janisse Ray on instagram The latest issue of Crop Stories from Utopian Seed Project features an article from Janisse Ray. News Links   My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.   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!  

As we wrap up this year, I want to do something a little bit different. At the end of every Seed Farmer conversations I ask my guests two questions   1- What would you tell your younger seed-growing self? 2- What would you say to market growers & gardeners to inspire them to start growing seed?   The answers I get are really wonderful and I often think about them afterwards.   I've decided to take the answers from episodes 1-10 and put them together to share with you.   In this episode we hear words of advice from … • Frank Morton of WIld Garden Seeds • Adrianna and Joelene of Empowered Flowers • Marie-Claude Comeau of Semences St-Laurent • Kristyn Leach of Second Generation Seeds • Annie and Nathaniel of Deep Harvest Farm • Helen Skiba of Artemis Flower Farm • Liz and Matthew of Muddy Fingers Farm • Robin Tunnicliffe of Sea Bluff Farm • Chris & Owen of Truelove Seeds • Rowen White of Sierra Seeds Enjoy the episode! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast         Episode links Holiday Special - My Harvest System Design is 50% off!   My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.   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!  

So I've been quietly working on something since April. It hasn't exactly been a secret, but it has mostly stayed under wraps. In this episode, it's finally time to share that project.   The big news: I've co-written a book with Julia Shanks of The Farmer's Office, and we've just submitted the manuscript to the publisher.   In this episode, Julia and I talk about how this collaboration began, why we wanted to work together, and what each of us brought to the book. We also share what we're most excited for you to read, and how this book connects farm production, business planning, and quality of life into one practical framework.   And yes, the project finally has a name. The book is called The Profitable Farmer: Strategic Farm Business Planning for Profit, Purpose, and Quality of Life. It will be released in September 2026, so consider this your early heads-up to mark your calendar.   Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     Episode links The Farmer's Office website The Farmer's Office on instagram   Come to the Free Organic Seed Community Virtual Open House  Date: Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 Time: 7 – 8:30 PM Eastern   Watch the Growing for Seed and Produce recording of the webinar I gave last summer.   Holiday Special - My Harvest System Design is 50% off!   My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.   Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram Get my weekly seed newsletter Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)   Get my book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

Alexis Yamashita is a community organizer, seed grower, and PhD student in Food Systems at the University of Vermont. Alexis has also been deeply involved with seed-based cooperatives. She helped found and served as co-director of Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, she co-managed the seed racks division of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and she lived  in the egalitarian intentional community Twin Oaks.    In this episode, Alexis shares how her background - from cooperative seed work and community living to academic research - shapes her vision for seed systems rooted in culture, equity, and collaboration. We explore the motivations behind her current work and how she bridges grassroots organizing with institutional research.   In the deep dive, Alexis gets into growing mung beans and adzuki beans for seed. From growing to harvest to cleaning.   Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast     Episode links   Alexis at UVM Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance     Come to the Free Organic Seed Community Virtual Open House  Date: Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 Time: 7 – 8:30 PM Eastern Watch the Growing for Seed and Produce recording of the webinar I gave last summer.   Holiday Special - My Harvest System Design is 50% off! 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!

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!