Hayati
Seedkeeping Programs
Today, a handful of corporations control the majority of the seed that we rely on to produce food. To these companies, the cultural significance of seed does not matter; what matters is the profit that can be derived from it. Heritage crops such as the Andean popping bean and the Mexican yellow bean are being co-opted and commodified by these companies.
We must take the practice of seedkeeping back into our own hands to protect our future and the future of the foods we eat.
What is seedkeeping, and what does it take to do it? Seedkeeping is the practice of lovingly and carefully growing a crop for seed and saving it, to preserve important qualities of the crop, its cultural functions, and its genetic diversity. And you don’t need a whole farm. With enough space and light, it’s actually very doable on a backyard scale as well. Most home gardeners are just a few steps away from preserving seed lineages through seedkeeping, and this program provides support for those who want to practice it.
Here’s how to get involved
Programs for 2025
This 6-month long course will teach you how to grow a crop and save seeds from it. It will guide you through skill-building exercises in gardening (including seed starting and plant care), nature observation (a very important skill to build for seed saving), and seed processing techniques. It is intended to teach beginning gardeners about the practice of seed keeping through monthly lessons and a guided growing journey from March through August of 2025. Seeds and other materials will be provided in the mail.
Seedkeeping Course
Access to at least 10 sqft of outdoor growing space that gets 6+hrs of sun per day in the Summer.
A way of irrigating the plants. A hose that reaches the growing space is fine.
Time to garden and take care of the plants every day/week/month. Also some time and internet access every month to fill out worksheets. We aren’t gardening in the same space, but we are gardening together. So you’ll need to keep up with your garden and the monthly online tasks.
To sign up for an online secure messenger to access a group chat with other growers.
A camera (phone camera works) to document the plants.
An address for me to mail seeds and supplies to you.
If you plan on traveling any time from March-August, someone to water your plants for you.
** This program is available to those living in the continental USA due to restrictions for shipping seeds internationally and to HI/AK.
This course is available for purchase until March 31, 2025
You’ll need:
In this course, you will get heritage seeds and materials to grow them, monthly instructional coursework to guide your growing journey, and access to other students and Farmer Sama to ask questions and deepen your learning.
In this course, you will get heritage seeds and materials to grow them, monthly instructional coursework to guide your growing journey, and access to other students and Farmer Sama to ask questions and deepen your learning.
In this course, you will get heritage seeds and materials to grow them, monthly instructional coursework to guide your growing journey, and access to other students and Farmer Sama to ask questions and deepen your learning.
Self-led Seedkeping Project
This is an application-based, free mentorship program for experienced gardeners who are looking to expand their skills into seedkeeping. Members will design their own seedkeeping program for the summer of 2025. Access to monthly resources on the process of seed saving, as well as other members of the cohort.
A heritage seed variety you want to steward. Ideally enough seed to produce at least 20 plants.
Minimum growing space for 20-30+ plants, amount of space determined by the variety you are growing. Minimum isolation distance from other plants of the same species
A way of irrigating the plants. A hose that reaches the growing space is fine.
Time to garden and take care of the plants every day/week/month. Also some time and internet access every month to correspond and fill out worksheets.
To sign up for an online secure messenger to access a group chat with other growers.
A camera (phone camera works) to document the plants.
If you plan on traveling any time from March-August, someone to water your plants for you.
This application is open until March 15th, 2025
For more details, and to apply to this program, check out the link below.
You’ll need:
Before we found farmland, I grew sabzi in other people’s backyards in my neighborhood for a couple of seasons. I got a few seed crops out of it, too! It’s definitely doable, if you have enough space and light. Or maybe like me, you could find someone else’s backyard to use! Here’s a picture of my first Reyhan crop, grown in a backyard in Berkeley, CA. <3
A note from Farmer Sama on Reyhan Herb Farm’s origins:
