Prairie Seed Growers Mentorship Program
Looking for a guide to help you expand your seed production skills? Or maybe you’re already an established seed grower and you’d like to support and encourage the next generation of seed growers? The Prairie Seed Growers Mentorship Program exists to help you make those connections!
Horticultural seed crop cultivation is complex and often very specific to your place and the plants you work with, so it can be difficult to find the answers to your questions in the usual educational resources. This program invests in the community of seed stewards here on the Prairies by providing real time, flexible 1-on-1 learning support throughout the growing season, directly from one farmer to another. Mentorships typically focus on seed production, but can also include things like: business aspects of running a seed company, selection and on-farm plant breeding, and more!
Mentorships begin in mid-May and continue until the end of the season in November. The goal of this program is to grow resilient seed systems and increase capacity and quality of regional seed production by supporting folks who grow seed at a farm or business scale. Open to growers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
What’s Expected of Mentees
- Have established farming/market gardening experience and an earnest interest in learning to grow good seed
- Have access to land and be set up to grow seed this year (this program does not offer hosted internships)
- Participate in 20-25 hours of mentorship over the course of the current growing season
- Work with your mentor to establish learning goals and communication strategies
- Write a one or two paragraph reflection about your experience in the mentorship program and capture a few photos to share with the program coordinator
- Participate in a mid-season and end of season check-in with the program coordinator
What’s Expected of Mentors
- Have a minimum of 5 years of seed production experience and an earnest interest in supporting fellow seed growers
- Contribute 20-25 hours of mentorship time. Mentors will be financially compensated up to $750 for their time over the season
- Work with your mentee/s to establish learning goals and communication strategies
- Complete minimal admin, including: invoicing, track and submit a record of mentorship hours, and an end-of-season evaluation
- Write a one or two paragraph reflection about your experience in the mentorship program and capture a few photos to share with the program coordinator
- Participate in a mid-season and end of season check in with the program coordinator
As a mentee or mentor, you will also be able to participate in the online Seed Mentorship Farm Clubs with seed mentors and mentees from across Canada. This is a great opportunity to meet other seed growers and pick their brains on all kinds of seed production topics!
If you would like more information, please contact the program coordinator, Sarah Preston, at sarah.preston@organicalberta.org.