Want to level-up your seed skills? Or, are you interested in supporting future seed growers? Sign up to be a Prairie Seed Mentee or Mentor!
Vegetable seed crop cultivation is challenging and it can be difficult to access all the information you need during one-off field days or webinars. This program is designed to provide real time, flexible learning support from one farmer to another, all season. This can be done through 1-on-1 phone calls, emails, and farm visits.
The mentorship begins in mid-May and continues 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, or are looking to get into this vocation. Open to growers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Mentee Roles and Responsibilities
- Have established farming/market gardening experience and an earnest interest in learning to grow good seed.
- Be set up to grow seed on their own farm/land in 2024 (this program does not offer hosted internships)
- Participate in 20-25 hours of mentorship over the course of the 2024 season
- Work with their mentor to establish learning goals and communication strategies.
- Complete basic “outcomes” including: sending 5 great photos and a brief written evaluation to the Program Coordinator
- Participate in a mid-season and end of season check-in with the program coordinator
- Write a short, 500 word reflection about your experience in the mentorship program. This will contribute to story-telling and reporting, which is an important part of securing funding for future programs
- Share a few photos that will be used in promos (Prairie Pod Newsletter, Organic Alberta website and social media, SeedChange website and social media) and in communicating with funders
Mentor Roles and Responsibilities
- Have a minimum of 5 years seed growing 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.
- Work with mentees to establish learning goals and communication strategies.
- Complete (minimal) admin, including invoicing, time-keeping, and an end-of-season evaluation
- Participate in a mid-season and end of season check in with the program coordinator
- Write a short, 500 word reflection about your experience in the mentorship program and share a few photos that will be used for reporting and story-telling
- Mentors will be asked to report on/recall some information from their time keeping sheets
As a mentee and mentor, you will also be able to participate in a Seed Mentorship Farm Club with seed mentors and mentees from across Canada! This is a great opportunity to connect with other seed growers, share advice and tips, and go in-depth on seed agronomy or business topics.
Deadline to apply is April 15, 2024.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sarah at sarah.preston@organicalberta.org