We Launched Our Seed Mentorship Program

Posted on Thursday, 16 June 2022 under Stories

In May, our Seed Team launched the 2022 Seed Mentorship Program for six mentorship pairs across BC. Through the program, experienced seed saver mentors will share their knowledge with newer seed growers over the next six months of the growing season.

We are excited to introduce one of the mentorship pairs, Marsha Goldberg and Sarah Cordes on Salt Spring Island. Goldberg has been seed saving since 1993 and manages Eagleridge Seeds, a living seed bank that grows, stores, and shares endangered seeds. As part of our Seed Mentorship Program, Goldberg will mentor Cordes throughout this growing season.

Sarah Cordes (Left) and Marsha Goldberg (Right)

Cordes is the coordinator of The Cedars, a place run by Islanders Working Against Violence where women and children come to live and regain their strength and independence after experiencing abuse. The Cedars has an onsite farm and is beginning a social enterprise seed saving project where women and children are encouraged to actively participate in the process of growing and saving seeds. The seed saving social enterprise also benefits the larger community by promoting local food and seed security.

Sarah is moving forward with confidence, which is exactly my aim. For me, it is all about empowering women to grow food and save seeds. Growing in community, producing fabulous vegetables, and then you get seeds, a total win,” Goldberg shared after her first mentorship meeting with Cordes.

We are grateful for funding from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Vancouver Foundation for facilitating these important relationships.