The BC Seed Gathering

Our BC Seed Gathering connects over 100 seed growers, advocates, and community organizers from across BC to build and align a strong provincial seed sector. Biennial seed-gathering events increase the availability, supply, quality, and diversity of locally produced seeds by providing learning and engagement opportunities. We collaborate with stakeholders to build momentum from these gatherings for a broader impact on BC’s sustainable seed sector. The BC Seed Gathering’s diverse session content facilitates meaningful dialogue and opportunities for participants to connect more deeply. There are no other seed-specific events like this around.

The biennial BC Seed Gathering is a place for farmers, gardeners, students, and seed community activists to come together to learn and share ideas on a range of issues related to seed security.  Workshops cover topics such as seed saving, community organizing, variety trials, breeding and seed ownership.  These workshops are geared toward improving communication and seed-saving skills and serve as a place to share knowledge about how seed security is integral to food security.

Who is the BC Seed Gathering for?

Everyone is welcome at the BC Seed Gathering! The gathering is a place for farmers, gardeners, students, researchers, seed librarians, and community activists to come together. Whether you have been involved in the seed sector for decades, or are brand new to seed saving, there is a place for you at the gathering.

The Seed Gathering Experience

LEARN: Participate in sessions covering a wide range of topics led by experts who work throughout the seed sector. The gathering provides a place to ask questions, share knowledge, and learn from each other.

CONNECT: We are placing an emphasis on providing opportunities to connect, leaving space to have unscheduled, impromptu conversations, and facilitating relationship-building at the BC Seed Gathering.

COLLABORATE: From working group meetings to an interactive seed breeding workshop, the BC Seed Gathering will allow attendees to participate in meaningful dialogue and build momentum in BC’s sustainable seed sector as we discover new opportunities for cooperation and partnership.

The 2025 BC Seed Gathering was held November 27–28 in Harrison Hot Springs

This two-day event brought together seed growers, farmers, researchers, and community leaders from across BC to explore the future of seeds and food sovereignty. This year’s sessions covered topics like community seed stewardship, native and medicinal seed saving, perennial crops, variety trials, and culturally relevant seeds, along with space for networking and facilitated discussions with experienced seed producers.

The Gathering kicked off with a farm tour co-hosted with Organic BC and a banquet dinner on Thursday, November 27, offering a chance to connect over local food before diving into two days of learning and inspiration. 

Thursday, November 27th 2025

Join us at Cedar Isle Farm in Agassiz for a tour of Jim’s farm, his participatory wheat breeding projects, and seed cleaning with FarmFolk CityFolk’s mobile seed cleaning trailer. Co-hosted by Organic BC and FarmFolk CityFolk.

This tour is happening on Thursday, November 27th, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (travel time not included). Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the farm–approximately a 15-minute drive.

Pre-registration is required.

 

Jim Grieshaber-Otto has grown organic wheat, oats, rye and barley at Cedar Isle Farm in the eastern end of the Fraser Valley for over 12 years. He plants largely home-saved seeds and grows a range of heritage, unique and modern varieties suited to the area. The farm relies on crop rotation for weed control and nutrient management and uses older small-scale equipment for harvesting and on-farm cleaning, rolling and bagging. Most of the grain is grown for a yearly CSA program, or sold through direct sales to small retail outlets and selected bakers. The farm depends upon and is rooted in the spirit of community and values its close connection to the surrounding natural environment. It is certified organic by BCARA, certified Salmon-Safe, and shares the land with many wild creatures.

Join us on Thursday, November 27, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm for a harvest dinner, Pecha Kucha-style talk, and networking time.

A pre-purchased ticket is required.

 

Chelsey Geralda Armstrong

Dr. Chelsey Geralda Armstrong is an archaeologist and paleoethnobotanist specializing in the history and ecology of plant food management across the Pacific Northwest. She is an Assistant Professor and director of the Historical-Ecological Research Lab in Indigenous Studies at Simon Fraser University.

 

Dr T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss

Dr T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh/Sto:Lo/Hawaiian/Swiss

Dr T’uy’t’tanat- Cease Wyss is an interdisciplinary artist who works with digital media, writing, performance and land based remediations as her multi-disciplinary arts practice. She is a community engaged and public artist, Indigi-Futurisms developer/artist, land based artist and ethnobotanist/permaculture designer.

She is currently working on bringing the healing sounds of plants and fungi, through biosonification with modular synthesizers. Wyss is working on bridging the languages of plants and mushroom as well as other forms of fungi, with indigenous languages and creating conversations between them all.

Her works range over 30+ years and have always focussed on sustainability, permaculture techniques, Coast Salish Cultural elements and have included themes of ethnobotany, indigenous language revival, Salish weaving and digital media technology.

In 2022 Cease was awarded an honorary PhD from ECUAD and in 2023 was awarded the MST [Musqueam/Skwxwu7mesh/Tseil watuth: aka Skwxwú7mesh,
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ Lands & WatersSkwxwú7mesh Ux̱imix̱w’] AiR fieldhouse in Stanley Park for the next 4 years. She will be infusing all elements of her diverse practice into this time spent reconnecting to her ancestors whose spirits remain a part of this forest and shoreline.

 

Stephanie Riedl

TBC

The engagement stations are part of our commitment to facilitating relationship-building and connections at the BC Seed Gathering. During the allotted times, participants will be able to interact directly with seed growers, advocates, and community organizers working with seed production, care, and education across BC. You will have the chance to participate in educational activities, find important information about events, opportunities for involvement, and more!

BC Eco Seed Co-op:

The BC Eco Seed Co-op are a producers co-operative growing and providing 100% BC-grown vegetable, herb, flower, and grain seed that is ecologically grown and certified organic, open-pollinated, regionally selected, and GE-free. All their seeds are grown by members on farms across the province. Their mission is to increase the quantity and improve the quality of ecological and organic seed grown in BC. From packets to bulk quantities, the co-op has seeds for all growers. The BC Eco Seed Co-op will be sharing information about the co-op and providing an opportunity for those interested to sign up. They will also have seeds available for sale.

CBAN:

The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) brings together 15 groups to research, monitor and raise awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN members include farmer associations, environmental and social justice organizations, and regional coalitions of grassroots groups. cban.ca CBAN will share information on genetic engineering for seed savers, with a focus on the threat of genetically modified (GM) garden seeds like tomatoes, salad greens, and strawberries. Attendees will be able to stop by to ask questions, share their concerns about GMOs, and learn about introductory resources on gene editing and GM foods.

BC Medicinal Plant & Seed Project:

The BC Medicinal Plant & Seed Project works to promote the sustainable production of medicinal plants and seeds within British Columbia. Its goal is to connect farmers and growers with practitioners and other end users to strengthen a local medicinal herb market.  They will be sharing more about their current projects, activities, and lessons from the two years of the program. They will also have some medicinal seeds available for those who stop by.

Friday, November 28th 2025

Friday, November 3rd | 8:00 – 8:45 am

Harrison Corner Cafe

Friday, November 28th | 9:00 – 9:30 am

Sts’ailes First Nation

Friday, November 28th | 9:45 – 10:35 am 

Decolonizing Seeds and Propagation offers participants an opportunity to reflect on relationships with plants, seeds, and land through the perspective of T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss. This session will open space for learning, conversation, and connection informed by Wyss’s long-standing practice in Indigenous plant knowledge and community-based teaching.

Dr T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh/Sto:Lo/Hawaiian/Swiss

Dr T’uy’t’tanat- Cease Wyss is an interdisciplinary artist who works with digital media, writing, performance and land based remediations as her multi-disciplinary arts practice. She is a community engaged and public artist, Indigi-Futurisms developer/artist, land based artist and ethnobotanist/permaculture designer.

She is currently working on bringing the healing sounds of plants and fungi, through biosonification with modular synthesizers. Wyss is working on bridging the languages of plants and mushroom as well as other forms of fungi, with indigenous languages and creating conversations between them all.

Her works range over 30+ years and have always focussed on sustainability, permaculture techniques, Coast Salish Cultural elements and have included themes of ethnobotany, indigenous language revival, Salish weaving and digital media technology.

In 2022 Cease was awarded an honorary PhD from ECUAD and in 2023 was awarded the MST [Musqueam/Skwxwu7mesh/Tseil watuth: aka Skwxwú7mesh,
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ Lands & WatersSkwxwú7mesh Ux̱imix̱w’] AiR fieldhouse in Stanley Park for the next 4 years. She will be infusing all elements of her diverse practice into this time spent reconnecting to her ancestors whose spirits remain a part of this forest and shoreline.

Friday, November 28th | 10:35 – 11:00 am

Friday, November 28th | 11:00 – 11:50 am

Organic farmers in Canada depend on internationally sourced seeds that are poorly suited to Canadian climates and that have been bred under high-input farming conditions. In this talk, we will introduce the Canadian Organic Vegetable Improvement (CANOVI) program and the approaches we are taking to increase seed diversity and climate resilience within Canada’s organic vegetable sector. CANOVI collaborates with farmers to select and develop vegetable varieties that are better adapted to regional conditions and more resilient to environmental stresses. However, our breeding populations lack desirable variation for some traits, including resistance to some biotic and abiotic stressors. By incorporating genetic diversity from crop wild relatives and landrace populations, combined with increased precision offered by environmental genomic methods, we hope to accelerate breeding for resistance drought, heat, and low nutrient stress, as well as disease, focusing initially on carrot. Our work will provide proof of concept for the integration of exotic germplasm and genomic methods into organic vegetable breeding, laying the groundwork for expanding these efforts to other vegetable crops and organic breeding programs in the future.

Ámbar Carvallo-Lopez

Ambar holds a PhD degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of
Wisconsin at Madison, specializing in tomato breeding focused on organic adaptation
for the US Upper Midwest. Her research centered on enhancing flavor and disease
resistance through participatory breeding, engaging farmers in the selection process to
better address organic agriculture needs. In partnership with seed companies, she
evaluated new molecular markers for resistance to Septoria leaf spot, a common
disease in the Upper Midwest. Additionally, at the end of her PhD program, she
completed a 6-month exchange at INRAE, France, gaining expertise in molecular
approaches for flavor improvement.

She now works as the CANOVI Project Lead, in which she carries out field trials,
greenhouse evaluations, and farmer engagement to develop vegetable varieties that
are resilient to the farming and environmental conditions in Canada. She is looking
forward to supporting local food systems through participatory plant breeding!

Loren Rieseberg

Loren Rieseberg is a University Killam Professor in the Botany Department. His lab employs population genomic approaches and field and greenhouse experiments to study the origin and evolution of plant species, tap wild extremophile species for crop improvement, combat invasive weeds, and conserve natural populations of plants, including their microbiomes. He also co-leads the Canadian Organic Vegetable Improvement (CANOVI) program with Aabir Dey and Michelle Dang at SeedChange, focusing on improving resilience to environmental stresses, including drought, heat, and low nutrient stress.

Friday, November 28th | 11:50 am – 1:20 pm

Harrison Hot Springs Resort – Canada Room

Friday, November 28th | 1:20 – 2:10 pm

This session brings together passionate and knowledgeable voices in seed production. Learn about seed production from the perspective of seed producers, seed company operators, and diverse to specialized seed variety stewards. Whether you’re a seasoned seed producer, researcher, or curious about the future of food & seed systems in BC, this session will be an excellent opportunity to get your burning questions answered by diverse and knowledgeable local seed producers.  

 

Heather Mills

Operator and co-owner of Good Earth Farms in Black Creek on Vancouver Island. Heather is of mixed European and Mississauga Ojibwe ancestry. She has been growing seed for over 25 years, focusing on maintaining and improving open-pollinated heirloom vegetable, herb and flower varieties, providing high-quality seed to home growers and farmers locally and across the country. Heather is passionate about supporting a sustainable local food system by providing seeds to community gardens and indigenous food sovereignty movements, hosting workshops, seed mentoring, and providing access to the land to equity-deserving groups and individuals, creating a brighter, more food-secure future for all our relations for generations to come.

 

Jordan Marr 

Jordan Marr is an organic farmer based in the North Okanagan. He grows heirloom varieties of dry beans and milling and popping corn. He’s also the host of two podcasts: Farming in British Columbia and The Organic BC Podcast. He and his family live in Vernon.

 

Blake Hunter

Blake Hunter is a Metis farmer living and cultivating in Central Saanich at Good Seed Land in Saanich, BC. Blake was a grain farmer in SK for ten years before moving into small-scale seed production in BC.

Friday, November 28th | 2 :10 – 2:30 pm

 

Friday, November 28th | 2:30 – 3:20 pm

Community-led seed initiatives are at the heart of preserving biodiversity in our food system. This session explores the power of collective seed stewardship through seed libraries, local seed production, and inclusive engagement strategies. Join Nikki and Michi for an inspiring and practical conversation on how to strengthen your community’s connection to seeds and strategies to involve farmers, educators, and youth in seed production. This session offers tools, stories, and sparks of inspiration for anyone working to grow a more resilient and connected seed future, along with creative models for seed library returns. Whether you’re starting from scratch or growing an existing project, come ready to share, learn, and plant the seeds of possibility.

Nikki Lax

Nikki has been growing food for over a decade, managing small-scale organic farms and community agriculture spaces. She has developed educational and community agricultural programming to teach about food production, seed saving, sustainability, and food and seed security. Nikki is the Food Security and Community Agriculture Program Manager for Stewardship Pemberton Society, is an Articling Agrologist with the BC Institute of Agrologists, and has a degree in Plant and Soil Biology from UBC.

Michalina Hunter

Michi is a seed farmer and former coordinator of the Squamish Seed Library. She has been in communications for farm businesses and non-profits for over 15 years and is looking forward to sharing her tips and tricks for engaging community members both on and offline.

 

 

Friday, November 28th | 3:35 – 4:25 pm

Growing perennials on your farm can help ease the spring planting rush, but they come with their own suite of considerations in planting, maintenance, and seed selling. We’ll talk about some of the perennial vegetables we’ve been growing and trialling at Cicada Seeds, some of the issues we’ve run into, and nuances in marketing seed that can be tricky to germinate.

Michalina Hunter

Michalina grew up gardening and saving seeds with her mom on the Sunshine Coast, and founded the Squamish Seed Library in 2018. She launched Cicada Seeds in 2021 to supply hard-to-find perennial vegetable seeds and plants to gardeners across Canada. She’s also a communications nerd and loves using the power of digital storytelling for good. She lives near the kw’a’luxw (Englishman) river, at the base of ts’xuliqw (Mount Arrowsmith) on Vancouver Island with her partner, cat, dog, and lots of chickens.

Friday, November 28th | 4:25 – 5:00 pm

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors

Find our 2025 BC Seed Gathering Digital Program at the link below

Click Here
Check Out the 2023 BC Seed Gathering Schedule and Speakers Check Out the 2021 BC Seed Gathering Schedule and Speakers

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