Join Scott Harris at Lohbrunner Farm for an informative and hands-on workshop series on all things potato breeding and true potato seed!

Potatoes are among the four greatest-grown crops in the world, but unlike most vegetables that the home gardener grows they are not grown by planting seeds but by planting an actual potato. But did you know that you can grow potatoes from actual seeds?

This hands-on course takes you into the Lost Art of Potato Breeding where you will grow potatoes from TPS (True Potato Seed). During three sessions throughout the growing season, Scott will take you from starting some actual potato seeds, where each seed is a brand new variety of potato, to planting and harvesting these potatoes. Along the way, we will show you how to produce your own TPS, from pollinating potato flowers to producing potato berries, and processing True Potato Seed that can remain viable for 50 years. A great avenue for seed security in a changing world.

We will start Saturday, May 6 from 9 am – 12 pm where we will learn the rich history of the potato and start some True Potato Seed. Then you can take them to your home garden or space will be available at Lohbrunner Community Farm for your own small patch of potatoes. The following two sessions will take place on Saturday July 22, and Saturday, September 9th. Dates may fluctuate depending on the growing season. If growing at Lohbrunner, you will be available to come and check on the progress of your potatoes. All materials will be supplied, bring your own pair of gardening gloves.

About your potato guide:

Scott Harris, although getting into farming a bit later in life, took to it in a big way. He is a founding member of Lohbrunner Community Farm Co-operative and sits on the Board. In addition to growing his own vegetables, he is passionate about ensuring that the potato stays as a staple food crop that is adaptable to climate change. After participating in some Canadian heritage potato trials that looked at the effects of climate change on crops, he got into breeding his own varieties of potatoes as a way of eliminating viruses and helping with seed security. Along the way he has produced hundreds of new varieties of potatoes, looking for that one new “best” potato.

Session One: Planting Potato Seedlings
Saturday, May 6th, 9am – 12pm

Session Two: Flower Pollination & Hilling
Saturday, July 22nd, 9am – 12pm

Session Three: Harvest Potato Berries & Potatoes
Saturday, September 9th, 9am – 12pm

Registration has been extended -please register ASAP. You don’t need land to participate. There will be a space for your potatoes at Lohbrunner if needed. All sessions will be held at Lohbrunner Community Farm – 1152 Lippincott Rd, Victoria, BC V9C 2Z6

If you have any further questions please email Lisa at viseedcoordinator@farmfolkcityfolk.ca

We do not want the cost to be a barrier to participants, so we have set a sliding scale. Please consider the number of hours of instruction, growing space and coordination this takes. Your generous contribution will facilitate funding more farmer to farmer workshops.