Jolene Swain

Jolene Swain tends crops and seeds on Gitxsan territory in the Kispiox Valley of Northern BC. Equipped with a Masters in Biology and a love of plants, she has lived and worked across BC, Alberta and the Yukon. Her fieldwork has ranged from studying pikas and plants in the alpine tundra, to biodiversity surveys in the boreal forest and research on insect pest outbreaks and climate change in organic fruit orchards. A biologist turned farmer, Jolene’s journey into seed production started as part of WoodGrain Farm, where seed production became increasingly integrated into the market garden. With a shifting focus towards seed, finding varieties that are adapted to and thrive in the northwest has started a journey towards growing not only seeds, but a network of seed savers to keep diverse seeds in the hands of people and communities. When not tending crops, you can find Jolene on the river or in the forest; floating, foraging, and botanizing.