Saving your own seed is one of the oldest and most practical skills in gardening, and it is easier than most people think. In this hands on workshop you will work directly with seed at every stage: selecting healthy plants worth saving from, harvesting seed heads and fruits at the right maturity, cleaning seed by hand using dry and wet methods, drying it properly, and storing it so it stays viable through winter. We will cover the difference between open pollinated, heirloom, and hybrid varieties, why that difference matters when you save seed, and how far apart to space crops that cross easily. Expect to get your hands dirty. Everyone will take home seed they cleaned themselves along with labeled envelopes.

This free workshop is open to all experience levels. No prior seed saving experience is needed.

What to bring

Seed heads, dried pods, or overripe fruit from your own garden if you have them. Bring them in a paper bag rather than plastic so they do not mold. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce, dill, marigolds, sunflowers, and squash all work well.

Any seed you have saved before that you are unsure about, whether it is clean enough, dry enough, or still good. We will troubleshoot as a group.

Questions about specific crops in your garden. Bring photos on your phone if that helps.

A few small jars or tins if you want to store seed in something sturdier than the envelopes we provide.

Clothes you do not mind getting dusty or wet.