Seed Saving: A practical guide
"Thank you for your valuable time - really enjoyed the course, very inspiring and energising"
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Where and when?
8th July 2026 at Trill Farm Garden
Course content
Join Ashley Wheeler from Trill Farm Garden, to learn about the seed saving that they do in the market garden, not only for themselves but to produce for seed companies.
The course will cover some of the basic botany that is necessary for understanding how flowers are pollinated and what we need to know as seed savers to put in place to ensure that we are getting what we want from the seed. We will talk about some of the strategies that we use to isolate crops so that they do not cross, but
This course is suitable for both experienced small scale growers as well as home gardeners interested in saving some seed for themselves.
The course will cover some of the basic botany that is necessary for understanding how flowers are pollinated and what we need to know as seed savers to put in place to ensure that we are getting what we want from the seed. We will talk about some of the strategies that we use to isolate crops so that they do not cross, but
- Inbreeders and outbreeders - what's the difference and how does this affect seed saving?
- Integrating seed saving into a market garden or veg growing context
- Growing seed crops
- Harvesting seed crops
- Processing seed crops: threshing and cleaning
- Storing seed crops: drying down and storing your seed to ensure longevity
This course is suitable for both experienced small scale growers as well as home gardeners interested in saving some seed for themselves.
Course cost
£110 for the day (includes tea/coffee and a delicious lunch from The Old Dairy Kitchen).
There is a 10% discount available to Landworkers' Alliance and Organic Growers Alliance members, please contact us with details of your membership to receive the discount code.
One bursary ticket (half price) will also be offered to those who cannot afford the full ticket price. To apply for this please email [email protected] with a little bit about yourself, what you would like to get from the course, and why you think you should be considered for the bursary.
There is a 10% discount available to Landworkers' Alliance and Organic Growers Alliance members, please contact us with details of your membership to receive the discount code.
One bursary ticket (half price) will also be offered to those who cannot afford the full ticket price. To apply for this please email [email protected] with a little bit about yourself, what you would like to get from the course, and why you think you should be considered for the bursary.
Course leader
Ashley Wheeler has run Trill Farm Garden with his partner Kate since 2010. Brought up on an organic smallholding, he learnt a huge amount from his parents who ran a box scheme in the 1990's. After his Horticulture degree at Reading University he and Kate came across the opportunity at Trill Farm to rent 2.5 acres to run their own market gardening business. They now rent 5 acres and sell salad and other vegetables and herbs to around 30 different restaurants, cafes and caterers almost all within 8 miles of the farm, along with the box scheme delivering vegetables door to door.