The Seed Farmer Podcast

Dan Brisebois
  • 5.0 (34)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

The Seed Farmer Podcast with Dan Brisebois of Tourne-Sol Co-operative Farm. Every episode I'm going to bring you a conversation with a grower who has integrated Saving Seeds into their own farm systems. Some grow seed crops to sell commercially and some do it just for their own farm use. I'm hoping their stories will make you want to save seed on your own farm... and if you already save seed on your farm, I hope it makes you want to save more!

  1. 3d ago

    Ep. 70 What to Do with Your Crossed-Up Plants

    I've been encouraging you to go out and find any accidental crosses that might be in your fields. These can be the beginning of exciting breeding projects. But once you've found those very special individuals, what should you do? That's what this minisode is about! In this episode we get into  •  The difference between crossers and selfers  •  How many crossed up plants you need to start a breeding project •  How to grow out your F2 generation tp get the best results •  What to do if your crossed up plants want to go in many directions. Enjoy the show!     🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Tell me what crops you think I should cover in my summer Seed Farmer school. Fill out this form to let me know: https://forms.gle/sZES93eNahtXi44y7   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/ Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/ Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    15 min

  2. Jun 3

    Ep. 69 The Magic of Sharing Seeds - Petra Page-Mann, Fruition Community Seed Farm

    Petra stewards  Fruition Community Seed Farm with Matthew Goldfarb in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Petra's seed journey began at a young age in her father's garden, harvesting seeds and packing them into homemade seed packets to then share them with others. This early love for the magic of sharing seeds eventually led to founding Fruition.   In this episode, Petra shares the evolution of Fruition from a commercial regional seed company to a community seed farm. We discuss the structural pivot away from running a commercial online business toward a non-commercial gift economy model. Petra shares how they use interactive community storytelling, theater, and Seed Feasts to move past simple transaction-based seed swaps and cultivate collaborative relational seed stewardship instead.   In the deep dive, Petra and I get into two seed crops. First, we talk about breeding the Dulcinea carrot for uniformity and reliability in a market farm. Then, we talk about crossing collards and cabbage to develop Mermaid's Aurora, a gorgeous gene pool of tender greens with kaleidoscopic diversity. We also get into the technical seed production of each crop: growing second year carrots in high tunnels, harvesting seed umbels by hand, and how to thresh carrot seeds. For the brassica cross, we talk about how they harvest first year plants, how they overwinter in a root cellar, and of course how they clean the seeds.   Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast     Episode links Fruition's Website https://www.fruitionseeds.com/   Fruition on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fruition_seeds Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/   Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds   Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    1h 3m

  3. May 27

    Ep. 68 Looking for off-types in your fields

    Have you ever noticed a single red lettuce in a bed of green oakleaf, or a pepper that doesn't look like anything you planted? While some growers see these as mistakes to be culled, they are also opportunities to start a new breeding project.   This minisode is all about hidden treasures, specifically looking for crosses in your fields that could be the start of your next favorite variety.   In this episode, we'll get into…   •  Why you should always carry flagging tape and a camera on your field walks •  Telling the difference between a handling mistake and a true cross-pollination event •  Techniques to get your special plants to seed •  How an unexpected cross turned into our own Carrot Bomb pepper   Enjoy the show!   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 News links   Use code HARVESTREADY until May 30 for 50% off the Harvest System Designs course https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//courses   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/   Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds   Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    17 min

  4. May 20

    Ep. 67 Sharing Seed Research with Farmers - Fanny Lebrun, Les Marequiers

    Fanny Lebrun is the driving force behind Les Marequiers, a Belgian non-profit dedicated to regional food autonomy. Through their flagship program, Semences d'Ici (which translates to Seeds from Here), Fanny works to strengthen the local organic seed sector. Prior to that, Fanny started the seed company Cycle en Terre by herself then built it into a citizen-owned seed cooperative.   In this episode, Fanny shares the logistics and challenges of scaling a seed business from a one-person operation to a ten-person team. We discuss Fanny's transition into Les Marequiers and how she is trying to bridge the information gap from academic research to the practical realities of the farm. We also talk about the organic disease and pest management guide she has recently written.   In the deep dive, Fanny and I talk about growing carrots for seed. We get into the difficulties of growing seed carrots in humid, short-season climates, covering overwintering roots in a simple cellar and how to balance the harvest of primary and secondary umbels.   Enjoy the conversation!   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Episode links   Les Marequiers website https://lesmarequiers.be/   French organic disease and pest management guide: Gestion des bioagresseurs en production de semences potagères biologiques. https://lesmarequiers.be/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SDI-Dossiers-LesBioagresseurs.pdf   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Use code HARVESTREADY  for 50% off the Harvest System Designs course https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//courses   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Stay in Touch   Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/   Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds   Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    45 min

  5. May 13

    Ep. 66 Getting Ready For Seed Harvest

    Today, let's talk about how to set you up for successful seed harvests this summer. Taking a little time right now to make sure you have the right tools on hand means you can just head to the field and get those seeds when the weather is right! Today's minisode is all about •  Setting up your Seed HQ for your summer seed work •  Choosing your seed harvest tools •  Building field screens •  And protecting your lungs and bodies from all the dust and sharp bits Enjoy the show! 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Use code HARVESTREADY  for 50% off the Harvest System Designs course https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//courses 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/ Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/ Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    15 min

  6. May 6

    Ep. 65 The Lazy Guide to Seed Farming: Josh Volk, Slow Hand Farm

    Josh Volk runs Cully Neighborhood Farm on a one-acre lot in Portland, Oregon, where he grows vegetables for a CSA. Josh also operates Slow Hand Farm, where he helps grow market gardens and community through his writing and technical support. He is the author of Compact Farms and Build Your Own Farm Tools. Across all his work, Josh brings an engineering mindset to farming. In this episode, Josh explains how he integrates seed production into a busy market garden and grows seed mainly for his own use. Josh tells us how he determines what crops to keep for seed. We discuss Josh's "lazy" approach to growing seed which includes natural selection rather than intentional roguing, getting seed clean enough but not perfect, and embracing genetic diversity instead of trying to avoid all cross pollination.  In the deep dive, Josh and I talk about growing fava beans for seed. We get into fall-sown versus spring-sown crops, selecting for cold hardiness, and  threshing using a vintage roller thresher.  We also talk a lot about bean weevils. Enjoy the conversation! Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast   Episode links Slow Hand Farm website https://slowhandfarm.com/ Slow Hand Farm on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/slowhandfarm/ Cully Neighborhood Farm website https://cullyneighborhoodfarm.com/ News links May 21 Open House quarterly seed call https://seedalliance.org/events/virtual-open-house-quarterly-call-2/   Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/   Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/ Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    1h 5m

  7. Apr 29

    Ep. 64 Cheating isolation Distances

    Have you been feeling scared to keep the seeds from your crops? Have those seed books with their 1 to 2 mile isolation distances gotten you down? This minisode is all about how to cheat those formal isolation distances and still harvest seed that works for your farm.   In this episode we get into    •  The four main isolation crop groups and what distances you can get away with •  How to create physical barriers are your farm to grow things even closer •  What crops you can grow in easy to make isolation cages   Of course, it wouldn't be a Seed Farmer episode if we didn't get into how a little bit of crossing is a good thing.   Enjoy the minisode! 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 News links   June 18 webinar: Breeding to Purple: Crossing & Selecting Brassicas  https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/event/breeding-to-purple-crossing-selecting-brassicas/   Watch the Seed Farmer book promo video https://youtu.be/liHQmUz227E   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/   Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds   Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    20 min

  8. Apr 22

    Ep. 63 Rewilding One Backyard at a Time – Mélanie Ouellette, Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library

    Mélanie Ouellette runs the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library from her home in Orleans, Ontario. This all began when she asked "What's preventing people from growing native plants in our region?" In this episode, Mélanie shares the logistics of how the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library works. How hundreds of volunteers harvest the seeds, pack seed packs, fulfill orders, and attend events to distribute the seeds to gardeners. We talk about the importance of genetic diversity, the difference between straight species and cultivars, and the importance of reciprocity in community stewardship. In the deep dive, Mélanie and I focus on growing swamp milkweed for seed. We explore how it is a host plant for monarch butterflies, the technical nuances of harvesting and cleaning milkweed's fluffy seeds, and the importance of cold-moist stratification to ensure successful germination. Enjoy the conversation!   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱   Episode links Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library website https://wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/ Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library on Instangram https://www.instagram.com/ottawawildflower/   Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CV6G1cvGY/   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 News links May 16: Seed Library Conference: Sustaining a Seed Library https://givebutter.com/sustaining-a-seed-library?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email   Register for the Harvest System Design Course https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//harvestsystems   🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/   Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds   Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/   Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook   ❤️ Thanks for listening!

    43 min
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5
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

The Seed Farmer Podcast with Dan Brisebois of Tourne-Sol Co-operative Farm. Every episode I'm going to bring you a conversation with a grower who has integrated Saving Seeds into their own farm systems. Some grow seed crops to sell commercially and some do it just for their own farm use. I'm hoping their stories will make you want to save seed on your own farm... and if you already save seed on your farm, I hope it makes you want to save more!

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Brisebois
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Seed Farmer Podcast

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