Seed Saving Workshop Series - Session 1
Session 1: Introduction
This is a six-part workshop series hosted by the Strafford County Conservation District and Tuckaway Farm + Food Commons
Instructors: Bill Braun and Hannah Traggis, Freed Seed Federation
Seed saving can become a source of income, make farms more independent and resilient, and improve genetic biodiversity. It’s not just for farms; backyard growers, gardeners, and conservationists can utilize seed saving techniques to preserve local native species, heirloom crops, and more.
Learn the process of saving seeds from start to finish. Topics include how to plan your crops, genetics and pollination considerations, processing, techniques, tools and equipment.
SCCD has a new suite of seed saving equipment available to borrow, and this is the best way to learn how to use it!
Participants can attend the entire series for in-depth workshops on the entire seed saving process, or just attend the introduction session for an overview of seed saving and why we need to do it.
Register here: https://forms.gle/2zrpFiA6pVYpGQ4r5
Schedule
Monday, May 11th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm, Online.
Introduction: Why save seed? An overview of the state of seeds and the need for more growers, from bioregional adaptation to intellectual property restrictions.
Monday, June 15th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm, Online.
Getting started: Considerations, conducting variety trials, making observations, and doing selection work for seed saving on the farm or in the garden.
Monday, July 13th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm, Online.
Dry-seeded crops: Using the life cycles of several crops as examples of timing, techniques, and processing/handling for numerous dry-seeded crops. Included in the discussion will be overviews of population sizes for seed saving, isolation requirements, and outcrossing vs self-pollinating crops.
Monday, August 10th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm, Online.
Wet-seeded crops: Similar in format to the dry-seeded crops discussion, but focusing the timing, techniques, and processing/handling of wet seed.
September and October: Two hands-on technical field days at Tuckaway Farm, dates and times TBD.
About the instructors:
Hannah Traggis is a plant physiologist and plant breeder and serves as Senior Scientist for Freed Seed Federation. She is also a professional horticulturist and founder of Aurelia’s Garden, a nonprofit farming organization that grows food specifically for donation to emergency hunger relief efforts. There she serves as president and director of agricultural operations for two farming sites. Hannah has conducted vegetable variety trials and plant breeding research for the past thirteen years, including during the five years she was Senior Horticulturist and ran the Food Systems Program at Massachusetts Horticultural Society where that research informed national vegetable variety trialing programs. She frequently lectures at farming conferences about variety trialing, Agro-ecology, plant biology and seed breeding and saving. Most recently, Hannah has added a new role as the Marion Institute's (MI) Frogfoot Farm Program Manager. There, she will combine the food equity and seed sovereignty work of Aurelia's Garden and Freed Seed Federation with the MI's mission to increase food and nutrition equity throughout communities across Massachusetts.
Bill Braun is a farmer at Ivory Silo Farm in Westport, MA, where he and his partner Deanna Levanti grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Bill is also the co-founder and Executive Director of Freed Seed Federation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to the preservation, adaptation, and diversification of place-based seed.
June public SCCD board meeting: Equipment Rental Program
Topic: Equipment Rental Program policies, fees, maintenance needs, wish list.
Location TBD
All are welcome, please RSVP.
April public SCCD board meeting: Local workgroup review and strategy session
Topic: Review Local Workgroup Results, plan events, workshops, priorities.
Location TBD
All are welcome, please RSVP.
Resources for New Seacoast Area Farmers
Are you a beginner farmer, planning to start farming, or a seasoned farmer who wants to learn more about the resources available to you?
The Rockingham and Strafford County Conservation Districts, and partners, are hosting a free event to connect farmers with the agencies and organizations that serve farms in New Hampshire. Attendees will learn about technical assistance, grants, programs, and services that are available to them.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the participating agencies, organizations, and other new farmers. There will be informational handouts and light refreshments. The Districts will solicit some input from participants about their needs, priorities, and concerns as they pertain to conservation and agriculture so that they can better serve local farms.
Participating organizations and agencies include: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Services Agency, UNH Cooperative Extension, Southeast Land Trust, NH Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, the Farm Bureau, Walden Mutual Bank, the Conservation Districts, and more to be announced soon.
Help us get the word out about this event to any farmers in your life!
All are welcome, please RSVP: https://forms.gle/VLtHdqTxpwuh113V6
Local Workgroup Meeting
Your input is needed to guide the funding priorities, projects, and services provided by the local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Strafford County Conservation District. Your opinion matters and can make a real difference for conservation in Strafford County!
This is a friendly, informal, moderated discussion focused on natural resources concerns and agriculture in the County; we will share ideas, concerns, challenges, and solutions with each other over snacks and coffee. This conversation will help us develop our priorities for events, meeting topics, grant applications, and more, for the next year. It will also be used to tailor USDA program ranking criteria to the needs of Strafford County.
Open to the public. Can't make it? We welcome you to provide written comments.
All are welcome, please RSVP: https://forms.gle/91vRqZv5sBKx41baA
In the event of hazardous winter weather, the meeting will be held on zoom (online or phone in).
February public SCCD board meeting: Local Food Infrastructure
Topic: Strafford County and the seacoast region’s local food infrastructure.
What communal infrastructure is lacking in our area? Cold storage, warehouses, processing facilities, etc.
Hear about new exciting projects.
What is the District’s role in supporting local food infrastructure?
All are welcome, please RSVP.
December public SCCD board meeting
Topic: Partners in conservation
Location TBD
All are welcome, please RSVP
CANCELED! Farm Irrigation Solutions
POSTPONED! Both workshops are being postponed until a later date due to the government shut down. Please reach out to us with any questions!
Climate Resilience Workshops
We hope you can join us to learn about projects local farms are implementing to address climate resilience issues. There will be overviews of the projects, Q&A’s with topic experts, and information about financial and technical resources available to farms through the USDA NRCS, UNH Cooperative Extension, and Conservation Districts.
Public and free.
Please register at https://tinyurl.com/Climate25Workshop
Monday, Nov. 17th, 3pm
Resilient Oyster Farming
Hosted by Swell Oyster Co.
at the River Boat Club
115 Landing Road, Hampton NH
Thursday, Nov. 20th, 2pm
Farm Irrigation Solutions
Hosted by Tuckaway Farm
at the Emerson House
4 Captain Smith Emerson Rd, Lee NH
The NH Climate Resilience Grant funds projects on farms throughout the state that address climate adaptation and mitigation. Learn more about the program and apply by contacting your local County Conservation District. This grant program is made possible through grants from the You Have Our Trust Fund, The NH Charitable Foundation, and the generosity of community members. Funding is also provided by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Amy Papineau, Amy.Papineau@unh.edu, (603) 862-1601, prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge. The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and New Hampshire counties cooperating. Direct inquiries to unh.civilrights@unh.edu.
CANCELED! Resilient Oyster Farming
POSTPONED! Both workshops are being postponed until a later date, due to the government shut down. Reach out to us with any questions!
Climate Resilience Workshops
We hope you can join us to learn about projects local farms are implementing to address climate resilience issues. There will be overviews of the projects, Q&A’s with topic experts, and information about financial and technical resources available to farms through the USDA NRCS, UNH Cooperative Extension, and Conservation Districts.
Public and free.
Please register at https://tinyurl.com/Climate25Workshop
Monday, Nov. 17th, 3pm
Resilient Oyster Farming
Hosted by Swell Oyster Co.
at the River Boat Club
115 Landing Road, Hampton NH
Thursday, Nov. 20th, 2pm
Farm Irrigation Solutions
Hosted by Tuckaway Farm
at the Emerson House
4 Captain Smith Emerson Rd, Lee NH
The NH Climate Resilience Grant funds projects on farms throughout the state that address climate adaptation and mitigation. Learn more about the program and apply by contacting your local County Conservation District. This grant program is made possible through grants from the You Have Our Trust Fund, The NH Charitable Foundation, and the generosity of community members. Funding is also provided by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Amy Papineau, Amy.Papineau@unh.edu, (603) 862-1601, prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge. The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and New Hampshire counties cooperating. Direct inquiries to unh.civilrights@unh.edu.
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Annual Meeting & Celebration
Strafford County Conservation District
Annual Celebration
Farm Tour & More
October 8, 1-3pm at Emery Farm
LocaBerry owner Jameson Small will take us on a wagon ride and tour of the farm. See enchanting insect-themed hay sculptures. Learn about beekeeping with local expert Lee Alexander. Celebrate another year of conservation with donuts and cider.
Space is limited, please RSVP
RSVP here: https://form.jotform.com/252613954066157
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
SCCD Public Board Meeting: Oyster Restoration and Farming
Strafford County Conservation District Board Meeting
Wednesday, August 13, Noon to 1:30pm
Oyster Restoration and Farming
Old Landing, Durham
Please let me know if you will be attending so that I can procure lunch and extra chairs. Alena@straffordccd.org, 603.749.3037
Please note the meeting time, noon instead of the usual 9am.
Agenda:
What’s new with oyster farming and restoration in NH?
The Nature Conservancy’s Oyster Volunteer Program with Kelsey Meyer-Rust
NRCS Oyster Projects with Matt Larkin
Find out what challenges oyster farmers face
Discuss ways SCCD can support oyster farming and restoration
Business meeting: We will also be discussing the open SCCD full supervisor position and looking for nominations, and other brief updates.
Please RSVP: Alena@straffordccd.org, 603.749.3037
Equipment Field Day & New Equipment Debut
Monday morning update: Yes the event is still on! There is a 30% chance of showers and 15% chance of thunderstorms. We will hope for the best!
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Local Workgroup Meeting
Your input is needed to guide the funding priorities, projects, and services provided by the local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Strafford County Conservation District. Your opinion matters and can make a real difference for conservation in Strafford County!
This is a friendly, informal discussion; we will share ideas, concerns, challenges, and solutions with each other over coffee. This conversation will help us develop our meeting topics and project priorities for the next year. It will also be used to tailor USDA program ranking criteria to the needs of Strafford County.
Open to the public. Can't make it? We welcome you to provide written comments.
All are welcome, please RSVP: info@straffordccd.org, 603-749-3037
In the event of hazardous winter weather, the meeting will be held on zoom (online or phone in).
Board Meeting: Supporting Local Food and Farms
More details TBD.
Strafford Farms Restaurant, Dover. Breakfast and Coffee served.
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Board Meeting: Conservation Easements
Join us for a conversation about conservation easements. We will talk with representatives from the Southeast Land Trust of NH and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to learn about what’s new with easement funding, what challenges they are seeing with creating and enforcing easements, and more. We will have talk for about an hour, followed by a brief SCCD business meeting.
All are welcome! Please RSVP to alena@straffordccd.org or 603-749-3037.
Location: Court Jester Café Meeting Room, Basement Level, William Grimes Justice Admin Building, 259 County Farm Road, Dover. There will be an option to listen remotely via zoom.
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Climate Resilience Workshop: Soil Health Practices
Climate Resilience Workshops
We hope you can join us to learn about projects local farms are implementing to address the climate resilience issues of water availability and soil health. There will be tours of the farms and their projects, Q&A’s with topic experts, and information about financial and technical resources available to farms. Hosted by the Conservation Districts and UNH Cooperative Extension, with assistance from USDA NRCS and NH DES.
Wednesday, Oct. 23rd, 4-6: Soil health practices.The science of soil health, Mulching, reduced tillage, and working in small areas. Wild Fern Farm (at Bakie Farm), 35 Powwow River Rd, Kingston, NH. Register here.
The NH Climate Resilience Grant funds projects on farms throughout the state that address climate adaptation and mitigation. Learn more about the program and apply by contacting your local County Conservation District. This grant program is made possible through grants from the You Have Our Trust Fund, The NH Charitable Foundation, and the generosity of community members. Funding is also provided by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Amy Papineau, Amy.Papineau@unh.edu, (603) 862-1601, prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge. The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and New Hampshire counties cooperating. Direct inquiries to unh.civilrights@unh.edu.
Free and open to the public. Please RSVP: https://forms.gle/JuN8bVK8iLpKgq566
Climate Resilience Workshop: Water sources on farms for drought resilience
Climate Resilience Workshops
We hope you can join us to learn about projects local farms are implementing to address the climate resilience issues of water availability and soil health. There will be tours of the farms and their projects, Q&A’s with topic experts, and information about financial and technical resources available to farms. Hosted by the Conservation Districts and UNH Cooperative Extension, with assistance from USDA NRCS and NH DES.
Friday, Oct. 18th, 9-11: Farm ponds and water sources. We’ll talk about drought resilience, farm ponds, wells, irrigation. Clyde Farm, 63 Meetinghouse Hill Rd, Farmington, NH. Register here.
The NH Climate Resilience Grant funds projects on farms throughout the state that address climate adaptation and mitigation. Learn more about the program and apply by contacting your local County Conservation District. This grant program is made possible through grants from the You Have Our Trust Fund, The NH Charitable Foundation, and the generosity of community members. Funding is also provided by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Amy Papineau, Amy.Papineau@unh.edu, (603) 862-1601, prior to the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge. The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. UNH, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and New Hampshire counties cooperating. Direct inquiries to unh.civilrights@unh.edu.
Free and open to the public. Please RSVP: https://forms.gle/JuN8bVK8iLpKgq566
2024 Annual Meeting & Celebration
4:30 to 5:15: We will have a tour of the Flag Hill agricultural operation with owner Brian Ferguson. We’ll learn about the challenges and successes of growing grains, grapes and more to create unique local products.
5:15 to 6:30: Cocktail hour. Appetizers will be served and there will be a cash bar. Chat with the District and get information about our projects and services.
Stay a while or just stop by to say hi!
All are welcome. RSVP here: https://forms.gle/rDSTSQe3s91jHHKT7
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Board Meeting: Climate Resilience Projects
At 9am we will meet at the Farmington Public Safety Building for the business meeting, including a brief overview of the Climate Resilience Grant Program. 160 Main Street, Farmington NH. https://maps.app.goo.gl/WHe4bkqPu7nBd1no6
Then, at about 10am, we will head to the nearby Clyde Farm, where owner & operator Jimi Tutor will give us a tour of the farm and his Climate Resilience grant project.
We look forward to a productive discussion about the grant program and how the District can continue to support farms.
All are welcome, please RSVP:
info@straffordccd.org
603-749-3037
The business meeting portion can be attended remotely via zoom. Zoom link:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Bi-monthly projects committee remote meeting
For SCCD supervisors, staff, and others to catch up on on-going SCCD projects. Open to the public. We will meet via zoom.
Zoom link and call-in information:
https://www.straffordccd.org/zoom-sccd-monthly-meetings
Board meeting: Equipment Rental Inventory and Demonstration
Join us at the Emerson House meeting room, 4 Captain Smith Emerson Road, Lee. Business Meeting may be attended remotely via zoom. There will be an outdoor, hands-on demonstration of the SCCD walk-behind tractor and attachments at 9AM, followed by a business meeting. Agenda items will include reviewing the equipment rental policies and fees, repairs and maintenance needs, and equipment “wish list”.
All are welcome, please RSVP:
info@straffordccd.org
603-749-3037