9 - 9:30 a.m.

9 :30- 10:00 a.m.

10:00 - 10:15 a.m.

Led by Emigdio Ballon

10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

11:15 - 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 1:— p.m.

Locations: HayBarn and Lifelab Amphitheater

Session 1 (11:30am-12:10pm)

• A: Seed care and stewardship - Emigdio Ballon, Kanoa from Feral Heart Farms, Moderator: Rebecca North

  • High-quality seed begins with proper care after harvest. Join Emigdio and Kanoa teaching the essentials of seed stewardship, including effective seed cleaning techniques, drying, storage conditions, and best practices for maintaining seed quality and viability over time. Participants will learn practical methods to preserve healthy, vigorous seed while supporting the long-term resilience of organic seed systems. 

• B: Art of growing for seed - Moderator: Héktor Calderón-Victoria

  • Growing crops for seed is both a science and an art, requiring careful observation, planning, and an understanding of plant biology. Join Kellee and Hektor as they explore the principles and practical techniques of seed production in organic systems, including crop selection, isolation, maintaining varietal integrity, harvest timing, and post-harvest seed handling. Participants will gain insights into producing high-quality, resilient seed while supporting biodiversity, regional adaptation, and the long-term stewardship of organic seed.

Session 2 (12:20-1:00pm)

• C: Backyard Gardeners to Fields of Organic: Seeds and Channels of Stewardship - Larry Jacobs, Moderator: Tim Galarneau

  • Join Larry Jacobs for a conversational workshop exploring how seeds move into home gardens and larger networks of organic production and how business operations require clean and accurate seeds for production. Participants will learn how gardeners, farmers, and seed companies each play a role in selecting, preserving, and sharing high-quality organic seed. The session will highlight practical pathways for strengthening seed diversity, supporting organic growers, and building resilient regional food systems and what the business case is for this.

• D: Indigenous seed saving and planting practices - Emigdio Ballonn & more

  • Join Emigdio Ballon for a 50-minute, hands-on workshop exploring Indigenous seed saving and planting practices at the UCSC Haybarn. Participants will learn how seed selection, planting, cultivation, and preservation can support cultural continuity, community sovereignty, and ecological regeneration. The session will highlight the relationships among seeds, land, food traditions, and the responsibilities growers carry across generations. Designed for farmers, gardeners, educators, seed stewards, and food sovereignty advocates, the workshop will offer practical knowledge that participants can bring into their own growing and community practices.

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

3:30 - 4:10 p.m.

4:10 - 5:00 p.m.