Upcoming Seed Saving Workshop

Farms at Work

DIY Summer Workshop: Build Your Own Small Seed Winnower


Date:  Wednesday August 27, 2014

Time:  1:00pm - 4:00pm

Location:  The Cottage Gardener: Heirloom Seedhouse & Nursery (Newtonville, ON) 

Cost:  $65.00 per person (includes workshop materials)


Whether you are growing seed for sale or for on-farm use, one thing all seed producers have in common is the need for well-cleaned seed crops. With small seeds like brassicas, peppers, onions, herbs and flowers, removing chaff becomes more and more time-consuming as the quantity of seed is increased.

If you feel like you are past the point of hand-cleaning, and want to improve your efficiency, then join us for this hands-on workshop, where you'll build and take home your own small seed winnower.

Dan Brittain, of the Cottage Gardener, took an open-source design and has spent the last few years perfecting it. After several tweaks, the device has now improved the Brittain's production efficiency, and Dan would like to help other seed producers achieve the same results on their farms.

All the necessary materials will be included in the price of admission, with the exception of a simple hair-dryer, which can easily be added later. If you've already got one you'd like to use, bring it along so Dan can demonstrate how it fits into the design.

This workshop is being made possible thanks to the generous support of the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security. Pre-registration is required as space is limited to 15 people. If there is enough interest, a second session for the same day will be opened up. Ticket sales start this Friday, May 30 at www.DIYseedequipment.eventbrite.ca. If you are unable to register because the session is full, please contact Jay from Farms at Work


The Cottage Gardener Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security