February 22 update: We have reached capacity for in-person attendance, but have plenty of room for folks to join virtually.
Virtual Hybrid sessions will be recorded. Register below to receive access to the recordings.
Dates
Friday February 23 at 5 pm – Sunday afternoon February 25, 2024.
Event Description
The Summit is a gathering for California-based people working with seed to network, exchange knowledge, and develop collective actions to build equitable, abundant, and resilient seed systems in the state.
Schedule and Presenters
The Summit begins on Friday, February 23rd at 5 pm and goes through to Sunday, February 25th in the afternoon. The schedule is available to view here. Topics will include:
- Information sharing sessions between seed producers, seed librarians, seed companies, breeders, seed stewards, and other stakeholders.
- Cooperative planning for shared needs.
- Networking between participants to help find opportunities for collaboration.
- Hear research updates and learn about organic seed production.
- A Sunday afternoon field trip to Open Circle Seeds.
Sessions will cover a range of topics, from dry farming techniques and cultural connections with seeds, to pest and disease management and seed libraries. Join us for lively discussions on practices like breeding and dehybridizing crops for sustainable food production, and seed business basics like marketing. This year’s summit will also be an opportunity to explore creative approaches to transition, while establishing meaningful connections across various mission-driven seed-related initiatives.
We’re excited to welcome a wonderful group of presenters and hear about the important seed work they’re doing in the state and beyond. Featured speakers will include Bonnetta Adeeb and Nate Kleinman from Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, Ira Wallace of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Amirah Mitchell of Sistah Seeds, Dr. Becky Webster of Ukwakhwa, Matt Drewno of Victory Gardens for Peace, and more to be announced soon.
We invite you to bring your passion for the grassroots seed movement and join us to strengthen bonds across the California seed community. We look forward to seeing you there!
Registration
Register for the summit using the button below.
Location
This year’s summit will be a hybrid in-person and virtual event.
SOLD OUT In-person:
Yokayo Ranch
800 Hensley Creek Road
Ukiah CA, 95482
(Mendocino County)
Online:
Organic Seed Commons virtual platform
The summit is being offered as a tiered pay-what-you-can event with a suggested ticket price of $75. Registration includes food, lodging, and participation in the summit. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the summit location and may choose to lodge off-site if desired.
A limited number of travel scholarships are available for those for whom registration and travel costs present a burden. Please register and indicate your need to be considered for travel funds, early registrants will receive priority.
Getting Ready
The Summit is a gathering for California-based seed growers to network, exchange knowledge, and develop collective actions to build equitable, abundant, and resilient seed systems in the state. The content will focus on California state.
The success of the summit will come in part from what we bring to it. We encourage you to share topics, speaker suggestions, or presentation ideas in your registration form.
Schedule
The Summit begins Friday, February 23rd, with check in from 4:30-5:30 pm and will go through Sunday afternoon, concluding with an optional field trip to the Mendocino Grain Project and Open Circle Seeds. View the agenda here.
Meals
Home-cooked meals will be offered for those joining in-person. We will do our best to source organic ingredients and accommodate dietary restrictions. We also welcome any contributions of produce or other ingredients to the cooking pantry.
Accommodations
On-site lodging and attendance has reached capacity. Please join us online!
Covid Protocols
We recognize that Covid is still present, and with that in mind, we want to support summit participants in feeling comfortable. The physical gathering will include shared meals and some shared sleeping spaces, and if concerns arise we will do our best to accommodate them. We will have masks and Covid tests available on site. If the physical gathering presents a concern for your health, we encourage you to participate online.
Contact
If you have any questions or want more information, contact Jared Zystro at jared@seedalliance.org or 707-502-9984
Summit Planning Committee
Many thanks to the Planning Committee members for the thoughtfulness and care they’ve invested in the 2024 California Organic Seed Summit.
- Lauren Muscatine, Napa County Seed Library
- Kanoa Dinwoodie, Feral Heart Farm
- Jamie Chevalier, Quail Seeds
- Jasmine Sarp, Organic Seed Alliance
- Jared Zystro, Organic Seed Alliance
Sponsorship Opportunities
Would your company or organization be willing to donate $250 to support the Summit? Part of our mission is to make the event accessible to members of the seed community who may not have the financial means to travel to and attend a conference. To enable a wider range of participation, we are making registration available with a pay-what-you-can model. To support this model, we are seeking sponsors for the event. Sponsors will be thanked on our event web page, and other promotional materials going forward. Contact Jasmine Sarp at jasmine@seedalliance.org to become a sponsor.