Seed Saving Workshop - Whakatane

Join your co-hosts Jemma from The Eastern Field and Louise from Nikau Valley for an immersive Seed Saving Workshop in rural Whakatāne. Together they have over 40 years of seed saving experience living and working with seeds, alongside some of Aotearoa's most prominent seed savers.

This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as experienced gardeners interested in deepening their seed-saving skills. Through hands on experience and practical knowledge, participants will gain an understanding of:
-The importance of seed saving
-Planning and planting for seed (plant families, life cycles, reproductive systems, natural and hand pollination, fruit and seed types, plant population size, isolation distances, disease prevention)
-Harvesting and cleaning seeds (seed selection, harvesting, fermenting, drying, cleaning, and storing)

Hosted in a garden, participants will be able to explore established garden systems and plants used in seed-saving practice, and will have the opportunity to choose and process a variety of seeds. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical skills, a deeper understanding of plant breeding, and a strong foundation for saving seeds at home.
As the workshop will take place outdoors, participants are asked to bring sturdy footwear and suitable outdoor clothing. Those who would like to collect seeds to take home should also bring small jars and old envelopes.

This workshop has been made possible by Grow it local with support from the WDC climate resilience fund.

When: Sunday 8th March, 3pm

Where: Address given on registration

Tickets: $20

Accessibility - We want everyone to feel welcome at our events, if you have any physical, sensory, or other accessibility needs, please make contact ahead of time so we can support you.
Photography - Please note that photographs and videos may be taken at our events and used on our social media and website. If you or your children do not wish to be photographed, just let a staff member or volunteer know when you arrive.
Transport - To minimise environmental impact, we encourage walking, biking, carpooling, or using public transport to attend. Please note that some venues may have limited parking available.
Sustainable Backyards - This event is part of the 2026 Sustainable Backyards series. Check out our other event listings here or follow us on Facebook.