Biodynamic seed growing at Transition Farm

The Otway Seed Growers invite you to join us for a workshop with Robin Koster-Carlyon and Peter Carlyon of Transition Farm.

Transition Farm is a certified Demeter Biodynamic farm and seed company on the Mornington Peninsula. Beginning as a CSA vegetable farm, Robin and Peter shifted to full-time seed production in 2020 and have developed a remarkable catalogue of open-pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds for both home growers and market farmers.

"We have been trialing varieties for the past 17 years here in coastal Victoria searching for seasonal delights, varieties with flavour, local adaptation, yield and beauty, spent a decade as market growers and this is our sixth season putting all of our energy and growing space into seed production."

This workshop will be most suited to professional farmers and gardeners who are already growing seed crops, or have a reasonable understanding of the processes involved.

The workshop will start with a farm walk and topics covered will include:

• The practical application of biodynamic management on the farm, and the value of biodynamic and regionalised seed.

• A discussion of open-pollinated seed and preserving genetic information through seed work, including rogueing, isolation, and population sizes.

• The importance of breeding goals for each seed crop.

• Processing and cleaning seed.

We'll conclude with a Q&A session.

Carpooling is encouraged, and we’ll help connect those seeking and offering lifts a bit closer to the event. 

Cost: FREE, but places are limited and registration is essential

When: Meeting at 12pm at St Andrews Beach Brewery for a quick pre-workshop pizza before we head to the farm. The workshop will conclude at 4pm.

The Otway Seed Growers are presenting a program of workshops and gatherings with the support of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Upper Barwon Landcare Network.

Corangamite CMA’s Diverse Farms Resilient Catchments project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.