From Ariela Falkowski, Rootdown Organic Farm

From Ariela Falkowski, Rootdown Organic Farm

In 2026, with the help of Nikki from Stewardship Pemberton Society, I decided to grow a few seed crops as a side project at Rootdown Organic Farm, where I am farm manager, in Pemberton, BC. I have dabbled in seed growing for some years, and it keeps tugging at me because I know its importance. But the idea of adding another thing to the already busy days of running a mixed veggie farm just never seemed possible.

But then last winter two things happened: one, I took the Organic Vegetable Seed Production micro credential though VIU; and two, Nikki from Stewardship Pemberton announced the their new “seed grow out program” where they would partner with farms who had the space to grow out certain seed crops, and help with some of the labour involved in growing them – especially when it came to the seed harvest and cleaning stage.

And so after a brief meeting with Nikki, I incorporated 3 seed crops into the farm last year: an open pollinated heading broccoli called Solstice, Taj Mahal marigold, and tulsi basil. 

And while this project at times got pushed to the bottom of the to-do list, or required time from me after hours to accomplish things that needed doing – it also went remarkably well. We harvested a decent seed crop off of all three crops – most especially the broccoli! 

Another great benefit to these crops was the food and habitat they provided for pollinators throughout the season. Tulsi and marigolds are always bumping with pollinators when they are in bloom, but of course, broccoli normally gets harvested for its edible head and/or shoots before it goes to flower. So seeing the huge broccoli flowers in full bloom just buzzing with bees was a real treat.

While I am a long way from feeling like I can become a seed farmer of any note, I did learn a lot through this process, and appreciated taking one more step on my seed growing journey. 

Cheers,
Ariella