Organic Vegetable Seed Production Course

Why Choose Organic Seed Production? 

Seed is the foundation of our food system. Becoming an organic seed producer offers growers a profound opportunity to make purposeful decisions about the food and farming systems they engage with and endorse. 

Becoming an organic seed producer provides opportunities for real world impacts like: 

• Creating regionally-adapted seed that is resilient to the threats of climate change
• Creating, preserving and improving seed diversity for more flavourful and nutritious crops
• Alleviating the ongoing shortage of organic seed 
• Increasing on farm and ecosystem biodiversity 
• Increasing Canadian food security and supporting equitable farms and communities that want to feed people with care 

Through this course we aim to cultivate the next generations of Canadian seed producers who, like us, envision a future where organic seed security and integrity is increased, organic farmers have access to resilient and adaptive seed, and alternative seed systems are flourishing.

Course Overview

Registration

The course is being offered from February 3rd to March 31st, 2025. Registration is now open and closes on January 17th, 2025. Register through COG’s online store at www.shop.cog.ca or via the button below. Please review the full course overview and refund policy below before registering. 

Tuition: $500.00

Course Format

Organic Vegetable Seed Production is a self-directed, online, 8 week, comprehensive intermediate course focused on delivering the science and business of organic vegetable seed production. The course is national in scope but provides opportunities for learning and mentorship specific to your region. 

During this 8 week course, students will be offered a self-directed learning experience with live opportunities for mentorship with established Canadian seed growers and networking opportunities with their student peers but no formal instruction.

Students will be offered “office hours” with mentors – established Canadian seed growers – where they may ask questions and seek guidance on course materials and assessments as well as receive feedback on their seed crop plan. Students will have the opportunity to enroll in a regionally delivered farmer mentorship program to support continued hands-on learning throughout the growing season. Outside of a mandatory orientation session, students are not required to participate in these live opportunities in order to successfully complete the course, although it is strongly encouraged for a full learning experience.

Course Modules 

The course will build the competencies needed for successful, commercial organic seed producers. Modules covered in this course include:

1. The “why” and “how” of organic seed farming
2. Basic botany
3. Organic seed quality assurance 
4. Seed crop harvesting and cleaning 
5. The business of seed 
6. Seed production in a changing climate 
7. On-farm plant breeding and variety trialing

Course Assessments 

Each module includes smaller assessments in the forms of quizzes, journals and other reflective tools to support your learning – however the main assessment of the course is building a seed crop plan. There is no grading within the course – students successfully complete the course with a pass/fail by virtue of completing all course modules and assessments. A certificate of completion is awarded when all course elements have been completed. 

Course Access

Students will be provided 24/hr access to the course via an online LMS (learning management system) that houses all course materials and resources so they may learn at their own pace and schedule. 

The course will be available to registered students/alumni from the date of purchase indefinitely so they may refer back to it throughout their seed growing journeys. 

Intake periods for our 8 week course will be offered 1-2 times per year, with live mentorship and networking opportunities detailed above. Outside of these intake periods, the course materials will remain available to students but the course will be completely self-directed with no live elements at all. We encourage all students to register during an intake period and participate in the live course opportunities to benefit from the full scope of the course. 

Additional Requirements

Technology

The course is offered online only. All students must have access to the internet and a computer in order to successfully complete the course.  

Time Commitment

Students should expect to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week minimum to complete the course content, readings, activities, and assignments. Please note this is a self-directed, pilot course so weekly time commitments may vary with each learner.

Course Cancellations and Postponements

Canadian Organic Growers (COG) reserves the right to change or cancel a course at any time. When it is necessary to cancel or postpone a course, COG will make every effort to notify all students. It is important that you provide your full contact information including an email address when registering. In such cases, the paid course fee(s) will be refunded.

Refund Policy

• A full refund will be issued provided Canadian Organic Growers (COG) receives a refund request in writing at least 30 days prior to the course start date.
• If the refund request is received by COG after 30 days prior to the course start date and before the end of the first week of the course, a full refund, less a 25% cancellation fee will be provided.
• No refunds will be provided after the end of the first week of the course.
• Failure to take part in a course does not constitute notification of withdrawal and will result in the forfeiture of the entire course fee.

Contact

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Questions or need more info? Please contact ovsp@cog.ca.