Summer Seed Saving with Madeline McKeever

Join us for an intensive, hands-on day of how and why saving seed is important.

Led by internationally renowned seed saver Madeline McKeever of Brown Envelope Seeds, the course will be delivered across a number of great locations - the Farm Classroom at the Ballymaloe Cookery School, our main glasshouse and the vegetable, fruit and wild flower fields where a wide variety of vegetables, fruit and herbs are grown organically each season. Madeline will lead a discussion in her inimitable style on seed security and sovereignty before demonstrating the practical instructions for saving seed of cereals, herbs and vegetables. Then it's your turn with Madeline and members of the farm and garden team on hand to answer any questions you might have. You'll also have a guided tour of the farm and gardens where we'll identify the different crops and plants going to seed.

Madeline McKeever grew up on a farm in Co Meath, studied botany in TCD, completing a MSc in vegetation history in 1984. After some time travelling, and a year long apprenticeship on an organic farm in Maine, she returned to Ireland in 1986 to farm in West Cork. The farm in Ardagh was managed as an organic dairy farm from 1987-1999, after which beef cattle and seeds became the main focus.  In 2005 the business name Brown Envelope Seeds was registered, and half of the farm was planted in broad-leaved trees. Since then seed production has been the main activity on the farm.  Brown Envelope Seeds are grown on the farm and by organic grower and seed saver, Jason Horner in Co Clare. All the seeds are Irish grown and certified organic.

The Aim of the course is to enable participants to save seeds of a wide variety of cereals, vegetables and herbs.

What You’ll Learn: 

• Describe the process of plant reproduction.
• Describe the difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination.
• Establish which vegetables cross with each other and which don't
• Understand in-breeding and out-breeding and the importance of having an appropriate Population of plants for seed-saving
• Sow and space annual crops for seed production
• Select plants for seed production.
• Know how to maintain flowering biennials and protect from wind damage
• Describe the importance of labelling and record keeping.
• Harvest seeds plants
• Dry seed plants in preparation for threshing
• Thresh by hand, and using simple tools.
• Clean seeds using screens and by winnowing
• Know how to carry out germination tests
• Extract seeds from wet fruit such as tomatoes and cucumbers
• Dry and store seeds
• Manage their personal seed bank

Course Elements: 

• A tour of the organic farm, gardens, dairy and greenhouses, which provide much of the seasonal produce you'll enjoy at lunch and see at the farm shop
• A discussion on seed security and sovereignty 
• Practical demonstration of how to save a variety of seeds
•  Opportunities to put theory into practice and save seeds yourself to take home

Good to Know:

• As we’ll spend time walking and learning around the farm please bring suitable clothing and footwear - and allow for changeable weather!
• Refreshments and Lunch included; eat alongside our students, cookery school teachers, farm staff, gardeners and visiting experts
• Tea and Coffee with whatever’s fresh out of the oven will be served from 9am so please arrive early to sign in, meet other students and get ready for a busy day of hands on learning
• The course is held at Ballymaloe Cookery School’s Organic Farm and Gardens in Shanagarry, Co. Cork P25 R274