Description
**This is the only full Seed School that we'll be offering until September (which will take place in northern Utah). So if you've been wanting to attend Snake River Seed School, this is your ONE chance this summer!**
Join us for a Field Day at Dora’s Garden in Union, Oregon, followed by a 2-day Seed School at the Ascension Center in Cove, OR!
Registration fee helps to offset food costs. Scholarships are available. Please email casey @ snakeriverseeds.com if you are in need of full or partial financial assistance. No one turned away for inability to pay.
“SRSC’s Seed School is the definition of interdisciplinary education that both inspires its students and leaves us with hands-on skills we can put into practice in our own farms and neighborhoods. I feel prepared to save my own seeds and advocate for seed sovereignty while simultaneously wanting to learn so much more about the world I discovered this weekend. Save seeds! Thank you Casey & SRSC!” -Christa, Seed School attendee
June 14-16, 2026
Field Day:
Sunday, June 14th at Dora’s Garden in Union, Oregon
11am-2pm, with optional morning hike at 9:30
Tour highlights include:
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50 acre family farm with commercial alfalfa and mixed animal grazing interspersed with organic vegetable, flowers, and seed production!
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Soil health insights from Dora, a Ph.D. Soil Ecologist and an Accredited Professional with the Savory Institute!
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Small-scale seed production, germination testing, packaging, and marketing!
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Lunch from Dora & friends!
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And more!
Dora’s Garden is a woman-run, diversified farm in NE Oregon that focuses on heirloom seed production and eggs. Started by Susan Isabel Boyd, the operation is now in the hands of her daughter, Dora, who continues Susan’s commitment to organic methods. At Dora’s Garden, small grazers like geese, goats, and sheep, as well as chickens, are carefully integrated into production with the goal of building soil health while being mindful of the local ecology.
Seed School:
Monday, June 15th 9am-4pm
Location: Ascension School (Morris House, 1104 Church St, Cove, OR 97824) with off-site field trip to OSU grain trials
AFTER PARTY at Ascension School 4-6pm: Celebrating heritage grains with cookies from Grain Queen & beer from Side A Brewing!
Tuesday, June 16th 9am-4:30pm
Location: Ascension School with off-site field trip to the Plantworks
Whether you’re looking to increase your own self-sufficiency or to add seed production to your market garden or farm offerings, there has never been a better time to relearn this vital part of our agricultural heritage.
The two-day Seed School will cover a range of basics to grow high-quality organic seeds, including:
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Seed biology
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Flowers and pollination
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Growing seeds
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Harvesting and processing seeds
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Seed storage
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Seed literacy
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Wild seed harvesting
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Organic weed, pest, and disease control in seed crops
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Adding seed production to your market garden or farm
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Selection and on-farm crop improvement
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Opportunities for selling your seeds
This school will include special guest presenters & collaborators. You don't want to miss it!
Lunches will be provided by Liberty Theater Cafe in LaGrande and feature local ingredients!
Spots are limited!
Cost: $10 field day, $20 each day of Seed School, or $40 for all 3 days!
Registration fee helps to offset food costs. Scholarships are available. No one turned away for inability to pay.
Questions about this event and requests for full or partial financial assistance can both be directed to casey @ snakeriverseeds.com
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).”
Know a farm interested in transitioning to organic? Reach out to Hanna, an Organic Transition Specialist, at TOPP@tilth.org