Organic Seed Breeding with Will Hazzard

In this episode, we're digging into organic seed production. Seed saving and breeding are all the rage in the flower farming world at the moment, which is an exciting way to dive even deeper into the world of flowers and get even nerdier.  And we all love getting nerdier, don't we?  :-) 

Today's guest, Will Hazard, is the zinnia breeding project lead at the University of California, Davis.  Through the SCOPE program -- which stands for Sustainable Crop Production and Enhancement, Will and his team of fellow research students have been breaking new ground in flower breeding that benefits both the environment and future generations of farmers.  In particular, they've honed in on zinnias to breed for better stem length and disease resistance.  In this conversation, Will unpacks the challenges, the innovations, and the incredible potential of this vital field of study. 

Mentioned in this Episode: 

UC Davis SCOPE Project

Video demo of saving zinnia seeds properly

UC Davis Zinnia Bulletin 2024

UC Davis Instagram (with lots of zinnia breeding photos) 

Tips for Getting Involved in Organic Seed Breeding

Podcast with John Kempf and Dr. James White discussing seed biomes

Email Will directly at [email protected]

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE?  

Join the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network (RFFN) for just $20/year if you'd like to continue the conversation on topics covered in this episode.

You'll also gain access to lots of helpful articles, discussion boards, and online courses. 

On-demand Short Courses for Farmers on RFFN: 

• Foliage for the Win
• Successful Flower CSAs and Subscriptions
• CREW: Hiring and Managing
• Simple Steps to Better Marketing
• Woodies: Playing the Long Game (coming in February 2025)

Tap into the above courses and resources any time you need.  These are available on-demand through the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network.  Current RFFN members shoud follow this link to access the Short Courses at the discounted member rate.   

 

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If you enjoyed this episode, you might also want to listen to: 

Episode 28: Seed Starting, Regenerative Style with Lisa Mason Zeigler

Episode 24: Farming to Heal the Ecosystem with Dr. Doug Tallamy

Episode 31: Beneficial Insects and Natural Pest Control with IPM Expert Margaret Parks of Evergreen Growers Supply

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