Seed Growers

We are greatful for the work that our Seed Growers do - our Seed Growers are contract growing vegetable, flower and herb seeds for our Koanga Gardens catalogue, and also some of the seed in the Koanga Institute catalogue. It is really a 'labour of love' for the seeds and all those who benefit from having these seeds remain part of our culture..We pay a fair price for each packet of seed, and hope to support more growers to earn their living growing seeds in a sustainable way. Our growers choose to live simple lives, supporting the Institute with their work. In a way this is a critical part of the puzzle of creating sustainable communities with jobs that support our local communities.

The exciting thing for us over the past 5 years or so is that we're now seeing many more very serious gardeners out there. By serious gardeners we mean growers who are planning to grow their families food, mostly all in their own gardens. This is quite a recent trend, and it takes a few years to figure out systems and routines and learn to do a good job of saving seed.

We're especially looking for families to become seed growers,who are planning to grow most of their own food and will be saving seed as a part of that natural process... of co-evolution... Those of us who grow the same seed lines year after year, eat the crops, save the seeds,  become close with those seeds...and you begin to hear, see and feel the nuances and qualities of those seeds... and those seeds become special. These are the sacred seeds that will keep our families strong. These are the seeds we are endeavouring to make available to you through the Koanga Institute.

The Koanga Institute is actively working with our Seed Growers, and Multipliers to ensure all seed is not only 'organically' grown but also grown to be nutrient dense. We hold annual Hui for growers to exchange information and share knowledge, and generally support each other.

Our current Seed Growers are:
 

Seed Multipliers

Each year some of the Institute seeds are kept alive and available to you in our Institute catalogue by our Seed Multipliers. Seed Multipliers are those of you who have some garden space at home that you are willing to dedicate to growing out a line or two of our seed and sending most of it back to us. We usually send out peas or beans because they are mostly self fertile, which means you don’t have to grow hundreds and they will not cross with the neighbours crops! They are also relatively easy to grow to seed and we have large collections of them. We gift a free membership of the Koanga Institute to each Seed Multiplier when we receive the seed back from them each year. We will support yu to grow these seeds organically and also to be nutriet dense, which means you will harvest higher quality seed. .

Our current Seed Multipliers are:

  • Diane Sisley (see below)
  • Betsy Kettle
  • Graeme & Dora Harkness
  • Richard Watson
  • Louise Shaw
  • Rose Burton
  • Jenny Merton
  • Maureen Skilton
  • Georg Stumpf
  • Toni Robertson
  • Ruth Wood
  • Denese SchickLeanne Harrop
  • Liselle Wood
  • Lesley Collins
  • Mark Hunter
  • Stewart Dixon
  • Ron Blincoe
  • Justine de la Cour
  • Sue Malcolm
  • Tanya Pauls
  • Liska Roath
  • Debbie Robinson
  • Isabella Tzscheutschler
  • Ian Buchanan
  • Annie Wilson
  • Beryl Murphy
  • Helen Clyde Mitchell
  • Cassie
  • Phyllis Tichinin
  • Jo Duff
  • Ian and Mihi
  • Lachlan McGregor
  • Jonet
  • Jacinda
  • Bart
  • Linnea Lindstroem
  • Jim O’Gorman
  • Christy Ralphs

Between them they grew over 50 lines of seed for us and we are really grateful for all the work they do. If you would like to join the team please contact us using our online email form . We'd love to hear from you.

Seed Guardians

Our Seed Guardians are those people who have an affinity for particular seeds, that they like to grow and are good at growing, year after year. Seeds or veges that they have some kind of relationship with and get to know very well. When you grow the same seed year after year you learn things about those seeds and veges that otherwise remain unrealised.

Our Seed Guardians are also people who have grown seeds for us over a few years and we know can produce good quality reliable crops, in quantities large enough to put into the catalogue. We especially value the comments Seed Guardians make about the seeds they grow because they will know them well.
Seed Guardians are gardeners who volunteer their time and support the Koanga Institute by sending us seed each year to share with you all. Seed Guardians receive free memberships and also as much growing support as required each year from the Koanga Institute.

We currently have the following Seed Guardians, and would welcome more.

  • Iris Huebler -  Berry Collection
  • Rob Hammington - Giant Alderman Peas, Scottish Broad Beans, White Butterfly Runner Beans, and Ruapehu Cauliflower
  • Wendy Evans - Giant Windsor Broadbean
  • Richard Watson