YOUTH SEED STEWARDSHIP
2024/2025
The Youth Seed Stewardship pilot is complete!
The Youth Seed Stewards (YSS) are the co-creators and carers of the brand new Inter-School Seed Library (more on that below!) that allows schools across Waterloo Region to access free seeds and support. Seed Stewards connect with each other and adult allies around seeds and local food. They are leaders in school-based food production efforts in the Region by enabling these very important inputs – seeds! – to be collected, nurtured, and distributed each year.
How did the pilot project go?
The Youth Seed Stewardship pilot started in October of 2024 with a set of learning workshops designed to provide participants with foundational knowledge in seed stewardship. From these workshops about half a dozen youth joined the project from November through to April, participating in monthly sessions, where they explored such things as:
What seeds should be in the newly created inter-school seed library?
How do we go about establishing a community-focused seed distribution model?
What information should be available to recipients of seeds about each variety?
How can we encourage and motivate schools to share seeds back with the Library?
Numbers are not the only (or most important) results we care about. This project has given the Seed Stewards unique opportunities to: learn more about how local food systems in Waterloo Region work; gain hands-on experience in seed saving and stewardship; have a voice in decision making (this boosts confidence and leadership skills!); and collaborate and socialize with each other and the adult allies invited to join the project. In short: it’s been educational and loads of fun!
What is the Inter-School Seed Library?
The Inter-School Seed Library is a collection of seeds available to school communities and youth in Waterloo Region. It aims to increase access to open-pollinated, heirloom, and regionally adapted seeds for school-based food production and for youth gardeners – all while engaging young people as leaders and changemakers in our local food systems.
The Library, in operation since February, is currently hosted at the Seeds of Diversity office in Uptown Waterloo, where it sits alongside our main seed collection (the Canadian Seed Library). Many of the seeds will be sent out to our youth garden teams as they care for six school garden spaces in Kitchener and Cambridge during July and August. Some other seeds will be sent to schools as requests continue to trickle in. The rest are being organized and jarred up (they’ll stay viable longer that way), to be kept safe and sound for next year.
Are you part of a school community in Waterloo Region and looking for seeds for food production? The Inter-School Seed Library is still open and accepting seed requests!
What’s next for the project?
The Youth Seed Stewardship project represents a significant step in empowering youth to take on active roles in their local food systems and we want to continue!
The 2025-26 Youth Seed Stewardship project will consist of a handful of workshops focused on supporting youth and educators to become seed champions by learning the basic skills of seed saving. From these workshops we will be welcoming two cohorts of youth to further develop and run the Inter-School Seed Library with the support of mentors. The first cohort, in October to November, will learn to save seeds, run germination tests, and determine the seeds that will be available for the upcoming season. The second cohort will join in February and March to create educational content and ensure the seeds are delivered to schools and youth.
Want to stay in the loop with this project?
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Our goal is for the Youth Seed Stewardship project to include youth from various cultural & socioeconomic groups in Waterloo Region.
WHY JOIN AS A SEED STEWARD?
There are many reasons to join the YSS project, including but not limited to:
- Build leadership and collaboration skills;
- Meet and work with like-minded peers and adult allies;
- Learn about seed and food security, urban agriculture, and local food systems;
- Work on special projects alongside youth with similar interests;
- Join an organization with 40 years of leadership in seed stewardship;
- Attend fun community-based events and field trips;
- Build your resume and university applications;
- Fulfil your required community service hours;
- Have fun!
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
- Youth between the ages of 14 and 19 at the start of the YSS in October 2024;
- Individuals who are interested in local food & sustainability, and want to learn from some great local folks in the sector;
- Those who are interested in becoming environmental leaders;
- Those who are keen to work within a small organization to develop and improve upon programs, processes, and outcomes;
- Those who can attend seed workshops on Tuesday, October 1st and 8th;
- Those who can commit to regular monthly meetings on Thursday evenings from November 2024 to April 2025;
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Ability to commit up to two hours per week between October 2024 and early May 2025 (for a total of up to 60 hours of involvement);
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A willingness to join and engage using Circle
Signups for the 2025-2026 Seed Steward team will open during summer 2025. Stay tuned via Instagram or our newsletter for news of other opportunities, or join the waitlist using our signup form. You can also email info@youthinfoodsystems.ca if you have questions, concerns, or would like to express interest in joining the next cohort of Seed Stewards!
