69: Matthew Hoffman on Saving Organic and Heirloom Seeds

April 23, 2016

69: Matthew Hoffman on Saving Organic and Heirloom Seeds

Matthew and his wife Astrid co-founded of The Living Seed Company, an organic and heirloom seed company, serving the greater Bay Area.  Dedicated to planting the seeds of World Peace through supporting the act of families, friends and communities growing food together. The Living Seed Company preserves the diversity in our food through the distribution and growing of open pollinated seeds and educating about the life-affirming art of seed saving.  Matthew and Astrid live and farm happily in Point Reyes Station, California.

Listen in for some insight from Matthew on how to save seeds! You’ll learn the difference between wet processing and dry processing, what the “snap test” and the “hammer test” are (this was new even to Greg!), which seeds are the easiest to save, and the difference between hybrid, open-pollinated, and GMO seeds.

Don’t miss an episode! Click here to sign up for weekly podcast updates.

Matthew mentions that Bill McDorman was an inspiring teacher for him. Bill teaches Seed School Online with Urban Farm U and also has been a guest on The Urban Farm Podcast!

Where can you learn more from Matthew?

LivingSeedCompany.com – sign up for the newsletter for updates!

Matthew@LivingSeedCompany.com

Bonus Episode 29: Seed Saving Class July 2019
August 20, 2019

471: Jake Mowrer on Deep in the Soil
August 17, 2019

470: David Stark on Soil Microbes
August 13, 2019

469: Francey Slater on Urban Ag and Food Justice
August 10, 2019

468: Chris Smith on Okra
August 6, 2019

467: Bentley Christie on Worm Composting
August 3, 2019

Leave Comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

“I Love your podcasts! Inspires me to truly believe you can have a farm anywhere! You truly can bloom wherever you are planted!!”

— Lynn M. from Racine, WI

I love your podcasts!
“We first want to start with thank you for inspiring us to grow food. As new parents of twins we had a small goal of growing some food for our babies, now we have lot. Recently my twins stepped into the garden… read more

My wife almost cried…
“Greg, this is awesome – and just what I needed. I have done taken some of your online classes, have toured The Micro Farm, and have experimented a lot with what I’ve learned from all of your Webinars, etc. I am sharing as much as I can with … read more

This little book is a simple solution for beginners
“Hi Greg, A friend in the Phoenix area put me onto your podcast, and I’m grateful. We live in the Des Moines, Iowa area, and after 30 years serving as pastor of local congregations, I — along with my educational administer wife — followed the … read more

Thank you for the encouragement and continuing education
“I found it [Growing Food The Basics] packed with information and greatly appreciate that I will be able to return to the replays to review again and again as needed. I did greatly appreciate the warm conversational interaction between Greg and Kari in the teaching process. I would indeed recommend this course to others.”

–Mary Alice B., Phoenix, AZ

I found it packed with information
“The energy and passion expressed was awesome and the amount of information is perfect.” [Growing food the basics]

–Kimberly D., Davie, FL

The energy and passion expressed was awesome
“Hello Greg and team,

This is an out-and-out fan letter. Probably my first and I’m not young!

What a wonderful resource you provide!

I subscribe to your podcast and just finished…. read more

This is an out-and-out fan letter
“Hi there Greg.

I discovered your podcast a few months ago and I’m enjoying it immensely. All your guests are very interesting and I love hearing about how others garden. I especially enjoyed the interview with Perrine Herve-Gruyer and I ended up buying their book Miraculous Abundance.

I live with my husband and two children in Adelaide, South Australia. It’s a city of a little over 1 million people and we live about 6km from the CBD in the inner suburbs. We are lucky to have…” read more

It’s amazing how much you can grow in a small space
“Seed Saving School Online is an awesome course. After completing this course I have a better understanding of the importance as to why we should… read more

I have a better understanding
“Thanks for the Creating the Permaculture City course. I really got a lot out of it, and will be sharing much of what I learned with my family during this holiday season.”

“I thought Toby was a great presenter, and Greg was too, and I want to purchase more of their permaculture resource materials. I am recommending this to my family, and I wish I could have watched the presentations with … read more

I am recommending this to my family
“Toby Hemenway is an eloquent, experienced, thoughtful, and inspiring instructor. Couldn’t ask for better. Class materials were excellent and will keep me reading this winter. Urban Farm had its act together with the webinars and posting materials. The class helped me … read more

Couldn’t ask for better
“Very knowledgeable presenter [Chad Hudspeth] and questions answered fully. Yes, definitely would recommend [Aquaponics Revealed] ”

–Rick I. from Goodyear, AZ

Definitely would recommend Aquaponics Revealed
“The fact that you guys are so knowledgeable made the class very helpful. I liked the level of detail you went into. That is very much needed by those of us who will be starting and operating our own systems. Thanks!”

— Mary C. from Fort Worth, TX
on Aquaponics Revealed

I liked the level of detail you went into
“I would recommend this class [Jump Start Your Urban Farm] to everyone because the passion you have for the permaculture principles presented has impacted my thinking and will shape my future plans and actions!”

-Valeriee from Houston, TX

The passion … has impacted my thinking
“I will definitely take more classes!! Total mind shift from this class!!”

– Michelle on Jump Start Your Urban Farm

Total mind shift!
Dear Mr. Peterson,

I am a recent Earth and Environmental Studies graduate from the ASU Spring Class of 2015. A few years ago (Spring of 2014) I took your Sustainable Food and Farms class as an elective for my Sustainability minor. Even as an Environmental Studies student, I had never really … read more

I took your Sustainable Food and Farms class
“I loved all of the attached resource materials in addition to the webinar. Kari and of course Greg are very knowledgeable and have hands on experience.”

–Mary Lynn K. from Phoenix, AZ on Growing Food The Basics

I loved all of the attached resource materials
“The practical guidance is wonderful – and I am an experienced gardener! The resources, videos, guests and your enthusiasm for the subject add inspiration and depth. You have re-ignited my love for systems theory too.”

-LC G. from Phoenix, AZ on Jump Start Your Urban Farm

You have re-ignited my love
“I was so completely surprised when I called my husband at 6AM and he said that he was listening to a podcast. Thank you so much for the inspiration you have given him to come along side me more with my desires for our farm. <3 You have no idea how much this meant to me this morning!”

–Miranda J., Buckeye, AZ

My husband listened to the Podcast!
“I am thankful for all you do. You have on so many great guests. I wish I had time to listen to them all and intend to try.”

–Ellie,

You have so many great guests
“Greg, I think ate about 8 Desert Gold peaches today. They’re soooo good! I planted my tree in 2016. I can’t thank you enough for the fruit tree program and…” read more

I think ate about 8 Desert Gold peaches today
“Oh My Goodness! DeBorah was fantastic – I could listen to her all day – thanks for introducing such a delightful lady to us.”

–Elaine M

I could listen all day
“In three half-hour bursts a week, this incredible and prolific off-shoot of Urban Farm U is a powerhouse among farming podcasts. Host Greg Peterson, along with his wonderful array of guests, provides a new interview and a subsequently new perspective on urban farming in every episode. You will learn the ins and outs of beekeeping, bartering, composting, backyard chicken farming, permaculture, plant breeding and just about everything in between. A farmer favorite, and a great source of knowledge.”

— Excerpt from Jesse Frost’s Article “7 Farming Podcasts You Should be Listening to” on Hobbyfarms.com

A powerhouse among farming podcasts
“I absolutely love your post of June 12, interesting and so inspiring. You are 1 of the 2 people in Phoenix that has changed my life the most.”

– Nancy K., from Phoenix

Changed my life the most
“You opened up my world, thank you so much!!!! Since [I’m not on] Facebook it took your podcast to make me realize there are other people all over the world doing great things! You do the fieldwork for me, interviewing all those great people. I am so grateful! It all started with “How to speak chicken”. That absolutely made my day and I am hooked ever since. In the meantime, I ordered books from Jessica Walliser, Catherine Bukowski, Brad Lancaster and Gabe Brown …. Now I just need the time to read them. Please [continue] to educate and inspire all of us, thank you so much. Best regards,”

– Yella, R., from Munich, Germany

You opened up my world
“I would like to take an opportunity to stop and say how much I appreciate your podcasts. I just did a random search (Spotify) on urban farming and it popped up. You had all the topics I was interested in need, backyard chickens, edible forest and on and on. I tried listening to other podcasts and I keep coming back to yours. Why? Yours are professionally done and *gasp* EDITED! You know how to ask the right questions And trim it down to keep my interest and teach me. I can’t tell you how many other podcasts I have tried to listen to and the audio is bad, the guests ramble on and on, and the subject matter is not interesting after 5 min. A quality product you have and I can tell the effort gone into it to make it so. Love the guests, love the books you recommend or websites for further research…. Well done farmer Greg your detour into the tech world paid off! I’m just getting into your website now and can’t wait to find the hidden gems there as well! I am starting my first beds this year at our new place in Eastern Ontario Canada but with the help of many guests that were on your show I feel well equipped to tackle our challenging climate… Now if the snow would finish melting so I can harden off my seedlings! Thanks”

-Stacey, from Eastern Ontario Canada

All the topics I was interested in
“I just wanted to say thank you for inspiring me to plant fruit trees, three years ago! I’ve been eating apricots, peaches, mulberries, plums, pomegranates, and a few figs, and it’s just a beautiful thing. I’m adding the the garden as I go, and seeing the smile on my kids face when we pick fruits, I just want to fill the whole property with edibles!
Thank you for the quality trees too!”

-Karine K, from Phoenix AZ

Inspired to plant fruit trees
“I also wanted to let you know, I have made a resolution to listen to every single one of your podcast episodes. I am currently just starting but I keep thinking of how much more I’ll learn about permaculture by committing myself to this practice. I thoroughly enjoy this time and feel like I’m getting to know you all better.

… Thanks once again for ALL that you do. I know it must be a team effort with Farmer Greg at the helm. And it must be so hard. But it is so worthwhile. You don’t realize the small and big changes we (permies & newbie growers alike) are making because of what we learn from you all.”

–Nicky S, from Permaculture Gardens

I’ve made a resolution