It's crop planning time!

I'm sharing the spreadsheet system I've been evolving on farms for over 20 years. These sheets start with your financial goals and work backwards through your sales plan to your field plan. You end up with field schedules, nursery schedules, and a seed order.

Crop planning can feel overwhelming, but when it's done right, it brings clarity, confidence, and less stress to your growing season. And ultimately, when you grow the right amount of crop for your sales channels without extra work, you're on the road to a more profitable farm.

In this episode, you'll hear about two sets of spreadsheets:

🌱 The Basic Farmer Spreadsheet Academy Crop Plan templates.

📊 The Full Crop Plan & Harvest Management Framework that are part of my Farm Spreadsheets for All Seasons course.

You can use these spreadsheets to plan your market garden, your cut flower production, or even your seed crops.

I'll share how these systems work, why pivot tables are a game-changer, and how you can use spreadsheets to plan, track, and grow smarter this season.

It's time to figure out what to grow next season. Enjoy the minisode!

Episode links

Pivot table tutorial

Basic Farmer Spreadsheet Academy Crop Plan Templates

My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.

News Links

Find our more about Permastead:https://github.com/curvedspace/Permastead

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

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Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

I invited Janisse Ray for this New Year's Eve episode because I wanted to start the year grounded in the idea of place, rooted in connection, and inspired in your seed work.

Janisse is a writer, naturalist, and farmer based in south Georgia.She is the author of The Seed Underground and Journey in Place, and writes the Substack Trackless Wild.

In this episode, Janisse and I talk about how you learn to be in place and the concept of place-keeping. We explore how this works its way into seed work and foodways. We also dive into the tension between trying to save every seed and focusing on growing a few crops.

In the deep dive, we talk about growing okra for seed.

I invited Janisse for this New Year's Eve episode because I wanted us to start the year grounded in the idea of place, rooted in connection, and inspire you in your seed work.

Enjoy the conversation and happy new year!

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Episode links

Janisse Ray website

Janisse Ray on substack

Janisse Ray on instagram

The latest issue of Crop Stories from Utopian Seed Project features an article from Janisse Ray.

News Links

My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

As we wrap up this year, I want to do something a little bit different. At the end of every Seed Farmer conversations I ask my guests two questions

1- What would you tell your younger seed-growing self?

2- What would you say to market growers & gardeners to inspire them to start growing seed?

The answers I get are really wonderful and I often think about them afterwards.

I've decided to take the answers from episodes 1-10 and put them together to share with you.

In this episode we hear words of advice from …

• Frank Morton of WIld Garden Seeds

• Adrianna and Joelene of Empowered Flowers

• Marie-Claude Comeau of Semences St-Laurent

• Kristyn Leach of Second Generation Seeds

• Annie and Nathaniel of Deep Harvest Farm

• Helen Skiba of Artemis Flower Farm

• Liz and Matthew of Muddy Fingers Farm

• Robin Tunnicliffe of Sea Bluff Farm

• Chris & Owen of Truelove Seeds

• Rowen White of Sierra Seeds

Enjoy the episode!

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Episode links

Holiday Special - My Harvest System Design is 50% off!

My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

So I've been quietly working on something since April. It hasn't exactly been a secret, but it has mostly stayed under wraps. In this episode, it's finally time to share that project.

The big news: I've co-written a book with Julia Shanks of The Farmer's Office, and we've just submitted the manuscript to the publisher.

In this episode, Julia and I talk about how this collaboration began, why we wanted to work together, and what each of us brought to the book. We also share what we're most excited for you to read, and how this book connects farm production, business planning, and quality of life into one practical framework.

And yes, the project finally has a name. The book is called The Profitable Farmer: Strategic Farm Business Planning for Profit, Purpose, and Quality of Life. It will be released in September 2026, so consider this your early heads-up to mark your calendar.

Enjoy the conversation!

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Episode links

The Farmer's Office website

The Farmer's Office on instagram

Come to the Free Organic Seed Community Virtual Open House

Date: Wednesday, December 17th, 2025

Time: 7 – 8:30 PM Eastern

Watch the Growing for Seed and Produce recording of the webinar I gave last summer.

Holiday Special - My Harvest System Design is 50% off!

My crop planning course Farm Spreadsheets For All Seasons is open for registrations. It comes with a full set of crop planning and harvest management spreadsheet templates.

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

Alexis Yamashita is a community organizer, seed grower, and PhD student in Food Systems at the University of Vermont. Alexis has also been deeply involved with seed-based cooperatives. She helped found and served as co-director of Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, she co-managed the seed racks division of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and she lived in the egalitarian intentional community Twin Oaks.

In this episode, Alexis shares how her background - from cooperative seed work and community living to academic research - shapes her vision for seed systems rooted in culture, equity, and collaboration. We explore the motivations behind her current work and how she bridges grassroots organizing with institutional research.

In the deep dive, Alexis gets into growing mung beans and adzuki beans for seed. From growing to harvest to cleaning.

Enjoy the conversation!

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Episode links

Alexis at UVM

Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance

Come to the Free Organic Seed Community Virtual Open House

Date: Wednesday, December 17th, 2025

Time: 7 – 8:30 PM Eastern

Watch the Growing for Seed and Produce recording of the webinar I gave last summer.

Holiday Special - My Harvest System Design is 50% off!

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

Fred Thériault is a farmer and founding member of Tourne-Sol co-operative farm in Les Cèdres, Quebec, where they grow vegetables for 500 weekly CSA baskets and an acre of seed crops. I say "they" but I should guess I mean "we" because I farm with Fred at Tourne-Sol and we've been great friends for the last 25 years and have done all kinds of things together. Such as - Fred and I also co-authored the book Crop Planning for Organic Vegetable Growers.

In this episode, we talk seeds, but I also brought Fred on to explore what it's really like to be part of a co-op. We dive into the challenges and rewards of shared decision-making, balancing individual and collective goals, and building a farm culture where collaboration supports both production and innovation. Fred shares practical insights on how cooperative structures can help farmers thrive while maintaining flexibility and creativity on the farm..

In the deep dive, we focus on on-farm tomato breeding. Fred explains how he selected the Ruby-Sol tomato from a red hybrid, honing in on earliness, yield, and flavor. We explore the trade-offs between production efficiency and experimentation, and the lessons he's learned from years of tomato selection.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Episode links

Fred's Farm Co-Op Academy

Watch Fred's Free webinar: Start Your Agricultural Co‑op 101

Tourne-Sol farm's website

Tourne-Sol on instagram

The The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

Here's a peek inside the Seed Farmer Mentorship—a guided learning experience I've created to help growers build the skills, systems, and confidence to produce high-quality seed on their farms. This winter, I'll be hosting the mentorship for the second time, and I'm excited to guide a new group of growers through hands-on learning, practical tools, and a season of intentional seed projects.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Who the Seed Farmer Mentorship is for - both new and experienced seed growers

• How the mentorship combines pre-recorded videos with interactive live sessions

• What past participants have gained from the program, including skills, confidence, and inspiration

• The value of learning alongside a community of seed growers and sharing experiences

• How this mentorship can help you take your seed projects to the next level

Here are the 7 modules we cover in the mentorship:

1 - Seed Basics & Choose Your Seed Crops

2 - Recording Keeping For Seed Harvest & Cleaning

3 - Germination Tests, Seed Storage & Inventory Management

4 - Crop Planning & Growing Seeds On A Market Garden

5 - Plant Selection & On Farm Plant Breeding

6 - Sharing & Selling Seeds

7 - Seed Harvest & Cleaning Techniques

Registration for the winter cohort is now open. If you've ever wanted to grow seed more intentionally and connect with other growers, this is your chance to get started.

Find out more and register the Seed Farmer Mentorship here.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode links

Support the Utopian Seed Project for matching funds

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

❤️ Thanks for listening!

David Catzel is the BC Seed Security Program Manager at FarmFolk City Folk, the Regional Program Coordinator for the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, and serves on the board of the BC EcoSeed Co‑op. He also grows seed at Fraser Common Farm Co‑op.

In this episode, David shares his experience supporting growers, organizing cooperatives, and stewarding seed networks. We talk about on‑farm plant breeding, including his efforts to select an open‑pollinated white peacock kale.

In the deep dive, David and I get into the nitty-gritty of growing sea kale (Crambe maritima), covering its tricky germination, perennial habits, and seed production.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Enjoy the conversation!

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Episode links

BC Seeds Gatherings

https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/bc-seed-security-program/bc-seed-gathering/

Farm Folk City Folk

https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/bc-seed-security-program/

https://www.instagram.com/farmfolkcityfolk/

BC Seed Suppliers

https://farmfolkcityfolk.ca/find-seeds/bc-seed-suppliers/

The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security

https://www.seedsecurity.ca/en/

News Links

The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations!

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

You've reviewed your field records, gathered feedback from your team, looked at your sales channels, and even listened to your customers. Now it's time to bring it all together.

This is the final episode of the 2025 Season Review Challenge! Let's pull together everything you've learned and turn it into a clear picture of your season.

I'll also share a few examples from Tourne-Sol - including my frustration with cleaning Tithonia seeds and how amazing melons can be when everything goes right.

In this episode, we'll cover:

• Summarizing insights from all your seed reviews

• Celebrating your seed successes

• Learning from your seed challenges

• Identifying your biggest bottleneck in seed work

• Getting better with tool solutions, system solutions, and planning solutions

• Why saying "no" to one thing means saying "yes" to something better

Enjoy the episode — and congrats on completing the Season Review Challenge!

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

http://spreadsheet.farm/supportpodcast

Episode links

The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations!

Find our more about Organic Seed Alliance: Regional Seed Summits

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!

Matt Bell has worked at Johnny's Selected Seeds in Albion, Maine, since 2018. He is currently a trial technician focusing on cucurbits, but today's conversation dives into some of his previous work with brassicas.

Matt comes from a family with a long history of seed saving and continues that tradition by growing seed at home outside of his work at Johnny's. He also grows vegetables for his partner's café, Café Grazie, in Rockland, Maine.

In this episode, Matt shares how he approaches seed production with intentional goals, five-year selection plans, and the value of diversity over uniformity. We dive deep into overwintering brassicas — from digging and potting plants, pruning, and greenhouse setup, to managing cold-hardiness, rodent and aphid pressures, and drip irrigation.

Enjoy the conversation!

The Seed Farmer Mentorship is open for registrations!

Episode links

Johnny's website

Cafe Grazie instagram

Cafe Grazie website

Register for the Free 2025 Midwest Organic Seed Summit

Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

Get my weekly seed newsletter

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook/

❤️ Thanks for listening!