SeedKeepers Native Seed Intensive

Hands-on native seed training - from identification through to collection, cleaning, storage and field planning

Build native seed capability that holds up in the field

Working with native seed sounds straightforward until you’re out on-country trying to do it properly.

You can be in the right place, putting in the effort, and still end up with seed that doesn’t perform - not because the intent isn’t there, but because the small details haven’t been worked through.

Knowing when seed is ready.
Handling it without damaging it.
Cleaning it in a way that keeps it usable.
Storing it so it doesn’t quietly lose viability.

These are the parts that determine whether the work holds together or not.

The SeedKeepers Native Seed Intensive is built around those details - working through them in real conditions, with real material, so the process makes sense and can be carried forward.

What this is

This is a field-based, on-country intensive that moves through the full native seed process as it actually happens - from plant identification through to collection, processing, storage, and planning.

It combines time in the field with practical handling and structured sessions that explain what is happening and why.

You’re not stepping away from the work to learn about it.
You’re working within it, and building capability as you go.

What you will take away

By the end of the intensive, the shift is not just in what you know, but in what you can do.

You will be able to walk onto Country and recognise which species are ready for collection, rather than guessing or relying on fixed timing.

You will understand how to collect seed in a way that protects its quality, and how to avoid the small handling mistakes that reduce viability before you even realise it.

You will have worked directly with raw material - drying, cleaning, and separating usable seed - so you know what “good” looks like and how to get there.

You will understand how different types of seed behave in storage, and how to store them so they last, rather than slowly failing over time.

You will also have a clear sense of what it takes to move from seed to plant - including the basics of dormancy, germination, and what needs to happen for seed to actually perform in restoration.

And importantly, you will leave with the ability to plan future seed work - knowing what to collect, when to return, and how to align that effort with the needs of your projects.

What we work through

The intensive moves through the seed pathway in a way that builds from the ground up.

It starts with understanding the plant - how it grows, flowers, and sets seed - and how environmental conditions influence that process.

From there, the focus moves into the field, working with species that are present and available. Collection is done in context, with attention to timing, method, and care.

Once material is collected, the work shifts into handling and processing - drying, cleaning, and preparing seed so it can actually be used.

Storage is treated as part of the process, not an afterthought - understanding how moisture, temperature, and packaging affect viability over time.

The final part of the intensive looks forward - how to apply this in an ongoing way, through simple planning and a clearer understanding of what drives good outcomes.

Who this is for

This intensive works equally well for teams who are just starting out, and for those who have already begun collecting but want to improve how the work is done.

It suits:

• ranger teams working on-country

• Indigenous organisations and enterprises

• NRM and restoration groups

• project teams needing reliable seed processes

What matters is that the work is real, and needs to be done properly.

How it runs

The intensive is delivered on-country over 3–5 days, in a small group setting.

Each day moves between being out in the field, working with collected material, and stepping back briefly to understand what is happening and why.

The structure is informed by established plant propagation and horticultural training, but adapted to the realities of on-country work - where conditions are variable and decisions matter.

What changes after

The biggest shift is that the work begins to hold together.

Instead of treating seed collection, handling, and storage as separate tasks, it becomes a connected process where each step supports the next.

Decisions become clearer.
Mistakes become easier to see and avoid.
And the effort being put in starts to translate into usable seed.

Next step

If this aligns with the work you’re doing, the next step is a short conversation.

We can look at your location, the species you’re working with, and what would be most useful for your team.

👉 Book a Seed Intensive Call

Good native seed work doesn’t come from theory alone.

It comes from spending time in the process - understanding the plant, the timing, the handling, and what happens after.

When those pieces are connected, the results change.

That’s what this intensive is designed to do.