OGI Events

Seed saving for Irish organic growers — what’s the story? with Jason Horner
ZOOM | 13 October 2026 | 7:30pm
NON-MEMBERS BOOK HERE (€8)

About this event
Seed is often overlooked as just another input. In this webinar, drawing on his own experience as a commercial organic grower, Jason will challenge that mindset and get people thinking about seed differently.

Topics covered will include:
– The importance of good seed for good crops
– Farm-saved seed
– How to find better varieties
– What simple trials can reveal
​- Adapting varieties to your site and climate
– The benefits of saving your own seed
– Seed saving alongside growing market crops
– Possible outlets for seed
– What crops growers can start with

About Jason Horner
Jason’s first job was washing dishes as a teenager in a local kitchen. This lead to him studying hotel management at college and he subsequently became a chef working in kitchens ranging from youth hostels to Michelin-starred establishments in Ireland and France.

In the early 90s he met an organic grower in Kenmare Co. Kerry who introduced him to how food could/should taste. He decided that growing was his future and after that became a commercial organic grower himself for nearly 30 years. During this time he also learnt about seeds and has been a seed saver for the last 20 years. More recently he was the Ireland Coordinator for Gaia Seed Sovereignty programme. He lives in Co. Clare and still grows his own food from his own seeds.

Jason was one of the founding members of founding members of the Organic Growers of Ireland, and has also served on the boards of the Irish Seed Savers Association, the Organic Growers Alliance (UK), Ennis Farmers Market and the Irish Organic Association.