Join us at Green Village Initiative (GVI) for a hands-on workshop led by Diego Osses, Executive Director of GVI, and Geordie Elkins, Executive Director of the Highstead Foundation. This session introduces the fundamentals of seed collection and germination, connecting ecological knowledge with community-based food systems. Participants will learn practical techniques for identifying, collecting, and storing native and cultivated seeds, and gain insight into germination methods that support both home and community gardens. The workshop will explore the role of seed saving in resilience, and ecological restoration—rooted in the work happening at GVI’s Reservoir Community Farm and across regional conservation networks.
Diego Osses is the Executive Director of Green Village Initiative (GVI), driving programs that use urban farming and gardening to advance food justice and community resilience in Bridgeport, CT. An agricultural engineer with over 25 years of international experience across Chile, China, and Thailand, he holds an MBA and a Master’s in Finance. At GVI, Diego oversees the Reservoir Community Farm and the Youth Leadership Program, empowering residents to build a more equitable, sustainable future.
Geordie Elkins is the Executive Director of the Highstead Foundation in Redding, CT, where he leads conservation initiatives and oversees ecotype seed collection. A Temple University graduate in horticulture with a focus on native plants, Geordie is a founding member of the Northeast Seed Network and serves on the steering committees of Local 59 seed network. Passionate about wild landscapes and mountain environments, he brings a deep love for the outdoors to his work in ecological preservation.