Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), host of annual Farm Day events in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, is holding its first Santa Barbara County Farm Day Every Day free tour, 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Plantel Nurseries in Santa Maria.

A view inside a large greenhouse at Plantel Nurseries, which plants more than one billion seedlings on about 36,000 acres every year. (Courtesy photo)
Plantel Nurseries plants more than one billion seedlings on about 36,000 acres every year. (Courtesy photo)

Plantel Nurseries grows vegetable seedlings in large greenhouses. The seedlings are then sent to farms where they are planted and grown. Plantel plants more than one billion seedlings on some 36,000 acres every year.

Tour participants will learn about the process of growing and shipping vegetable transplants. They will explore greenhouses, learn about technology’s role in plant growing, and take home vegetable seedings to grow themselves.

“It’s not often that you can spend a few hours on a working farm and see firsthand how the food we eat is grown,” says Caitlin Paulus-Case. “Plantel begins the growing process at the very beginning, from seed.”

The tour is open to all ages. Coffee, pastries and fruit are provided.

Farm Day Every Day events are limited to 50 attendees. Registration for the Plantel Nurseries tour opens at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14.

To learn how to register and view upcoming tour locations, visit https://www.seeag.org/farm-day-every-day. Farm Day Every Day farm tours alternate between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

For more, call 805-892-8155 or email seeag.education@seeag.org.