Our Team

Ken Byrka (he/him)
Kathy Byrka (she/her)
Mallory Byrka (she/her)

Meet Ken! 

A true agricultural expert and the heart of Revival Seeds, Ken’s journey with farming began early, with his first tractor ride on his grandfather Stanley’s 1945 Case row cropper—a moment that sparked a lifelong passion for agriculture. Growing up in rural Manitoba, Ken was surrounded by a family of farmers who cultivated many of the varieties now carried by Revival Seeds.

Ken’s hands-on experience began in his teenage years, working in an onion factory pickling onions and at McCains packaging potatoes. His love for the land led him to earn a Bachelor of Education and an Agriculture and Horticulture Diploma with Honors from the University of Manitoba. His excellence in the field earned him the prestigious Governor General Award and the Highest Standing in Farm Planning Project Brad Jonk Memorial Award.

With a wealth of experience, including managing a 10-acre apple orchard in BC and a 10-acre organic market garden in Manitoba, Ken brings unmatched expertise to Revival Seeds. He’s a mastermind when it comes to seed history, trials, mulching, field planning, growing information, and plant genus—and he’s always eager to learn more. Ken is dedicated to ensuring the success and sustainability of every seed we plant.

Beyond farming, Ken is a talented singer-songwriter and recording artist who toured the world with his band Sleddogs. In addition to his work at Revival Seeds and his love for music, Ken enjoys bird watching, architecture, and woodworking!

Meet Kathy!

The indispensable force behind the smooth operations at Revival Seeds has a Master of Education from Brandon University, a Bachelor of Business Education from the University of Manitoba, and a Prairie Horticulture Certificate from Olds College. She has played a key role in developing horticulture curriculum for Grades 9-12 and spent 10 years teaching horticulture and greenhouse production across multiple school districts.

Kathy’s love for gardening began in her childhood, when she eagerly looked forward to visiting her grandfather’s big garden. She still fondly remembers the wooden path lined with tall trees that led to rows of peas, beans, and raspberries, which she would pick with delight. Her father also had a large garden, where he lovingly tended to the plants and taught Kathy the art of companion planting.

At Revival Seeds, Kathy wears many hats. She not only manages a wide range of tasks on the farm but also handles crucial behind-the-scenes work, including administrative tasks, management, and bookkeeping. Kathy ensures that everything runs smoothly, from the fields to the office. She’s also the one who personally brings your orders to the post office every day so that they reach you on time.

Kathy loves spending time with her family, dancing, cooking, and baking. She enjoys trying out new recipes using the farm’s fresh produce, bringing the flavours of Revival Seeds into her kitchen!

Meet Mallory!

With a Certificate in Organic Agriculture from Dalhousie University, where she graduated on the Dean’s List with top marks and an impressive 4.25 GPA, Mallory is a true expert in the field! She also has a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) degree from Acadia University.

A loving mother of two boys, with a little girl on the way due in fall 2024, Mallory often has her kids join her in the fields, where they learn the values of hard work, respect for nature, and the joys of farm life. This family-centric approach is at the heart of Revival Seeds, where every seed sown and every product offered is done with care and dedication. Balancing the roles of mother, entrepreneur, and farmer, Mallory is an inspiration to women and young moms everywhere.

Growing up on farms is where she cultivated a strong work ethic and resourcefulness, later honing her customer service skills through various roles.

Mallory's love for people and her sociable nature make her eager to connect with our valued customers. Whether you’ve met her at a farmer’s market booth, during a local order pickup, or on the phone, you know that her friendly demeanour and warm personality always leave you with a smile.

In addition to Revival Seeds and her family, Mallory loves travelling, playing sports, and animals! 


In 1903, Iwan and Anna Guryn immigrated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire (which is now known as the Western Ukraine) to Canada with fifteen dollars and a trunk of assorted seeds. They were farmers lured by the availability of the free land grants on the prairies. In 1905 they began breaking land and seeding their first crops near Riding Mountain, Manitoba. It was on this original homestead in 1925 where Katie Guryn would marry Dmytro Byrka. Together, they would establish a market garden business selling and trading their heirloom vegetables and seeds to local merchants and settlers.

They soon gained a reputation for having produce and seeds of superior quality. The heritage of quality seed and hardy selection continued for almost fifty years at mostly a local level, however the Byrka seed saving endeavour would be continued by many of their eight children.

Today, a 4th and 5th generation of Byrka family seed savers are fortunate enough to have retained a few of the original heirloom varieties along with the growing knowledge and seed selection. The seed saving tradition was officially revived in 2017 by Ken & Kathy Byrka along with their two daughters Rachel (Elsie Morden) & Mallory, almost 100 years after the original garden plots and trials were first carried out on the prairie soils near Riding Mountain, Manitoba.

Revival Seeds is located in the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. The farm and business is owned and operated by Ken and Kathy, along with their daughter Mallory Byrka.

It is our family commitment to provide hardy heirloom, open pollinated, and diverse seed varieties that are grown under organic production principles to our customers, continuing the tradition of the original family farm.

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