A Family Legacy of Seeds

This post was originally published on the ABCeeds blog, 6.09.2025.

In 2022, a new chapter began for ABCeeds when our son, Toby, at the age of 16, chose a path beyond traditional schooling. Having completed his Year 10 certificate, Toby decided to join the family business full-time, driven by a genuine passion to learn and contribute to its success.

This decision, though not simple, has profoundly shaped the future of our small, thriving company. Although Toby enjoyed school life, when the world changed, he found the experience of school during lockdowns, with its sea of masked faces and evident fear with the scent of hand sanitiser, to be a stark contrast to the active, outdoor, hands-on world, he had stepped into, and he was glad to leave that behind.

World-renowned Horticulturist, the late Don Ellison OAM, Toby and Brad Woolcott, August 2018. Don was a fantastic mentor and friend, instilling in Brad a deep understanding of harvesting, cleaning, and storing seeds, knowledge that Brad then faithfully passed on to Toby.

Pictured at Don’s unit at the age of 13, holding his first seed packet, Toby was eager to learn from Don.

In 2020, Toby was learning from Brad on a bushwalk.

Stepping away from the classroom, Toby embraced our world of seeds, learning the entire process from the ground up. His journey began with mastering the art of seed-picking, a meticulous task requiring a keen eye. Brad taught him to identify plants and the optimal times for harvesting, ensuring each seed was at its peak maturity.

In 2022, deseeding Strelitzia, Toby was a few months into working full-time.

Next came the seed cleaning process, where Toby discovered the importance of patience and precision. Removing chaff and debris is a dusty yet crucial step in preparing the highest-quality seeds for our customers. He then moved on to counting and packing, tasks that might seem straightforward but are vital for accuracy and efficiency. Toby understands that every small retail packet or large wholesale order represents our commitment to quality, and he takes immense pride in ensuring our high standard.

❝This has been a remarkable journey of growth.❞ ~ Angela Woolcott

From a young man who once spent hours playing the PlayStation, Toby is now out in the field, enduring rain, the chill of frosty mornings, or the heat of the day, especially on his three-day trip to Queensland to harvest Bottle tree seeds in the intense heat of January 2024, as pictured.

He faces the challenges of the outdoors, from encountering snakes (he even trod on one once!) to dealing with spiders, ticks and sheer exhaustion.

His hands-on experience and dedication have infused the business with a vibrant new energy, reinforcing our family’s unwavering commitment to providing the best seeds possible.

Toby has learned to truly enjoy the process and staying fit alongside his dad, spending many hours talking and learning from him, including learning long botanical names (Latin – I lament, it’s hard!).

In 2023, Brad and Toby are enjoying a walk after a long day’s work, picking seeds.

Toby and Brad spend a lot of time together driving around, scouting for seed, and meeting many people in the community, which has brought out a confidence and a personality that was once hidden within his quiet nature. We are incredibly proud of the young man he has become.

He genuinely loves his job, and although he spends many peaceful hours in meticulous, repetitive seed cleaning mode or counting seeds into packets, he uses that time to listen to interesting podcasts or learning languages (currently French – Très bien, or very good!). Toby says, for him, it’s a true win-win, and we are glad he decided to join our small family business.

Toby always has a positive attitude and a smile on his face, just like his dad. Toby is not just our son; he is an integral part of ABCeeds, carrying on a legacy that we hope will flourish for generations to come.