Interview Instructions and Template

Seed Stories
1

Pre-Conversation Check-In

  • Spend 10 + minutes prepping for the interview. If your interview subject has a website or social media, check it out, use it to inform your questions.

ZOOM

Start the zoom 5 minutes early so you’re there before the guest.

(Unless you have your own link) This is the zoom link that participants get automatically and you use to start the interview. Launch Meeting - Zoom

Our account is set so that you can join the zoom without logging in as a host.

At the start of the meeting time, Fireflies.ai will also join, to automatically record the meeting. Zoom is also recording automatically.

Taking notes or not: The interview will be transcribed, no need to take notes, except for yourself. You might want to take notes on things to follow up with later in the interview, or follow up in an email.

Beginning of the interview

  • Thank them
  • Introduce yourself. Where do you live, what is your connection to this project?
  • Explain what the recording is being used for (be familiar with the project summary).
  • Do they have questions about the project?
  • For the questions that follow, feel free to be casual about sticking to them. If they are a farmer, dig into farmer specific stuff. Seed Library? Talk more about that.
  • For some people it can feel natural to jump in with solutions/teaching during the interview. But the purpose is to hear from the interviewee, so remember there will be chances for follow up, further conversation where it can be more of conversation.

Interview Framework

Core Questions for All Interviews

  1. Welcome, about me, how we’re using this info, ok to record?
  • Dream out loud, in specifics. We’ll be using this to not only inform the movement, but to connect you with people and resources in the future.
  1. Tell me about your project, farm, organization, business.

  • Location

  • Mission

  • Why are you doing it? (ie what is your passion?)

  • Who does it serve

  • How is it structured? (ie business, nonprofit, solo etc)

  • How long have you been doing this?

  • How did you get involved with seeds?

  • (If relevant): Where do your seeds come from now?

  1. What work are you most proud of, personally or within your organization?

  2. Find their biggest pain points in this work (other versions of this question are below, whatever feels most comfortable, no need to ask all of them)

  • What are your biggest challenges in seed saving work and local seeds?

  • Are there any challenges or roadblocks you keep running into that you wish you had help with?

  • Is there anything you’ve tried that didn’t quite work—or that you’re still trying to figure out?

  • Where do you feel stretched too thin or isolated in your work?

    1. Ask follow up questions based on their answers to get to specifics
    2. Community project or seed library: Ask about seed return challenges.

  1. What resources or support would make your work more effective?

  • Details! What exactly would be helpful to them? Examples. Ask clarifying questions.
  • When people mention educational material- get them to be super specific.
  • Dream out loud and be specific.
  • What groups do you most appeal to / struggle to reach?

  1. If you had a magic wand or a million dollars, what would you change about how seed saving or local food work happens in your community?

  2. Who else should we be talking to? (optional)

  3. Any questions for me?

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