http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-buy-heirloom-plants-seeds.html
Why it Matters to Buy Heirloom Plants and Seeds
The loss of genetic seed diversity facing us today may lead to a catastrophe far beyond our imagining. The Irish potato famine, which led to the death or displacement of two and a half million people in the 1840s, is an example of what can happen when farmers rely on only a few plant species as crop cornerstones.
One blight wiped out the single potato type that came from deep in the Andes mountains; it did not have the necessary resistance. If the Irish had planted different varieties of potatoes, one type would have most likely resisted the blight.
We can help save heirloom seeds by learning how to buy and save these genetically diverse jewels ourselves.
ABOUT SEEDS
One kind of seed, called First generation hybrids (F1 hybrids), have been hand-pollinated, and are patented, often sterile, genetically identical within food types, and sold from multinational seed companies.
A second kind of seeds are genetically engineered. Bioengineered seeds are fast contaminating the global seed supply on a wholesale level, and threatening the purity of seeds everywhere. The DNA of the plant has been changed. A cold water fish gene could be spliced into a tomato to make the plant more resistant to frost, for example.
A third kind of seeds are called heirloom or open-pollinated, genetically diverse jewels that have been passed on from generation to generation.
With heirloom seeds there are 10,000 varieties of apples, compared to the very few F1 hyprid apple types.
The Mayan word “gene” means “spiral of life.” The genes in heirloom seeds give life to our future. Unless the 100 million backyard gardeners and organic farmers keep these seeds alive, they will disappear altogether. This is truly an instance where one person–a lone gardener in a backyard vegetable garden–can potentially make all the difference in the world.
Here are two sources for finding heirloom seeds from seed saving organizations. These organizations represent a movement of several thousand backyard gardeners who are searching the countryside for endangered vegetables, fruits and grains.
The Seed Savers Exchange
The Seed Savers Exchange (SSE), is a non-profit tax-exempt organization that is saving old-time food crops from extinction.
Kent and Diane Whealy founded SSE in 1975 after an elderly, terminally ill relative bestowed three kinds of garden seeds brought from Bavaria four generations earlier.
The Whealys began searching for other “heirloom varieties” (seeds passed down from generation to generation) and soon discovered a vast, little-known genetic treasure.
SSE’s members are maintaining thousands of heirloom varieties, traditional Indian crops, garden varieties of the Mennonite and Amish, vegetables dropped from all seed catalogs and outstanding foreign varieties. Each year hundreds of members use SSE’s publications to distribute such seeds to ensure their survival.
Each winter SSE publishes a 304-page Seed Savers Yearbook which contains names and addresses of 900 members and 6,000 listings of rare vegetable and fruit varieties that they are offering to other gardeners. Seeds are obtained by writing directly to the members who are listing those varieties.
Native seeds/SEARCH
Native seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) is a non-profit seed conservation organization working to preserve the traditional native crops of the U.S. Southwest and Northwest Mexico. For centuries Native American farmers have grown corn, squash, beans and other crops under a variety of growing conditions.
NS/S encourages the continued use of these plants in their native habitats, and also distributes them widely to home gardeners, researchers and free of charge to Native American farmers. Wild relatives of crops–such as wild beans, chiles, gourds and cotton–are included in Native Seeds/SEARCH’s conservation efforts.
NS/S’s informative annual seed catalog lists more than 200 varieties for sale. Each crop listing includes seed saving information as well as culture and folklore.
Go to the Source
Seed to Seed
Seed to Seed is the wisest guide to seed saving and grassroots genetic preservation you will ever find.buy nowrelated stories
-
(5 comments)
-
(5 comments)
- annie
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
11 comments
add your comment »eGardenSeed.com (http://www.egardenseed.com) is a new on-line seed resource. They are a small company with great and knowledgeable customer service. They get their Heirloom seeds from small-time farmers and gardeners and they frequently have new products. I've had great experiences with them and will continue to use them over the larger seed distribution companies.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Genetically Modified food is DEAD food.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Saving heirloom varieties is VERY important and organizations like Native Seeds are performing a very valuable service to people of the world. A heirloom variety should never be cast aside because it isn't profitable for a commercial grower. However the hybrids and genetically engineered crops are what feed the world and will continue to do so until someone comes up with a revolutionary way of utilizing land more efficiently so that we don't have to have super crops. Food shortages are abound enough without trying to eliminate those highly productive crops. I am a strong believer in organics and natural production but also a strong believer that those who wish to get rid of all genetically engineered crops are quite clueless to the actual food production scale in the world. If only organic crops were grown (because the same production levels are impossible with organics) millions of people would starve in a matter of months. I have grown up on a farm and raising crops will always be my life. I know about commercial fertilizers and pesticides. I know that of course there are some bad apples in the farming community but most are very conservative and very enviromentally aware. If you chose organics or natural food that is great but please don't be against hybrids and genetically modified crops because they DO feed the world despite what some out there think.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
You can also go to www.MotherEarthNews.com
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
The full catalog is at http://www.nativeseeds.org/v2/content/SeedlistingCatalog2008.pdf
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
The link to Native seeds/SEARCH is broken. The correct link to their site is http://www.nativeseeds.org/v2/default.php, or the catalog is at http://www.nativeseeds.org/v2/NSSholiday_catalog2008.pdf
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I love heirloom beans and grains, but I only buy organic food. It seems like the heirloom varieties are rarely organic. Does anyone know where one could buy organic heirloom beans/ grains/ rices online? (Not the seeds - I am not a gardener.)
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I have been wondering about heirloom seeds for a while, and I was thinking that they were better than the non-heirloom kind, but I didn't know it was this important. Thanks for enlightening me on this issue!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
wow
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
after growing perennials i discovered the older varieties seemed to be more hardy and produce bigger and tastier fruits and after becomming interested in my town famous for a civil war battle i began a search of heirloom plants. i not only was interested in flowers, roses and foliage but became interested in vegetables due to their superior disease resistance and taste. any information on any plants that grow well in middle tennessee, i am interested in helping preserve and want the future generations to never forget what can't be reproduced by modern technology.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: