In past years I never paid to much attention to saving seed. But the past few years — seeing the handwriting on the wall with Monsanto, Bayer and other chemical companies buying up every seed company that will sell to them —- you can bet I’m trying to save what I can in order to be as self-reliant as possible when it comes to seed. (Maybe you didn’t know it, but Monsanto’s goal is to dominate the world market for produce seeds — just as it has done with genetically modified corn and soybeans.)
(Control the seed = control the food = control the world. With Monsanto’s history rest assured that would be like living a horror movie.)
When I do buy seed, I try to buy from small privately owned companies that do not buy from Monsanto and do not carry any genetically modified seed.
Many varieties can no longer be found.
When certain varieties of vegetables become “not” popular with the masses and don’t sell for one reason or the other –any company will be unable to continue carrying them for obvious economic reasons. And even if seed is saved — it has to be grown after a certain time period to insure a continuation of viable seed.
If you’re not already saving your own seed, I would strongly encourage you to do so.
I’ll talk more about how to do some of that in the next few weeks.
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Recommended Reading – Previous Posts:
Monsanto – Don’t Entrust Your Life to Them
GMO, GE Food, GM Food – What are They – Why They’re Dangerous – How you can Protect Yourself
Monsanto – Goliath Challenged By David
Maria Rodales Open Letter to Obama
How to Tell if the Origin of Seed is Seminis/Monsanto – Clarification
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Organic Gardening it easy, efficient, effective and it’s a lot easier.
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I just started reading your website after the article about you appeared in the King George Journal. Where do you purchase your seeds? I am very interested in the lettuce seeds. Thanks so much for providing this information about gardening in a very informative and easy to read style. I have been gardening for 25+ years and am always seeking more information concerning ways to make it easier and more productive.
Hi Susan,
Welcome to TMG.
I’m making a note to do a post on seed sources. In the meantime — this list is not all encompassing but here are a few places I order from:
Dianeseeds.com (also known as Diane’s Flower Seeds — but she has veggies also)
Annie’s Heirloom Seeds
Johnny’s Select Seeds
Baker Creek
Bountiful Gardens
Heirloom Seeds
By the way, Susan, you might want to search under categories (the box to the left at the top of the page) – find vegetables and then lettuce — and then click — I’ve written 19 posts on lettuce that you may find interesting.
Thanks for letting me know you’re reading. And again – welcome!
Theresa
Theresa, At Mt. Vernon we read this quote from George Washington.
“It is miserable for a farmer to be obliged to buy his seed; to exchange seeds may, in some cases, be useful, but to buy them after the first year is disreputable.”
I guess I would be considered disreputable then!!!! I have only (in the last couple of years) begun to understand a little of the genetic diversity being lost because of the large seed companies domination. Once the seed is lost the variety is just gone….. foolish on so many levels.
I love Baker Creek, and Seed Savers Exchange, oh and Johnny’s. I’m looking forward to trying some of the other companies as well.
I’d love to learn more about this topic, Theresa. To date, I’ve just saved lettuce, cilantro, poppies and basil successfully. And also about how you store your seeds to keep them fresh. Seed prices add up, so I am very careful not to waste seeds, I plant exactly the number I’m hoping for, or a few extras. That means I always have open packets to store. Right now I keep them in the fridge in ziplocks with some of the silica gel packets for moisture control.
That’s a great quote that I’ve wanted to put on this site for sometime, Sandra! Now — thanks to you — it’s on here!
I think we are in good company when you and I say that it’s only been in the last couple of years that we’ve begun to understand a little of the genetic diversity being lost. And — why it is important to save seed.
It’s not realistic for me to expect or think that everyone is going to see the urgency to save seed —- or to raise their own food for that matter — but if through TMG I can explain the reasoning behind the urgency — more people might understand and see the benefits.
I’ll address saving seed soon.
Thanks for commenting Sandra. It added a lot.
Theresa
Sandra and Theresa, I have yet to start saving seeds but want to try this year. One quick question – where do you purchase the silica gel packets? Also I’m aware that one can store seeds in the freezer as well as the refridgerator. I wonder which is better. Thanks.
Steve
Hi Steve –
Really glad you’re going to start saving seed this year!
I’m working right now on a post about the best way to save seed and will address the question about whether it’s best to put seed in the freezer or not. That should be up soon.
About the silica gel:
you can buy a jar of silica gel at almost any craft store and make your own little packets by putting it inside a piece of muslin and tie it like a sachet bag.
Or you can buy them already made. I’m sure there are other places, but with a quick google I came up with silicagelpackets.com. Click on silica gel packs and it will show the available quantities. The minimum was 20 packets for $6.40 Gets cheaper the more you buy.
Theresa