Saving seed and using open pollenating plants is an aspect of organic growing.
A new seed catalogue from an organic seedsman has just arrived and I have been sitting trying to decide just which to order. There is too much choice
I wrote an article about personal and community responsibility. One aspect of responsibility I did not touch on was the question of seed saving. Seed savers and seed saving clubs around the world are doing a wonderful service of preserving old forms of seeds. These are sometimes known as heritage varieties. If you look at on old seed catalogue you see many many different types of beans. You will see much the same in a catalogue from a seed saving source or from an organic seedsman.
These varieties are open pollinated which means the farmer can decide which variety grows best on his land and then save the seeds from year to year.
The new hybrid plants do not have seeds that grow true and in fact are designed not to be saved.
This of course means that the few large seed firms have control over the sale of seeds. The farmer once he gives up his heritage seeds and chooses the hybrid will have to pay for new seeds always.
With seed patenting it is illegal to save some seeds even though they will grow true to type.
Certified organic growers grow only these open pollinated “old” type of seeds.
Look at the seed rack in a supermarket – the same few types of beans - a small choice.
But look here at my new catalogue, pages of different beans. How to pick? How to choose…
