Heirloom Seeds Never Broke
Friday, May 4, 2012 at 8:49PM
The battle rages on between these plants, each touting their desirable assets over the other. The Heirloom, a traditionalist, the Hybrid, a scientist, the GMO, a dog crossed with a toucan.
Who would you root for?
If you have to ask, you already have your answer. The convolution of the matter is a result of human nature’s constant obsession with tinkering. The only thing Hybrid seed companies and GMO producers are planting is a seed of doubt... Did something go horribly wrong with Heirloom seeds? No. As a result, many kitchen gardeners or concern consumers find themselves in a cloud of confusion when standing in front of a seed display rack or vegetable display, respectively.
Heirloom seeds, as their name implies, have a history. Just like your grandfather’s heirloom harmonica or your great-grandmother’s recipe box, heirloom seeds were saved because of their legacy. Due to their superior taste and quality they were hand-picked and passed down, generation to generation. Sounds like a pretty reliable method of doing things if you ask me.
Another important aspect of Heirloom seeds is that they are open-pollinators which means they are pollinated by agents of nature such as insects, birds, and wind. Hybrids are not. Hybrid seeds and GMOs require a technician, a laboratory, and an operating table. Here is where human manipulation, as personified by Prometheus, arrives at the party uninvited. There’s no way that putting all these random parts and chemicals together is a “Healthy choice at a great price!”
Open-pollination is the magic behind the wide variety of genetic traits present in Heirloom plants. This variety makes them flexible genetically, allowing them to better adapt and fit into local ecosystems. Overtime, productivity and resistance improve noticeably through organic means. GMOs flee at the mention of organic. Hybrids may claim to be organic, but how they came to be was anything but organic. Frankenstein’s monster was made from rotting animal flesh; does that make him an organic person? Ehh… Seed of doubt. Planted.
The truth is, if you’re going for real, unadulterated food, you won’t get that from Hybrid seeds and definitely not with fish-spiked tomatoes. Think about that the next time you make homemade tomato sauce. How did these tomatoes get so big? Why don’t they freeze? Thank you, computerized genetic sequencing and a special thanks to you, Mr. Alaskan Flounder, you’re genes have proven very useful.
So what would happen if we stopped using Heirloom seeds? First, genetic diversity would float like a lead balloon. Boom! Irish Potato Famine. Second, lab potatoes would be so pumped up they would develop a higher intelligence and biceps and zombies would be a worry of the past.
So, here at Microfarm, we rest our case. We hope that you’ll join us in supporting and protecting the natural biodiversity and adaptability of Heirloom seeds. We offer a wide variety of Heirloom seedlings year-round as well as several other resources for gardeners of every level… Without the growth hormones or rotting animal flesh.
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