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There are so many reasons gardeners today are choosing to use non hybrid, open pollinated seeds. Many people have become aware of the importance to acquire, use and store non hybrid seeds, and yet have no knowledge of why - why non hybrid seeds?
Nutritional Value
One of the reasons why non hybrid seeds are being grown more and more, is for the nutritional value of their produce. When you use non hybrid seed you know you will be growing original strains which are true to variety, with nutritional value unlike hybrids. Hybrids have generally been bred for color and storing etc, not reproduction.
Cost Effective
Traditionally, why non hybrid seed has been used for generations is, that it is one of the best ways to decrease the cost of living with growing your own food. Learning how to save your own seed is great for that long-term plan and will help in immediately reducing your cost of living, permanently.
Independent Food Supply
If the food supply system is at risk, as a lot believe it will, then you need to make sure that you and your family have a good supply of non hybrid seeds, available for use and/or storage. Longevity of our seed is in question as more gardeners are planting the more convenient hybrid seed.Saving seeds is a simple necessity for gardeners to enable a level of sustainability and why non hybrid seed is your best choice when planning ahead.
In the past traditional farmers saved seed from vegetables that were tasty, easy to harvest, and survived diseases and pests and are great for storing. Heirloom seeds being handed down as family favorites from generation to generation, and what we need to continue today.
There is that need in society to look towards the future and retaining our natural resources, seeds being high on the list of priorities. As fuel costs increase, food prices increase and being aware of our biological footprint will also help keep our supplies local. For me local being combination of, growing on my windowsill and my backyard garden, with which I am now using heirloom non hybrid seed.
In other words, nutritional value, long-term food supply and economic viability is why non hybrid seed is the only choice for long-term sustainable gardening to feed your family in generations to come. We as gardeners need more awareness of where our food comes from, what is in it and the nutrition we are getting out of it. Buying from a green grocer is not the solution, as their fresh produce is not always fresh!
Thanks JoAnne, I often wonder about all the hybrid corn I drive past on my way to the rail yard.
You are welcome James, and I wonder about it too about the long term effects...
Thank you Sonya, I agree with you about the food bill and love growing and eating my own produce although I am concerned about the future of our seed supply :)
I am so pleased to hear that Shawn, I am in the process of sorting mine for summer :)
Hey OrganicJo...good to read your article...love it....organic is the way to go and organic food kills cancer you know....heirloom seeds and the way to go too....thanks for this great article....I need to read your others now to get my garden started but not yet....I have to move to land first from this sailboat....then I garden...although....I may try some gardening in the cockpit if I can find the space...I really want to...
Thanks Sister Kaite, thank you your comment and all the best with finding the space in your cockpit to get you started :)
I watched in Discovery Channel that there is a place in Alaska where the government stores Tonnes and tonnes of hybrid (genetically modified seeds ) seeds so that if there is any calamity which wipes out every crop from the earth, still they would have a variety with them.
Genetically modified? They could be storing non hybrid, heirloom instead, only my opinion.
HI John, thank you for your interest. If you go my profile and I have a website there that my be of interest to you, if you would like to check it out?
Thanks JoAnne. Helpful information. I am new to growing my own veggies and without fully understanding what I was doing I took my first step in the right direction. I got my seed, much of it heirloom or heritage, from a local producer. Now that I have a better understanding of what I did I am glad I went that route. One Costata Romanesca Zucchini plant produced 3 huge zuch's. One was 15" long and was still tender!
Wow, good for you Jim, I love hearing the harvest stories... the proof is in the eating (always got to have a brag about it though). The taste is unbelievable and what I enjoy the most as well as fresh, thanks Jim for your comment.
Thanks Meredith, and it may happen for you one day :) all the best.
Nice article JoAnne, have a small greenhouse myself and grow tomatoes and a few salad items. I want to get more of a variety of crops growing and have been wondering where to get seeds. I will search out the non hybrids, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mark, would love to have a greenhouse to be able to grow all year round... my next goal. Thanks for the positive comment
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