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Organic Heirloom Seeds - QUESTION
Hi all
In a recent email, ("Robert g. Flory", INTERNET:RobnPam@compuserve.com)
said:
<<One of the beauties of saving your own seed is that you can take a
fungicide-coated seed, plant it, and have a supply of untreated seeds for
the next year(s).
<<Limiting yourself to organically-produced seeds, when you intend to save
seeds, cuts down dramatically on the diversity available to you, and you
will join the hoards growing only the most popular varieties. >>
This led me to wonder a few things - (1) what exactly is the definition of
an organic seed? I would guess from an organically-grown plant. Is that
true? (2) Do any of the registration/certification programs require organic
seeds in growing? I would think not, but that's a guess. (3) So am I
correct that putting any seed into an organic farm then harvesting the seed
makes it an organic seed (as long as one also doesn't put a
fungicide/pesticide directly on the seed)? If not, what distinctions am I
missing?
Also, I'd ask a question, but just of those who feel that pesticides can
impact the vitality/life force of a plant (4) wouldn't at least some
pesticides have an impact on the vitality of the seed too? Just as smart
farmers would pick the seeds from the most vital healthy plants, to
continue that line, wouldn't there be a negative consequence on a seed both
from the direct application of poisons on a plant, and on any correlative
reduction in full-spectrum soil health (nutrients, bacteria, worms, etc.).
Perhaps nature can bring some back in further nurtured growing seasons, but
still I speculate there would be some impact on the seed.
So, in seeking the best seed, it seems that organic heirloom is a good
start, but the ideal in terms of seed vitality might perhaps be seeds that
have never had pesticides in their lineage and have been saved each year by
smart farmers - say perhaps in some area of the world "too poor", stubborn,
remote, small, etc. to have participated in chemical ag. Or at least these
types of seeds would have some unique value/specialness.
In asking these questions, I don't want to get into a debate about whether
pesticides are good are bad. I know some on this list are comfortable in
using some pesticides. My questions are most appropriate for those on the
list who see that pesticides can have negative impact and at least seek to
reduce their use. Would appreciate any pieces to this puzzle/query you can
fill in for me.
Thanks!
Patricia Dines
P.S. I also do appreciate Robert's comments about maintaining diversity re:
what seeds are actually available. To me, that would be a separate
variable that would be then later balanced with the variable I'm seeking to
understand in the above....
--- FORWARD ---
From: "Robert g. Flory", INTERNET:RobnPam@compuserve.com
To: Patricia Dines, 73652,1202
To: sanet <sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Sun, Jun 8, 1997, 6:14 AM
Subject: Organic Heirloom Seeds
Dear Friends,
One of the beauties of saving your own seed is that you can take a
fungicide-coated seed, plant it, and have a supply of untreated seeds for
the next year(s).
Limiting yourself to organically-produced seeds, when you intend to save
seeds, cuts down dramatically on the diversity available to you, and you
will join the hoards growing only the most popular varieties. The
Brandywine tomato is not in any danger of extinction.
This said, Fedco Seeds of Maine has a few organic heirloom seeds. Many, if
not most of the growers in the regional networks such as Garden State
Heirloom Seed Society and Maine Seed Saving Network grow organically.
Rob Flory
Howell Living History Farm
Titusville, NJ