Friday, December 5, 2008

Giving up - seed and food thoughts

I had a conversation with a fellow mom the other day and it went something like:

"Nothing is really organic and everything is modified anyway."

"You can get unmodified seed."

"Really?"

"I can give you some."

"Talk to me in the spring."

I've shortened it a lot just so you wouldn't get too bored but the point is that she had metaphorically flung her hands up in the air figuring that she might as well jump onto the Big Agri treadmill 'cause there was no real alternative.

I know that most readers of this blog are aware that there are alternatives. So this is more of a reminder that what we know is not what everyone knows. Once again, I think the key is both on the ground and in the air. We have to continue to push our saved seeds (complete with advice on how they can save their own from them) and demonstrate how we can achieve success in our gardens without relying on death-icides and chemical fast food for our plants. Normally, I give encouragement on how to plant your edibles in the curb side of your house and if you haven't gotten up the courage to add cabbage to your front beds then now's the time. Seeing is believing. Share your seed, share your food, share your ideas.

We also have to continue to use any access to media to let people know that more and more traditional farmers are interested in what was previoulsy considered alternative or cultural practices to improve the growth of their crops. Read, learn and disseminate my friends. Our work is not done.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoy you blog. Pictures of your garden and the things you grow would be really nice.

If you have Chiapis tomatoe seed and you would like to trade a little for something else, let us know, we have lots and lots of tomatoe types. This year won first at our fall fair for a roma type that was a volunteer years ago in Ontario. Big fruit, great for canning and sauces. Grew really well this year even in poorish soil. Have lots of others too.

take care.

Bishops Homegrown said...

It's really sad how people choose to give up hope so quickly without searching deeper into the issue. It really makes me sad to think of how many things could change if more people would open up and think the way that you and I do. People don't like to think about conspiracies or dangerous situations like the take over of food because it scares them and it is this fear that keeps them from breaking out of the cage that contains them and fighting back. I agree, front yards all over suburbia and definitely in the rural areas need to be taken up and planted in self-sustainable agricultural systems.

Brandy Jackson said...

Where do you get your seed? I am going to attempt growing my veggies from seed next year.

brandyjackson1 (at) gmail.com

Ottawa Gardener said...

Lots of different places including seed swaps but a useful starting point is Seeds of Diversity if you are Canadian.

anne said...

Hi O.T., surviving the circus in Ottawa? I find the farmers markets an excellent forum for eduating people regarding the reasons we still have to hope and work for change. Its heartening to find others who share some optimism in these times and I struggle how to talk about the "modifications" of our biosphere without succumbing to saddness and pessimism...I think people shut out thinking about stuff cause they want to be happy. Having a garden, friends, purpose, I think we can do both.