Advantages of Organic Seed
Recently on Gardeners' Question Time there was a question from a gardener about the advantages of using organic seed as opposed to conventional or non-organic seed. Regular GQT panellist & celebrated organic gardener Bob Flowerdew gave the definite organic gardener's answer.Firstly, organic seed is slightly more expensive than conventional seed. Having said that ordinary conventional vegetable seed is now quite expensive so it's probably only a slight difference of price between the two.
There are a few reasons why I would choose to use organic seeds. The first is that I tend to grow species which are native to my area. This means organic seeds do indeed produce better plants because they are growing in their ideal condition. Even, when I grow plants which come from other parts of the world, they are well established species, and the seeds have been developed over many decades which means they have evolved into plants which grow well in my climate. If something grew perfectly well in a Victorian garden, it really doesn't need assistance to help it grow in the 21st century garden.
The problem with non-organic seeds is that a growing number have been genetically modified, which has rendered them infertile. This means that you won't be able to save seed from them to use the following year because they won't produce any. This practice is good for seed producers because they can 'copyright' their product. In other words, you will have to buy new seed each time you wish to grow a particular plant. Now, I don't know about you but I find this a rather sad indication of the world we live in. For generations gardeners have traded seeds, cuttings and so on. And also used their existing plants to create new varieties. With increasing reliance on genetic modification this tradition will come to an end. I personally think this would be a tragedy.
It is true, that not all non-organic seed is infertile, but there does seem to be an ever increasing amount which is GM and which is unable to reproduce itself. Furthermore, the necessity for these modifications are not always as black and white as they are claimed to be. Producers will say that making these alterations results in stronger, healthier seed. However, if gardeners used varieties which were native to their part of the world, or which were heirloom/heritage varieties, these modifications would not be necessary because they would have plants which were perfectly adapted to their environment.
There is a longer term danger. Just suppose that one day, all plants are grown from genetically modified (GM) seed. Imagine the effect this could have on our environment. Species would be unable to cross pollinate, leading to a decline in plant life, and also insect and animal species which rely on those plants for food. Your garden may seem as though it just your personal bit of green space, but trust me it is more than that. To an endless number of creatures it is both home and a jolly good restaurant. Remove that food supply and you remove an important part of the food chain. The logical conclusion would be a very barren world indeed.
As a gardener you can do your bit to preserve our natural heritage, by choosing organic seed, and gardening organically. Try to grow local varieties, or if they are not available choose heirloom or heritage seeds and plants. These are traditional varieties which have proved themselves through decades of use in normal gardens. To paraphrase an Irish saying, we don’t own the earth, we are just keeping it safe for future generations. Organic seeds may be small, but they are a big part of this.
Further Reading:
Seeds of Change
Garden Organic
The Organic Gardening Catalogue
The catalogue for organic and environmentally friendly gardeners – organic seeds for vegetables, heritage and modern varieties, herbs, flowers and green manures, organic composts and fertilisers, biological pest controls, organic gardening books and gifts.
Labels: Organic seeds/ organic gardening/ conventional seeds
posted by Thomas @ 12:29 am
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