Seeds

Seeds are where it all starts. If you want to grow your own organic produce, you will need good sources for heirloom and organic seeds, vegetable seeds, heirloom seedlings and plants, organic heirloom seedlings, and botanical products of every kind, that have not been genetically modified ~ so that you can grow your own organic vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers.

There are several good sources for the kind of seeds you’re looking for. We will show you several ways to find heirloom and organic seeds, seedlings, and plants.

First of all, there are seed exchanges, where people save the seeds from their own organic gardens, and share them with other organic gardeners and growers.

This is true “grass roots” gardening! And it’s a lovely way to get to know others who share some of the same values you do ~ who appreciate great food, and wholesome living.

Secondly, there are specialty nurseries, whose main purpose is to preserve heirloom and organic seeds. They will have what you want, or know how to get it for you.

And finally, there are commercial seed companies, who offer either heirloom and organic seeds as part of their offerings, or who specialize in them. This source is probably where people start, but it’s not the only place to find the “gems” by a long shot!

Here are two of the BEST sources for organic, heirloom seeds:

Native Seeds/SEARCH

Seeds of Change, a company dedicated to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable, organic agriculture at local levels

Other hidden resources are the horticultural societies that abound in just about every state, as well as the University Agricultural Extension Services found at most State Universities.

Often, these associations and organizations hold plant sales in the early spring, where you can find awesome organic seedlings ready to find a new home in your very own garden.

During the years since genetically modified foods (GMO) were introduced to the world, I have been especially concerned to hear that GMO food crops have migrated into areas they are not supposed to be, despite everyone’s best efforts to prevent that.

Corn is one of the worst cases, as even organic farmers report that some of their sweet corn has turned up tainted with GMO apparently carried by insects, wind, and birds ~ and there is nothing they can do about it unless they build a bubble around the field, which is not exactly “natural” -- or possible.

And if contamination happens, what can we expect? Well, for one thing, corn and corn products are contained in a wide range of foods.

Corn syrup is an inexpensive sweetener used by most commercial food companies to sweeten their drinks and food; just check the labels and see how often it shows up.

Now, suppose you were to ingest something made from GMO corn (and we all almost certainly do if we eat anything we didn’t grow at home, or whose sources we know and trust not to contain it) that had as part of its modification some pesticides? (Yes, they are doing that. . . ) What do you think your body is going to do when pesticides are introduced to your system? Well. . . it cannot be good for you, that’s for sure! If it kills plants, what will it do to YOU?

I don’t mean to rant here, but folks. . . you need to think about what you are eating. Where does it come from? How was it grown? And where did the seeds come from?

You probably agree with me about most of this stuff, which is why you are on this page. So, don’t just look at the end product, look at what you start with, and make sure you are starting out “clean”.

It is increasingly important to maintain the integrity of our food, and to protect the original genetic structure and diversity of what we eat ~ and it’s getting harder and harder to do that.

We invite you to support and help sustain the valiant efforts of our organic farmers to keep the food supply healthy and whole.

If we are, as they say, what we eat, then our very lives depend on how well we are able to maintain seeds and plants that stay the way Nature intended.

As with all other parts of our site, we welcome more information about how to find heirloom and organic seeds, seedlings, and plants. If you know of sources we have not listed here, please let us know so that we can share them with others.

We want to offer our visitors the most complete and comprehensive resources possible, and appreciate your help in finding more of them. Please tell us!