The summer has passed, and even though there is no consistent soaking rain, it is time for the autumn plantings in the vegetable garden. Of course, the question always is this - should I sow seeds while the ground is warm, or wait until the rains come? If I wait too long, the ground will be cold, and the seedlings will not grow as well. I may hedge my bets and try a bit each way.
With this in mind, I purchased some seeds this week. Now there are some very glossy seed catalogues, and plenty of seed stands in supermarket and similar multinational stores. I ignored them. I purchased my seeds from an Australian company that sells “The finest organic seed of the old traditional varieties. Our Food Heritage.”
These are seeds that I will be able to grow, then save the seeds from those plants for my future use. Over time, those plants will be adapted to my particular local conditions, and I will also be continuing the time-honoured tradition of saving old varieties of seed for future generations.
I am appalled by the consequences of GMO seeds. That is - Genetically Modified Organisms. Here’s what Brit Amos wrote in GlobalResearch.ca - Centre for Research on Globalization, March 25 2008 -
“Genetically modified seeds are produced and distributed by powerful biotech conglomerates. The latter manipulate government agricultural policy with a view to supporting their agenda of dominance in the agricultural industry. American conglomerates such as Monsanto, Pioneer HiBred and others have created seeds that reproduce only under certain conditions, often linked to the use of their own brands of fertilizer and/or insecticide.
The genetic modification of the plant leads to the concurrent genetic modification of the flower pollen. When the flower pollen becomes genetically modified or sterile, the bees will potentially go malnourished and die of illness due to the lack of nutrients and the interruption of the digestive capacity of what they feed on through the summer and over the winter hibernation process.”
And then there is the Doomsday Seed Vault, officially known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located on Spitsbergan Island, Norway. Some of the players in this are the Rockefeller Foundation, Monsanto, Syngenta Foundation, and the Government of Norway.
Somehow, I do not feel comforted by the presence of this vault. I do not believe that these investors have spent their money for the ‘public good’.
Thirty years ago my uncle, a commercial seed grower, was concerned about the changes to the industry and how the ordinary person was going to be disadvantaged by these big companies. No one wanted to listen to him then, and not many are listening now. But I remember his words, and I shall save my seeds. I know how to garden, but for me, it is more than simply growing food. It is a political statement. It is part of the journey of regaining personal power. It is saying - I know how to feed myself, I can survive. This you cannot take away from me.
