The Four Steps Required to Keep Monsanto OUT of Your Garden

Gardening

by Sarah TheHealthyHomeEconomist March 4, 2014

Seed catalogs for the upcoming growing season are arriving in mailboxes across the Northern Hemisphere with home gardeners everywhere starting to plan which seeds they will sow in their spring gardens. A positive trend in recent years is the growing number of gardening enthusiasts choosing to plant gardens using organic and/or heirloom seeds.

What most of these home gardeners don’t realize is that corporate behemoth and GMO titan Monsanto has been gobbling up the seed market faster than a caterpillar can munch a tomato plant! With one fell swoop in 2005, Monsanto grabbed approximately 40% of the US vegetable seed market with its acquisition of Seminis.

This means that a home gardener could unknowingly be supporting the development and proliferation of genetically modified crops if the seeds used are from Seminis.  In addition, Monsanto now apparently owns the trademark for many of the names of the heirloom seed varieties themselves!

Planting a sustainable home garden is much more than just choosing certified organic seeds and seedlings because Monsanto has cleverly positioned itself to make money off the home gardening trend.

Does this mean that even if you buy organic or heirloom seeds from a completely independent company some of your purchase might be supporting the bad guys?

Yes, it does.

Surprise!

Home gardeners would do well to bone up on where to purchase their seeds so they aren’t inadvertently doing business with companies that maintain a working relationship with Monsanto-Seminis or were acquired by them.

Buying Organic or Heirloom Seeds Without Supporting Monsanto

Here are the recommended steps for the 2014 growing season for those who want to truly strike a blow for sustainability in every way with their home gardens:

• Avoid buying from the seed companies affiliated with Monsanto. Here’s a list of these seed companies by location (click under “Where to Buy” and select your location for a list of dealers to avoid): http://www.seminis.com/global/us/Pages/default.aspx

• Buy from companies Monsanto HASN’T bought and are not affiliated or do business with Seminis:  The graphic to the right indicates numerous companies that are worthy of your patronage as compiled by the International Seed Saving Institute. Please note that this many not be a complete list.  If your seed company does not appear, just be sure to clarify with the owner about any potential affiliation with Monsanto-Seminis before buying from them.

• Avoid buying heirloom varieties for which Monsanto owns the trademark: http://againstthewall.info/2013/04/09/monsanto-owned-heirloom-seednames-to-watch-out-for

• Ask seed companies if they have taken the Safe Seed Pledge. Here’s a list of companies that have done so: http://www.councilforresponsibegenetics.org/ViewPage.aspx?pageId=261

Background on Monsanto’s Quest for World Seed Domination

Monsanto’s corporate quest is clearly to make money on each and every one of us whether we choose to eat supermarket frankenfoods produced with abominable, patented GM crops or carefully plant and tend an organic garden at home.  Here’s some background information on the subject you may find interesting as well as enlightening:

http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/02/forewarned-is-forearmed-veggie-varieties-owned-by-monsanto/
http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/02/keep-monsanto-out-of-your-veggie-patch/
http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/keep-monsanto-out-of-your-garden-this-spring.html

If you are a home gardener and have information to contribute regarding these steps, please add to the discussion in the comments section.  Also, please spread the word via gardening forums you may participate in that folks need to be very careful when seed sourcing for their spring gardens this year else they might be unknowingly supporting Monsanto.

Let’s make this the year when Monsanto’s grip on the worldwide seed market loosens and the movement to seed sustainability gains momentum!

**Update:  The day after this article was originally published in 2013, the CEO of a large GMO soybean seed company in the Midwest emailed me complaining that the article was short sighted and insisting that Monsanto is helping feed the starving people of the world.  He even went so far as to say that GMO crops are “proven safe”.  Click here for the text of this CEO’s entire email plus my written reply.

I have also received email complaints from two other seed companies, one in Canada and one in Arkansas, that do business with Monsanto-Seminis and were offended by what they viewed as inaccuracies in the post.  In response, I have adjusted the text slightly and moved linked sources to within the text rather than only listed at the end to make the message of the post as clear and precise as possible so as to not result in any consumer confusion over the information.

I have received no complaints about this article from seed companies completely independent of any affiliation or ties to Monsanto-Seminis.

Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist

Picture Credit

It's almost that time:)

More from the 2013 Test Garden

Vegetables and Basil

By Doug Hall

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/more-from-the-2013-test-garden-1

Basil: 'Boxwood' basil The flavor and aroma are similar to traditional sweet basil, but this compact, mounded herb has much smaller leaves. Grow it in pots or as a kitchen-garden edging. Burpee

Vegetable: 'Jacob’s Cattle' bean A much-loved heirloom, ‘Jacob’s Cattle’ is a meaty, kidney-type dry bean that holds its own in hearty dishes. Bush habit. High Mowing Organic Seeds

Vegetable: 'Provider' bean This open-pollinated bush bean sets a super-productive, flavorful standard for green snap beans. Territorial Seed Co.

Vegetable: 'On Deck' sweet corn We were intrigued by Burpee’s description of a sweet corn so diminutive it could be grown in a container. Our plants grew taller than the catalog description—about 6 feet—and produced smallish ears of sweet, tender kernels. A supersweet hybrid variety. Burpee

Vegetable: 'Japanese Long' cucumber The slender fruits of this popular heirloom are firm and crisp with a mild flavor. Harvest regularly to keep the vines producing. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Vegetable: 'Karikachi' edamame A Japanese soybean, ‘Karikachi’ has been bred for large, sweet seeds. When boiled briefly in salted water, edamame is a nutritious snack; it’s also good in soups, stir-fries, and other dishes. Edamame is grown in the same way as bush beans, but be prepared to harvest the crop all at once, because the pods ripen simultaneously. John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds

Vegetable: 'Listada de Gandia' eggplant ‘Listada de Gandia’ is a stunner, and delicious to boot. The thin-skinned, streaked fruits are about 6 inches long and egg-shaped. Tomato Growers Supply Co.

Vegetable: 'Bronze Arrowhead' lettuce A favorite of test gardener Linda Crago, this beautiful oakleaf lettuce forms a tight rosette of bronze-tinged leaves. It has a great crunch and taste and holds for a long time in the garden before bolting. Fedco Seeds

Vegetable: 'Clemson Spineless' okra This open-pollinated variety has become a reliable standard since its introduction in 1939. Be prepared to pick okra daily during summer, because the flavor is best when the pods are harvested small—about 4 inches long. Seed Savers Exchange

Vegetable: 'Big Red' sweet pepper We were impressed by this bell pepper’s heavy fruit set and the heft of its juicy, thick-walled fruits. They were slow to mature to red here in Pennsylvania, however, and in our impatience we harvested many of them green. Seeds of Change

Vegetable: 'Gemini' sweet pepper This hybrid pepper matures to brilliant yellow and has a pleasantly sweet flavor. The fruits taper from broad shoulders. Harris Seeds

Vegetable: 'Hot Portugal' hot pepper A bit hotter than a jalapeño but nowhere near a habanero, this glossy red beauty has many culinary uses, such as grilling, frying, and pickling. At about 8 inches long, it’s a generous size for a hot pepper, too. Fedco Seeds

Vegetable: 'Jimmy Nardello's' sweet pepper Amazingly prolific and quick to mature, this thin-walled pepper has a sweet, fruity flavor. Enjoy it fresh or lightly sautéed in the traditional Italian style. Territorial Seed Co.

Vegetable: 'Musquee de Provence' pumpkin It’s hard to beat this French heirloom for flavor—just be sure your growing season is long enough, as it takes a good 4 months of warm weather to ripen fully. Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply

Vegetable: 'Bloomsdale Long Standing' spinach A fixture in seed catalogs since 1826, this spinach bears large rumpled leaves that are unbeatable for flavor, fresh or cooked. Sustainable Seed Co.

Vegetable: ‘Golden Sunrise’ Swiss chard A real beauty in the garden, ‘Golden Sunrise’ positively glows when the sun illuminates its yellow stalks. A spring sowing in the test garden lasted us all the way through fall frost, and the leaves didn’t become bitter, even in summer. Nichols Garden Nursery

Vegetable: 'Hakurei' turnip The surprise star of the 2013 trials: a turnip? The small roots mature almost as quickly as a radish—35 days—and are consistently sweet, crisp, and mild. The Natural Gardening Co.

Vegetable: ‘Jaune Boule d’Or’ turnip We were dazzled by white-rooted ‘Hakurei’ turnips—but this slower-maturing, pale yellow variety had its fans too. The large roots have a mild flavor and fine texture; the greens are tasty. John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds

Vegetable: 'Dark Star' zucchini This bush zucchini bears attractive dark-skinned fruits over a long harvest season. It was bred for growing in arid regions and is said to require less moisture than other varieties of zucchini. Seeds of Change

Vegetable: 'Ortolana di Faenza' zucchini Early to mature, this Italian heirloom has streaked white-and-green skin and a shape that’s chubbier than other zucchinis. Its taste is pleasantly mild. Renee's Garden

Even MORE from the 2013 test gardens:

	Tomatoes and Ground Cherries
	Flowers

Buying Seeds Online and Preparing for Canning Season

by Merissa on January 13, 2014

Buying Seeds Online

It may seem crazy to think about buying seeds when the temperature is below zero, the wind is howling, and the ground can't be found because of all the snow. But now is the time to do it! And there are a few reasons why:
1. Seed companies can sell out of the most popular varieties. Especially if you order from a smaller company, quantities are limited so you have to order when you can!
2. It gives you plenty of time to make your garden plan so it doesn't come get to May and you have no idea what you are planting.
3. It makes us happy to flip through to pages of the beautiful seed catalogs and see all the green and growing things! It can make a long winter feel just a little bit shorter.
So what are you waiting for? Grab those seed catalogs and get to work!

For many years now I have been buying seeds online. It's easy, quicker than filling out order forms, and the order generally comes faster. Personally I order from Baker Creek Seeds. I've been ordering with them for a while. Their seeds grow well, they have a really large variety, they are heirloom seeds, I can order them online, and their catalog is gorgeous! Generally they send out their catalog in January (as long as you are on their mailing list) and I get my order in around the first of February. There are some other great heirloom seed companies out there, make sure you share your favorites in the comments!

Preparing for Canning Season

When you order your seeds, you'll need to remember to keep in mind what you plan to can and how much of it. Here are some tips to make sure that you will order enough plants.
1. Start by making a list of all the things you want to can (tomatoes, vegetable soup, ect). 
2. Once you've finished, scan over all the recipes you want to make or plan on making and make a list of all the fruits and veggies you will need to accomplish that.
3. Check out the seeds you have left from last year. I've almost always had luck planting "extras" a year later, some years we've ONLY planted the extras and didn't even need to order new seeds!
4. Go through the seed catalog and determine which plants you need to order that would be best to accomplish the tasks you want to accomplish. So far I've never needed more than one packet of seeds per variety of plant but often I need much more than one of the same variety. For example, tomatoes are something we can the most of (stewed, soup, ketchup, bbq sauce, ect). But I also dry some and make some fresh salsa so I need to make sure I order plenty of canning (usually paste tomatoes) tomatoes, pear or cherry tomatoes, and some yellow or orange tomatoes. All to accomplish the different tasks I need to accomplish.
Here's a list of the most popular foods to grow and preserve and about how many plants you will need per person. This list is relative though since you may need more or less of something depending on your eating habits.
Beans (Bush or Pole) - 15 plants per person
Broccoli - 5 plants per person
Cabbage - 5 plants per person
Cauliflower - 5 plants per person
Corn - 20 plants per person
Cucumbers - 5 plants per person
Lettuce - 10 plants per person
Melons - 3 plants per person
Onions -  40 plants per person
Peas - 20 plants per person
Peppers - 5 plants per person
Potatoes - 20 plants per person
Pumpkins - 1 plant per person
Summer Squash - 3 plants per person
Winter Squash - 2 plants per person
Tomatoes - 5 plants per person
*Remember, for example... that if you have 5 people in your family...buying one package of 25 tomato seeds will not be enough because that won't produce 25 plants since you plant several seeds per hill. 
Once you've figured all this out you will know exactly what you need to order! And just so long as everything grows, you should be good to go!

Have you ever tried buying seeds online? What are some tips you have for making sure you have enough food for canning?

Best Planting Dates for Seeds

When determining the best planting dates in the spring for seeds, the date of the last spring frost is important to your success. NOTE: Our chart calculates U.S. frost dates only, based on historical data. Other factors can also influence planting dates, including soil temperature, altitude and slope of land, nearby waters, and day length. Keep records of your garden's conditions each year to plan more accurately.

• Seeds for plants with a long growing season should be started indoors during the periods shown below.
• Seeds for plants sown in the ground should be planted during the periods shown.
• When no dates appear in the chart, that starting method is not recommended for the particular vegetable.
• To start transplants, see our Best Dates to Transplant (by region).

Planting by the Moon?

Above-ground crops are planted during the light of the Moon (new to full); below-ground crops are planted during the dark of the Moon (from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again). Planting is done in the daytime; planting at night is optional!
This chart includes the most popular crops. For more information, consult your cooperative extension.
Click on the underlined crops below for free "how to" plant and grow guides!
http://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/zipcode

and
http://allthingsplants.com/apps/calendar/