Winter Solstice is over and it’s now a new year. Naturally you are excited about buying seeds in anticipation of the upcoming seed planting season. Like anything, it’s important to know where your seeds are coming from and how they affect your environment long term as well as how the company they come from, impacts our environment.
First…A Few Words About Seed Access
I want to preface this article with, every person should do the very best with what they have at the time. If all you can afford are packets from the dollar store or you aren’t sure where the seeds came from but they are free from a friend or neighbor, absolutely do this. At the end of the day, fed is best and doing your best is good enough. I think simply the act of growing your own food is one of the best things you can do for your health and to combat food insecurity, or even the threat of it, for your family. I want to convey this with the lens of understanding and compassion, as there is also truly no wrong or right way to grow food as long as it gets the job done. Again, fed is best and the best method after all, is a free method, which is to save your own seeds to use for future growing seasons. At the end of this article, I have included a Free Seed Project initiative that helps people access organic and healthy seeds to help combat food insecurity.
What is Biodiversity and Why is it Important?
You might be wondering what biodiversity is and why it is an important thing to consider. Biodiversity, in general, refers to the amount of diversity amongst plants and animals that are on this planet, or in any given area. Seed biodiversity specifically, refers to the variety and diversity within different seeds that we grow for food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, we as humans rely globally on very, very few varieties of different plants to grow for food which means, there are literally thousands of different species of seeds that are now extinct.
Biodiverse seeds are seeds that come from a wide variety of plant species and varieties, rather than from a single, genetically uniform crop. Biodiversity in seed sources is important for resilience, genetic diversity, food security globally, nutrition, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services. Biodiverse seed sources are more resilient to environmental changes such as drought, pests, and diseases, as well as climate change. A diverse range of crop varieties increases the chances of at least some of them being able to thrive under different conditions. Biodiverse seed sources contain a wide range of genetic diversity, which can be used to breed new crop varieties that are better adapted to changing conditions.
Biodiverse seed sources provide a greater variety of crops, which can help to ensure food security. This is particularly important in regions where food supplies may be disrupted due to environmental or economic factors. They can also provide a wider range of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, which can help to ensure a balanced diet. Biodiverse seed sources can help to preserve traditional crop varieties that are an important part of a community’s cultural heritage, as well as help to promote biodiversity in the ecosystem, by providing habitats and food sources for a wide range of wildlife.
It’s important to note that the use of biodiverse seeds is a way to ensure food security and to preserve the genetic resources of the planet, it’s important to support farmers, seed banks, and organizations that work to conserve and promote biodiverse seeds.
Food biodiversity is important because, in short, it keeps our food system thriving. Food biodiversity, also known as crop biodiversity, is what make sure our food system will survive climate changes, our growing population, and all that follows dense population within cities. When we look at biodiversity in seeds, we often look to heirloom seeds. Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been sown and saved over several, several generations and have survived the test of time. Heirloom seeds often have food varieties that look different than your typical grocery store produce. My favorite heirloom seeds to grow are tomatoes. They are often shaped oddly and have a plethora of vibrant colors and robust flavors. Additionally, heirloom varieties have not been cross bred (hybrid seeds) with other seeds and most often tout of their dense nutritional value.
Biodiverse Seed Companies
If you have the few extra dollars and you have the desire to buy seeds from a company that puts good out into the world, I would encourage research into the companies that are focused on Open Pollination and Biodiversity in their seeds. You can start small with just purchasing a few packets at a time and trade extras with neighbors. Purchasing seeds that are open pollinated and from your area of the world is a great place to start. I live in Pacific Northwest and enjoy purchasing from Adaptive Seeds, as they are from Oregon and their main focus is selling seeds that are open domain, open pollinated, and transparency about the origins of their seeds. They offer many heirloom verities that are adapted to my area but they are not the only ones that offer that in other area of the United States. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is another great source for heirloom, open pollinated seeds and are headquartered in Missouri.
Free Seed Project
I wanted to close this with giving information to those that can benefit from accessing free resources for seeds and sustainability in growing your own food. Many communities across the United States offer seed exchanges within their local area. There is also another resource called the The Free Seed Project by Rob Greenfield. They focus on people that would not otherwise be able to afford seeds, to people that garden for their community and share food with people that have low to no access to healthy foods, to first time gardeners, and those that use them for educational purposes. They have served many communities in all 50 states and focus on organic food and self-sufficiency to help combat food insecurity. You can read more about Rob Greenfield and his Free Seed Project initiative here.
