GM seed really has me concerned, I have heard it said there's a movement afoot to stop farmers saving their own seed is this true or am I pulling this out of the air?
What if our seed supply is modified to the extent we won't be able to keep seed because it won't be viable. To me this sounds like total control.... for who? A

I didn't know who GM foods was so I did a search. Well, it means genetically-modified foods (GM foods) *duh*. Everything is abbreviated today *lol* I feel lost sometimes.

It going to be tough know what is or what isn't genetically modified.

I have already boycotted pesticides and other chemicals in my garden. I am shocked as to the compound ingredients that are in Round-Up, one of which is PCB. Wasn't PCB banned in the 1970's? I'll add them to my boycott list.

I already boycott Sears, IAMS, eggs (unless they are free range) and veal.

Carry on my fellow gardeners! We shall over come :-)

Annette - you're right about the saving seed thing. When farmers buy GM seed from Monsanto, Pioneer, or Novartis, they have to sign a contract saying that they will not save seed from this year's crop to use next year. That's because the seed is patented, and even if the farmer did grow the new seed himself, he has no legal right to use it. He has to buy new seed for next year.

It can be worse. Suppose the next door farmer gets his crop contaminated so that his crop produces seed that now is genetically modified. But ... now he can't plant his own seed next year unless he wants to get sued for patent infringement, even though he never wanted the GM seed in the first place. I read that the state of Maine is either working on or has passed a law to keep the next door farmer from getting sued. Maybe other states too? I dunno.

As for Agent Orange, I think there were a number of chemical companies making it under government direction during the Viet Nam war, like Dow Chemical, for instance. I'm not sure we should be blaming chemical companies for wartime use of their products, although it is mighty tempting. It's the same with PCBs. It turns out that they are a pretty environmentally horrible product, but they had a very legitimate use at the time in electrical equipment. Did the evil greedy Monsanto not care if they ruined the water, or was it just a mistake? Probably somewhere in the middle, I suppose.

Edna - where are you getting the info that PCBs are in Roundup? You're right about them being banned in the late 70s.

Not a fan of Monsanto or GM plants,
ThinMan

P.S. Did you know that Monsanto, who makes Roundup, has genetically modified soybeans and corn so that you can spray them with Roundup and it won't kill them? Isn't that some kind of irony? Now farmers don't have to cultivate corn or soybeans. They just spray the fields with Roundup once and the weeds die, but not the crop. They call it Roundup Ready corn or soybeans. I have a field of it right across the road from me. You can see it in my last post in the gallery

My mistake, I meant to say glyphosate herbicides in RoundUp.

Correction; the PCB was an incident I read about that took place in Anniston, Alabama.

I use Espoma organic products in the garden. I wrote a blog post about them-- they saw it and just sent me a bag of a transplant bio-starter to try out.

The pesticide companies are partially responsible for our decline in native honey bees. I'll find that info for you...it's late right now, but I think it is Bayer.

Cameron

Here is a link that might be useful: Safe Products for Organic Gardening

I'm with you on this - I posted something a year or two ago....http://www.percyschmeiser.com/ - check this link out and then the one below. Saskatchewan, btw, it pretty much the bread basket of Canada. Monsanto has screwed up the organic growers, in what is a very large farming community. This is what you might call a 'known problem' here, and has been since the new millenium.

In India, it will be way worse. They developed something called 'Golden Rice', a GM that contains a large amount of Vitamin A. This was done, as many children in India suffer from a lack of Vit. A, which affects their sight. The gov't. currently goes to all districts and gives a massive dose to all kids, every year. The Indian diet lacks orange veggies and meat, therefore the lack of Vit. A. However, I heard a documentary lately talking about how easily rice cross-pollinates. Also, the golden rice does not provide enough vit. A, anyhow. Also, every region in India has specific local rices that they grow, specific to each region. Something to remember, the Irish potato famine happened not because potatoes were bad, or had a bad year, but because everyone was growing one specific type of potato because it had produced well in the past. Mono culture - uh-oh.

Sorry, I'll get off my soap-box now.

Nancy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Class Action Suit

Monsanto sells sterile seed. Sterile seed, which is genetically modified, is not meant to have reproductive properties so that farmers will not be able to save seed and will have to buy seed every year. If sterile seeds become widespread enough they will create threat of worldwide famine. Yellow corn can be genetically modified. White corn has, for some reason, been prohibited from being genetically modified by the government. Canola and soybean are the other major GM crops.

One of the worst things about the Monsanto GM patent is that cross pollination can cause contamination of crops on neighboring farms. Monsanto has thugs who trespass and take samples from crops of farmers who have refused to go GM. Monsanto knows darned well that cross pollination has likely contaminated the crops such that lab tests will show Monsanto patented DNA. The farmers are then taken to court and charged with illegal possesion because they didn't purchase from Monsanto. There is no way to prevent this cross pollination contamination. Wind can carry the pollen as far as fifty miles.

Until this year Monsanto has won every court case they levied against farmers. The legal fees have forced nearly every accused farmer out of business, many of whom were farming land which has been in their family for generations and using seed which has been in their family for generations.

An American judge, trying a case this year, accused Monsanto of terrorizing small farmers and and conspiring to put non GM farmers out of business, and he ruled in favor of the farmer. This is the first time the ruling went against Monsanto. These accuasations and trials have been going on for at least a decade in both Canada and America.

GM may be killing Monarch butterflies. Research is being done to pinpoint the culprit.

There is a consumer movement to demand that any GM foodstuffs be labelled as such. I'm not sure how trustworthy it is at the moment. I think it is probably hit and miss until more strident measures regarding food labelling are legally required.

Lorna

Monsanto sells sterile seed. Sterile seed, which is genetically modified, is not meant to have reproductive properties so that farmers will not be able to save seed and will have to buy seed every year.

Lorna, are you sure about this? It sounds like you're talking about what they call Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT). This can produce sterile seed, but my understanding is that it isn't yet being used in commercial seed production.

TM

Yes, TM, I first learned about the Monsanto "Terminator Gene" about ten years ago. It scared me silly. I joined an organic community garden so I could learn how to grow food and become more self-reliant.

Since then I purchased land, and have become involved in seed saving and swapping. A number of heirloom seed companies have been formed in recent years to protect our agricultural heritage and food supply from the threat of GM. Seed Savers is one such organization, another is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I am heartened that so many people take the GM threat seriously. Via the Web many people are networking to promote open pollinator seed saving and seed swapping.

You might want to check out the attached link for the story on what has been happening in India. Prince Charles of the UK has stepped up to the plate to address this very serious issue, and take action.

Here is another link regarding open pollinator seeds/crops, which also mentions the "Terminator Gene" Monsanto uses.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/clay56.html

Lorna

Here is a link that might be useful: GM Genocide India

Lorna I keep seed of what few veggies I grow, one pole bean I've been growing and keeping seed for over 40 years. The lettuce I grow I've been keeping seed for a few years now. One of the places I buy seed from in Canada is Salt Spring Seeds here in BC, they offer a good variety of open pollinated flowers, veggies and grain organically grown. This is also where I get garlic to plant. I've been growing and saving shallots for quite a few years now and I'm still looking for a good determinate tomato.
I have a neighbor who keeps seed of everything he grows and he has a fabulous veggie garden every year. I think for those of us that are fortunate enough to have a bit of ground where we can grow food crops should go back to the heritage varieties, so maybe they're not as pretty as some of the hybrids but a lot of them have a better flavor and are probably healthier for us. Monsanto scares the hell out of me for more reasons than one. I think everyone should start saving their own seed especially of things that grow well for them and kudos to all that are saving the heritage varieties from extinction.

Annette

Yep, Lorna, those sites definitely say that seeds with the terminator gene are being sold. There are other sites that say it is not. Such is the internet, I guess.

Interesting topic.

ThinMan

Lorna, the problem here has been that the seed is not sterile. The seed has been cross-pollinated, blown into neighbouring fields, and contaminating the organic farms. That having been said, terminator genes should be out-lawed. A good friend, who is an investment banker on the world stage, asked me what was wrong with GM farming. This is a difficult thing to explain to someone whose only contact with growing things is his lawn, and I mean that in the nicest way possible - he's a very smart guy. I am perhaps not eloquent enough to explain it. Again, I used the Irish Potato Famine, as well as Flu-Cured Tobacco. Mono-culture is not a healthy scenario anytime. I know that it does occur in nature, but not for for long - it evolves with time. The terminator gene is a bad thing for the farmers using them......the fact that they CAN cross-breed scares the crap out of me. When does the terminator kick in???

Annette - I agree with what you are doing. I need to get it together to do that. My dear ex-MIL had seeds her grandmother had sown. I didn't appreciate it at age 23. They were Peaches and Cream corn. Anyone heard of that?? I guess that it is way better that some of the selected seeds. They grow in our northern climate, quickly enough and hardily enough to feed many people. Hope that they don't mess with that.....

Nancy.

That Peaches and Cream must be different from the one I plant because it is a hybrid. Maybe Canada has an open pollinated one.

This is food for thought. I have gone to heirloom tomatoes, saving my seed from the best one of each variety. I have never saved lettuce seeds, I don't think they are hybridized, or green beans.

I need to do some research on what is or isn't hybridized.

The Peaches and cream I grew back in the 80's was a hybrid, I think it is still available from Ed Hume Seeds.
Lettuce seed is easy to save, I let one of the first plants go to seed, harvesting in either August or September.
Growing open pollinated seed is the way to go and growing only one variety of each type of veggie to be on the safe side. Or if growing more than one variety grow them some distance from each other.
From what I understand Beans are pretty safe they self pollinate before the flowers open but I still prefer to keep a few feet between the three varieties of Beans I grow. Cherokee Trail of Tears is my favorite pole Bean.
Glenda what is your favorite heirloom Tomato? I'm still looking for one to replace the hybrid Celebrity which to date is my favorite for flavor and size.

Annette

Nancy, the cross pollination of a neighbor's field will result in the neighbor's crop being at least patially sterile. Pollination is hit and miss, so not every plant will be contaminated. I gather from what I've read that non GM farmers who have suffered crop contamination don't even attempt to collect seed from such crops. Some of the seeds may be viable, but enough of them won't be that it would be a major waste of time and energy to attempt to save and plant seeds from contaminated crops.

Why nobody has successfully sued Monsanto for crop contamination is beyond me. It must be that farmers cannot afford the legal fees involved in challenging a major worldwide corporation in court. But why haven't they banded together to do a class action suit? Because they would be self-incriminated in admitting they have crops which have Monsanto patented DNA because of cross pollination?!?! There is a huge travesity of justice going on.

TM, Monsanto has a huge propaganda machine, which some might call the Public Relations Department. They spread a lot of disinformation.

Seeds can be obtained from market produce, by the way. Last year I planted acorn squash and bell peppers from seeds I saved from purchased produce. It would be best, probably, to use organic produce in doing this. Organic shallots and garlic have not been sprayed with the chemical which prevents them from sprouting, so they are plantable (is that a word?!).

Lorna
Boycott Monsanto

Gladno, Annette - RE the peaches and cream - like I said, I was not the brightest 23 yr old. I'm pretty sure that a hybrid would not come true......not sure. She is pretty feeble at this time. Also, like I said, ex-MIL. I haven't been in contact with the family for a long time. This is probably something I'll regret not checking into, though...

Lorna, the problem with the cross- pollination is that it is causing organically certified farms to lose that certification. These people have put their entire lives into this life style. Farmers typically don't have big warchests to fight this type of wrong.

With the seeds from the market produce, it would depend on who grew that produce. For example, I could save seeds from a bell pepper from the grocery store, but my problem is days to maturity. If it is local produce, OK, but still you want to know the source. Are they certified organic?? What are the criteria in your state/province?? I know that you probably already know this - I'm just putting it out there for those who do not.

I saved seeds from my Brandywine toms this year. I grow hybrid green beans. and peas. I'll also be growing hybrid pickle cukes next year, too, as producers locally are having problems with introduced wilts, etc.

Nancy.