Seed catalogs are starting to arrive 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 many of the names of the 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.
My friend Beth in Minnesota, an avid food researcher, has been digging around to figure out the best ways to buy seeds and seedlings for your home garden without one red cent going to Monsanto.
Buying Organic or Heirloom Seeds Without Supporting Monsanto
Beth has done her very best to make sure the information she has uncovered is current and pertinent with updated listings for the 2013 growing season. Here are the steps she recommends 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: http://www.seminis.com/glo
bal/us/products/Pages/Home-Gar den.aspx - Buy from this list of companies Monsanto HASN’T bought and are not affiliated or do business with Seminis: http://www.occupymonsanto360.org/2012/03/06/monsanto-free-seed-companies/
- Avoid certain heirloom varieties because Monsanto now apparently owns the names. This article lists the seed varieties to avoid: http://www.occupymonsanto360.o
rg/2012/03/17/monsanto-owned-s eednames/ - Ask seed companies if they have taken the Safe Seed Pledge. Here’s a list of companies that have done so: http://www.councilforresponsib
legenetics.org/ViewPage.aspx? pageId=261
More 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.
http://www.agardenforthehouse.
http://www.treehugger.com/gree
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 published, the CEO of a large 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
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{ 328 comments… read them below or add one }
We LOVE http://www.rareseeds.com
By far the best Heirloom seed company around!
I have had bad luck with their seeds this year and last. probably wont use them again
I had a 98% germination rate from all of my seeds from them this year. My guess is they corrected problems, because I am going to have a bumper crop if I can figure out where to plants all there plants! LOVE rareseeds.com
seeds of change was actually bought
no longer the original company.
Be careful what you say so that there is no miscommunication. Seeds of Change has signed the Safe Seed Pledge. After seeing your comment here, I went to their website to check it out. Here is the quote from their website:
WHAT GUARANTEES DO YOU GET FROM YOUR FARMS THAT YOUR SEEDS DO NOT CONTAIN GMOS?
Our trusted network of certified organic farmers takes great care to produce seed crops in areas that are as isolated as possible. In cases where there could be potential pollen migration (e.g. from commercially-grown corn, beets, chard) DNA testing is conducted to ensure the absence of any GMO material in any of our seed crops. To provide high quality 100% Certified Organic seeds, we follow the best practices available in the industry, specifically:
An internationally recognized independent laboratory tests samples of all of our seed lots of corn, soybeans, beets and chard at the time of production to ensure the absence of any GMO material.
Our seed production locations are sufficiently isolated from fields of conventional crops that could be a potential source of GMO contamination. For example, our corn seed is produced in the western U.S., not in the midwest where the majority of conventionally-grown corn is produced.
We are also signers of the SAFE SEED PLEDGE.
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I understand that they are striving for GMO free seeds but the fact that the company that purchased them is green washing doesn’t change the fact that it still puts profit in the hands of a company that largely supports Monsanto and in turn also lines their pockets. I’d prefer to continue doing business with any of the hundreds of companies that are locally owned and operated without corporate giants purchasing them up.
Seeds of Change was purchased by Mars which donated almost 400k to defeat Prop 37 in California. They donated more money than most of us earn in several years to make sure the people of California didn’t have the ability to know whether Monsanto’s toxic crap ended up in our food.
http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1344135&session=2011&view=late1
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_37,_Mandatory_Labeling_of_Genetically_Engineered_Food_%282012%29
So no, I don’t believe for a second that Seeds of Change believes in our cause. I think they’re “green washing”, it’s actually a huge problem for me that they were allowed to sign the Safe Seed Pledge given their ownership. Their parent company is just as in bed with Monsanto as Pepsi and Kraft Foods.
Sad to learn that Seeds of Change was bought out. I used their seeds for many years in the past. (This years is Baker’s Heirloom Seeds.)
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Corporations are people (in case you didn’t know). The human being who work for Seeds of Change may disagree with The Corp, yet their profits still benefit Monsanto.
ANYONE can fill out that safe seed pledge. Considering Johnny’s Seed’s affiliation with Seminis, people need to remember, if you don’t want to support Monsanto, you can’t do business with any company who does any business with them, not just the seeds. I mean no equipment, no supplies, no fertilizer, NOTHING. Otherwise, you are wasting your time boycotting the seeds. Every penny they get makes them bigger and more powerful.
So that begs the question, while Seeds of Change signed the safe seed pledge, how much business do they give monsanto? After all, look at the link to all the heirloom, non-gmo seeds Monsanto now owns. Just look. Signing the safe seed pledge means nothing in regards to slowing down monsanto’s control over our gardens and our lives.
Thanks, saved me some effort on researching that company, as the company I work for started carrying their seeds this year.
Please not that Osbourne Seed Company (Mount Vernon, Washington) is listed in both a list of “do not buy”s and another list of purportedly “safe” seeds.
Seeds of Change was bought by Mars Co but if you look into Mars co, they are one of the largest still FAMILY OWNED companies out there. Just because they’re very successful doesn’t mean they’re evil.
If they are I don’t want to know, I already boycott SO many companies, I need candy!!!
What do you know about Jung?
Jung is owned by ASI which is owned by Monsanto. http://www.occupymonsanto360.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/seed-company-ownership.jpg
I order from Jung. They had a note on an e-mail recently that they are NOT owned by Monsanto.
Dick Zondag,
President & Owner of
J. W. Jung Seed Co.
Dear Lisa Brinker ,
It has come to my attention that there have been blogs and websites stating that J. W. Jung Seed Company is owned by Monsanto. This is not true. We are being confused with a farm seed company by the name of Jung Seed Genetics that is owned by Monsanto, but there is no affiliation between us.
A little company history may be helpful in clearing up the confusion. J. W. Jung Seed Company and its garden centers are still family owned and operated. My name is Dick Zondag and my grandfather, J. W. Jung, started the business here in Randolph over 106 years ago. For a number of years the Jung family operated both a home garden company known as J. W. Jung Seed Company and a farm seed company called Jung Farms. Over 15 years ago, the 2 companies split, with the Seed Company becoming solely owned by the Zondag family (my mother was J. W. Jung’s daughter). Jung Farms became solely owned by my uncle and cousin, the name was changed to Jung Seed Genetics and several years ago they sold this farm seed company to Monsanto.
1-800-247-5864
M-F 7:30am-5:30pm CST
Please add specials@jungseed.com to your address book or safe senders list. If you wish to unsubscribe, please follow the link at the top or bottom of this email.
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J. W. Jung Seed Company has been independent and family owned and operated since its beginnings in 1907. There is no desire to sell it to another company. In fact, my son Nathan has been working here for the last 5 years and is in training to take over upon my retirement, but I have no desire to sell the company my grandfather started in his mother’s kitchen. We have added additional niche-type catalog titles over the years to expand the home-garden business. We also own and operate 5 successful garden centers in Wisconsin which were started under my dad’s direction.
Another source of confusion is that under the Monsanto umbrella is a very small home-garden division called Seminis Gardens that produces and sells some well-known, time-proven, non-GMO varieties, including many varieties that are All-America Selections Winners. These were developed and introduced long before Monsanto owned Seminis and were originally sold under the Petoseed brand. Many of our customers have grown to love these vegetables and would be very disappointed if we no longer offered them. We recognize there are strong anti-Monsanto sentiments by some consumers, so we will publish a list of Seminis varieties we offer on our website in the event they wish to avoid purchasing them.
It’s my wish that bloggers and journalists would do more fact checking before they publish untruths so that letters like this are not necessary. But instead, they hide behind the anonymity of the internet and spread their vicious untruths. If any of you wish to speak with me directly regarding this matter, please call. If I am not available, leave your phone number and I will contact you with the correct facts.
Sincerely,
Dick Zondag, President and Owner of J. W. Jung Seed Company
and Grandson of the founder
Nice of Mr. Zondag to want to please his customers, but I choose NOT to buy from any company that does business with Monsanto/Seminis in any way. And I am not hiding “behind the anonymity of the Internet” nor am I spreading “vicious untruths.” Buying anything from J.W. Jung Seed Company (or any company that does business with Seminis) inadvertently supports Monsanto/Seminis which is exactly what this article is TRUTHFULLY reporting.
G’ma – do you purchase any groceries from grocery stores? Do you realize that a very large percentage of the products they carry contain gmo corn which has direct links to Monsanto and companies that purchase from Monsanto? Sometimes you have to balance personal philosophy with common sense and instead of boycotting local and regional businesses that contribute to the local economy, just choose to be more selective in your purchases and buy local, organic, and non-gmo varieties that you know are from sustainable sources.
Better yet, do both. Be careful what you buy in the store and also do not buy seed from any company that doesn’t guarantee it’s non-GMO.
Yes Gary, I am fully aware of GMOs in foods on the shelves of grocery stores and no I do not purchase them. Although I get your point and do still purchase some things there, you must admit we have a purer choice when it comes to seed companies. If a dozen grocers were lined up in front of me (like seed catalogs) you bet I would be “boycotting” the ones with GMOs.
The misunderstanding here though is that the list of seed companies that the author recommends to boycott are NOT selling GMO seeds. They simply purchase some wholesale non-gmo seeds from Seminas which now happens to be owned by Monsanto. Therefore, buying from a regional or locally owned family seed company on that list is no different than buying groceries from any grocery store – large or small – all of which are guaranteed to also sell products produced from Monsanto – owned companies or from cereal crops grown from Monsanto seed.
Gary, if a seed company has no product from Monsanto/Seminis I choose them over those who do and if I could find a grocer that had no GMO product on their shelves I would choose them over those that do. No misunderstanding about that.
I am well aware that even health food companies can be owned by Monsanto, and yes, I boycott them all. I buy food locally or grow my own, don’t like to eat in restaurants, and do not buy anything from any company that has anything to do with Monsanto
Mr. Zondag had my interest and understanding right up to his last paragraph. I would have thought as a reputable businessman that he would have been happy to (once again) set the record straight letting a wider group of consumers know the facts between his company and his relatives’ now-Monsanto-owned counterpart. So sorry to see his true feelings come out in the end. I am more than glad for the many other non-GMO, non-Monsanto/Seminis companies out there. This is a very helpful article. Thanks, Lisa, for sharing Mr. Zondag’s letter.
I agree exactly with you mpbusyb–he had me right up to the last paragraph as well. Completely unnecessary and wrecked the whole message by revealing his true feelings and motivation.
That is just another shining example of misdirection from the companies. I am downright insulted by his hateful little ending paragraph. Nobody was “hiding” on the internet. Not one penny of my money will go to ANY company who does business, directly or indirectly with Monsanto. I make nearly everything we eat in my house from scratch and I will round that out soon with the remainder of what we eat so that even the grocery store will NOT get to accidentally give anything to them. No support for Monsanto!
Mr. Zondag would do better to realize he is communicating with potential buyers. The fact that he is giving any support at all to Monsanto is disappointing and his last paragraph lost my business.
I love this! So informative! If the common man only knew what Monsanto was doing to jeopardize our agriculture! Can’t wait for my garden this year!
http://vimeo.com/provisionsproductions/backtoedenfilmtrailer
If you’re going to plant heirloom seeds, you may as well learn how to make the most of your garden!
If your crops get contaminated by GMOs, sue Monsanto,
Dow Chemical, Bayer, Syngenta, Dupont, and BASF. It’s not only Monsanto out there, for some reason we’ve all been focusing on only one of Lernaean Hydra’s heads.
Sue them, or they will sue you. The more of us that sue, the better for everyone.
A farmer in Calgary did just that. His, I believe canola, became contaminated by a near-by field and Monsanto came after him for not paying for their fine product. He counter-sued on the grounds that their contaminated pollen trespassed on his property. He won that case BUT, the following year he planted seeds saved from the previous year’s harvest KNOWING the seed was now GMO. Monsanto sued and WON because he infringed on their patent by knowing planting seeds that were now Round-up resistant. BUT what scares me is, there is no way to prevent the cross-pollenation if there are Monsanto crops growing nearby!
Hmmm… maybe this is how/why the honeybees are “mysteriously” disappearing…
Warning to my fellow gardeners and seed savers.
Last year a somebody had sowed GMO Canola upwind from my isolated garden (surrounded by evergreen forest except for a public dirt road that cuts through the bottom 1/3 of property). I will be now busy pulling GMO WEED Plants instead of garden tending. I am a victim of DRIVE BY SOWING.
So be on alert for this on and around the farm/ homestead. These bastard plants can and will destroy your hard work. I also lost 75% of my wild & domestic bee population around mid-summer last year (suspicious event). These are evil people and corporations and are well talented Bio-Terrorists. They also own/control a huge % of North American governments also. This time period will go down in history as the beginning of the ‘ Great War on all Biological Lifeforms’.
Trying to sue them individually is like trying to sue the Nazis during Hitler’s rien of terror. They are the government and the government is them. May God help us to save this garden we call Earth.
It’s possible that migratory birds could be responsible for the sowing of the gmo seed. In this video a farmer has the same problem. GMO Canola ended up in his field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEX654gN3c4
Robert you are so right! I was just talking to my husband about this today! Do you happen to know the one person who is the mastermind or is it compiled of many?
Thank you for this information. I had no idea Monsanto has bought organic/heirloom seed companies. Wow.
Here is a site that has a good list of seed companies–not owned by monsanto or seminis–but carry seed and or products from those two companies.
http://www.garden-of-eatin.com/how-to-avoid-monsanto/
You can buy heirloom seeds from (lets use Baker Creek as an example) and not support monsanto/seminis. Just because a seed company also sells a variety that monsanto owns the name of the variety, does not mean they are buying seed from monsanto/seminis. Many of the heirloom companies also have their own garden plots for growing their own seed.
You can also try saving your own seed and swapping with others. There is a good book on seed saving on the Baker Creek site, rareseeds.com It is worth buying. I found it to contain a lot of helpful hints and suggestions as well as being easy to follow. Their cookbook isn’t bad either.
while its important not to support monsanto its also important to make it clear that just because you have seeds or buy seeds from monsanto you are still casting a vote that you want “organic” and your seeds that are “organic” will not be GMO seeds and not produce GMO plants even if they come form a branched of company owned by monsanto. some of those companies are trying to branch away from monsanto but everything takes money and time.
Okay, are you crazy? You can not buy seeds from any compnay that is owned by Mansanto! THEY DO NOT CARE IF YOU WANT ORGANIC OR NON-ORGANIC. They will sell you what you want and tell you they are organic and they aren’t. Please don’t get me wroing, but you need to view a few of the youtubes and documentaries about MANSANTO. Please, please, please do so. See what they have done to Hawaii. Please see what they have done to the family farmer. Please just please do your homework on this. The small family business selling GMO free seeds take pride in their product, and they won’t steer you wrong.
I live Hawai’i.
Please, do you have a video or other site you can turn us on to about this problem?
Monsanto’s company motto is: “Nothing will be grown that isn’t our own” and they mean it. They want to destroy everything including bee colonies.
Thanks Sarah for posting this. I JUST recieved my heirloom seeds from Baker Creek seeds. So excited!!! I shared on Facebook too, but my farmer friends probably will turn their nose up at this. Oh, well, truth is TRUTH!!
And here is a link of the heirloom types that monsanto/seminis own. They only own the name and can not force anyone who keeps their own seed to pay them for it. At least for now.
http://www.occupymonsanto360.org/2012/03/17/monsanto-owned-seednames/
Beth already posted that above. There used to be a purse size copy of it so you could take it with you if you wanted to avoid those types altogether. Anyone know where that is?
I would avoid any of the big box stores–wally world, Menards, Home Depot, local Groceries, etc. To find good heirloom seeds you will have to either find smaller companies or ones like Baker Creek who have taken a strong stand against Monsanto and GMO’s.
Thank you for another fantastic article.
Love Baker Creek, just got the new catalog and had to wrestle my teens for it! Biggest problem is that we want to order every variety though we have nowhere near the money or space for that lol.
I remember my grandfather saving his seeds out of his garden every year. I remember getting in trouble for touchin his drying okra pods.
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Gratified to learn that Territorial Seed Company is part of the uncompromising group (though I’m not surprised). My family has supported them exclusively for a quarter of a century (though we may have to get more picky about varieties).
I want to do a vegetable garden this summer, but I feel kind of lost. I’ve done a little bit of gardening in the past, but not with a great amount of success. I want to do it right this time. Does anyone have any blogs or books you recommend for beginner organic home gardening? I’m in Michigan, if you have any recommendations for this particular region. Thanks!
Rachel, I used Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening book last year and did 1 plot. I am notorious for having a “black thumb”, but Mel’s instructions were so easy to follow. Using a special mix of compost, peat moss and coarse vermiuculite, the plot thrived. We had such a harvest out of 1 4′ x 4′ plot. I still have food that I canned out of that garden. And so easy to take care of. I want to do 3 more squares this summer. Good luck & happy gardening.
Thanks for your book selection, Lisa. I have a black thumb, too….and with the hundreds of gardening books out there, which one? Now I know – thanks!
Be careful using vermiculite. I heard it was a dangerous material.
Robert,
Vermiculite is mica, heated until it pops. Vermiculite serves the purpose of holding water and nutrients and then releasing them into the soil. There was one vermiculite mine several years ago that was found to contain asbestos. The mine was closed and vermiculite is now sold with the label “asbestos free”. I only use vermiculite when starting a Square Foot Garden (it only needs to be added at the time of creation) and for seed starting.
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Thanks for that info. I loved starting seeds with vermiculite in my square foot garden. Now, I can use it again. Thanks again.
As a Garden Coach and Landscape Consultant I help people learn to grow their own food. I am also a Certified Square Foot Garden instructor and I would agree that it is a great way to garden especially for beginning gardeners.
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I see lots of people wondering how to garden, not having a lot of success and spending hours and hours in the garden for small results. I found this film and have been using their methods – and it works great! If you’re wondering how to spend fewer hours in the garden, organically without pesticides and without all the weeding, etc. check out this video. You can purchase it if you like, but I just watched the online version and I’m using wood chips – SO easy anyone can do it! http://backtoedenfilm.com/
Very frightening! I hadn’t thought about Monsanto buying organic and heirloom seed companies!
Thank you for posting.
Aaron Meyer look into this. <3
I had no idea! I sent an email to our CSA farmers to ask if they were aware of this. I love buying local from farmers I can actally talk to and ask questions of
Thank you so much for this info. My fiancee & I are going to be starting our own garden this year and I want to do everything in my power to make sure anything to do with Monsanto stays out of it.
thanks!
Why am I continuously surprised by what these guys are willing to do? There is nothing sacred to Monsanto and articles like yours Sarah will help transition those who are still in the dark about the evils of corporations like Monsanto, to seeing the importance behind the quality of the basic seed. It is the collective mind that will change the world.
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Great information especially for people starting a garden for the first time! Will keep this in mind when I start a garden!
Thanks,
Katie
Monsanto has very much stacked the deck against us, with every member of the fda and other federal agencies, having a direct tie to their company. I’ve heard that they even are passing legislation to regulate an individuals personal garden on their own property through the world health organization. “O what times we live in.”
Interesting. I’ve been buying my seeds from Burpee for my garden and I’ll have to check out who owns them.
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Burpee is its own company, not owned by Monsanto/Seminis but does sell seed owned by them.
I was told a long time ago that Burpee Seeds was bought out by Monsanto a long time ago.
Rosa, that is absolutely untrue. Burpee’s is still owned by the same family. But Tracy is correct, they DO sell seeds owned by Monsanto.
What happened to Monday mania??? Please bring it back!!
I asked her about Monday Mania, too. She said you have to go to Pinterest to see it now. I’m not crazy about that.
Thank you so much for sharing this information!!!!!!
I think your comments are misleading. You state, “Does this mean that even if you buy organic or heirloom seeds from a completely independent company but Monsanto owns the name of that seed, some of your purchase is going into the pockets of the bad guys?Yes, it does.”
The article you reference states, “Monsanto will only profit from customers purchasing these varieties from companies that are stocking seeds obtained directly from Monsanto or one of its distributors.” Other sources concur with this. While I’m all for NOT supporting Monsanto, you CAN still buy the listed varieties from a trusted source who does not obtain the seeds from Monsanto or one of its distributors. It all goes back to knowing your source.
Monsanto/Seminis will only profit when you buy those seeds directly purchased from them or companies who purchase from them.
So, if you buy seed from Baker Creek that has the same type of heirloom seed as a name that Monsanto/Seminis own, they will not be getting a check from Baker Creek. And most other heirloom companies out there also have their own stock of seed that has nothing to do with Monsanto. Just check with the company you are doing business with if you are not sure where the seed came from, they will be more than happy to tell you.
Once again, thank you for keeping important issues in front of our eyes. Easy to get caught up in day to day work and forget some of the very important things. With spring around the corner and another garden season to start….. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! Now is the time to start planning and ordering seeds responsibly, not waiting until planting date and then running to the local garden shop to pick up your seedlings and seeds.
Very informative post Sarah. For those who purchase their small garden plants from a local nursery or farmer, we also need to remember to ask our local gardeners and farmers where they buy their seeds and encourage them to use non GMO seeds, as well.
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Might be a good idea to start a seed exchange with gardeners in your area. Save out your seed from year to year. Yes, maybe the first purchase goes to Mon-Satan, but after that – as long as they haven’t gene spliced in the *evil* Terminator Gene – you should be able to produce and share your own seeds.
Except with crops that have pollen that speeds far and wide. Corn, for example. You can’t save corn if others grow GM corn within a few miles because chances are, it will be GM contaminated. The only way to have truly non GMO corn (and some other crops) is to plant organic seeds each year. It is just plain wring that this burden is placed on those wishing to grow or eat non GMOs.
I think the important thing to remember here is SAVE YOUR OWN SEEDS!
There are some good old standbys on that list of seed names that Monsanto owns. (People seem to be getting the words “organic”, “heirloom”, and “GMO” mixed up here. These are all different concepts. The varieties on that list are NOT GMO’s just because Monsanto owns the names).
If you like those varieties, then by all means grow them, but SAVE YOUR OWN SEEDS from them. That way, you can keep the variety alive (if everyone stops growing a variety of plant, it goes extinct), but Monsanto won’t be getting any money off it.
Then, after you save your own seeds, give away or trade the extra seeds to other gardeners who want the variety, so those other gardeners don’t have to buy the variety from Monsanto.
There are some good resources out there on how to save your own seed. Get the book Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth and Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe. How easy it is to save seed depends on the species of plant. Some are very easy to save, like tomatoes. Other things, like carrots, are a bit more of a hassle. But seed saving is fun and it makes you have TOTAL CONTROL over your garden plants, from generation to generation.
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I have bought some seeds from Sow True Seeds, but I am going to look into Baker Creek. As for Burpee, they claim that they have organic seeds, BUT they have refused to sign the Safe Seed Pledge. Something in the pit of my stomach tells me not to buy seeds from there. I read the book Seeds Of Destruction and it makes me sick to think that big corporations have that kind of control. It seems that our best option is to buy our seeds from proven Non-GMO companies and then harvest our own.
I watched Food, Inc. awhile ago and was really shocked by some of the things I learned from that documentary. Thanks for the post.
Yay, Pinetree is on the good list! For beginner and long-time gardeners alike, this is a great catalog with tons of variety and cheaper prices.
Richter’s herbs is another favorite because they have things you will not find elsewhere. I’ve learned a lot from these two companies just by reading their catalogs cover to cover.
Johnny Seeds sells Burpee Seeds and when I called about the seeds they could not tell me for sure if they were not GMO
Johnny’s is on the safe seeds pledge list. Does that mean something good in relation to the issue of non-GMO? I wonder if it was a matter of whom you spoke with (….I say hopefully as the Johnny’s catalog is one of my faves.). I was checking the lists for their company but didn’t find it in either of the first 2 linked lists.
I do a lot of research before buying seeds. Something is telling me not to trust Burpee. I tried a little garden last summer. It was doing pretty good, until my dogs got to it.
thank you thank you thank you. i hadn’t given it a thought yet who i was going to purchase my seeds from
The link for heirloom companies that have NOT been bought by Monsanto is broken.
I’m loving learning about all of the things Sarah discusses here!
Does anyone have links to videos or articles that explain the basics of who Monsanto is, what GMO is and how it changes things in the food world, or any other food- related info that’s not really “common/advertised knowledge”?
I want to be able to explain the basics to others and send them quality info to research! Thanks!!
There is a video on You Tube called Food, Inc. I also reccommend reading the book “Seeds Of Destruction”. That pretty much explains how this whole GMO process started.
Thanks!!
Links on GE and GMO
http://gardeninspire.com/garden-resources/genetically-engineered-food/
Read Fedcoseeds.com They are totally anti-Monsanto. I’ve ordered from them for years now. Excellent
Buy from this list of companies Monsanto HASN’T bought: http://www.occupymonsanto360.org/2012/03/06/monsanto-free-seed-companies/
interesting.i try this link 3 times and it wont open. have they gottin to it so we can’t find out.
got it to open
One of the main reasons that Monsanto has bought up so many seed companies is to use the germplasm DNA of those non-GMO varieties in their future GMO products.
The dirty little secret of the GMO industry is that most of the traits in their products that we want (like drought tolerance, greater nutrition, etc.) are ACTUALLY THE PRODUCT OF TRADITIONAL BREEDING.
In essence, by buying up these seeds, they can literally steal the work of thousands of farmers working over generations to produce quality seeds with beneficial growing traits. They then slip a Round-Up Ready gene into it and call it their “own” work and sell it with patent restrictions.
The only genetic trait Monsanto is actually responsible for creating is seeds that contain BT or Roundup Ready genes. Every other trait in their seeds was stolen.
Dawn @ Small Footprint Family\’s last post: Indulge! – Grain Free Chocolate Truffle Cake
Ironically, the OccupyMonsanto360 website appears to be down. Had no trouble getting Seminis website to load. Hmmm.
What’s this about Seeds of Change? They are not on the Seminis list. Are they not good???
Amy\’s last post: Menu Planning: Take Control of Your Week!
Nevermind that question about Seeds of Change. They have taken the Safe Seed Pledge. It says so on their website. See my reply to the second comment on this post.
Seeds of Change is owned by Mars, Inc, a proponent of GMO and a company who gave money to kill the GMO labeling bill in Cali.
I’ve put them on my boycott list.
No, boycott Seeds of Change. Their parent company helped destroy prop 37 in California. They’re little more than a front company for Mars and Mars has stated that it bought it to try and push in to other food markets under a friendlier “brand”.
That makes me think that no matter how perfect we are trying to be about what we eat and how we grow, we don’t live in a perfect world and looks like its not getting any better. We can certainly try our best, only for how long…before big corporations will start taking over.
My question is, besides the seeds that are labeled organic but are not, what about our food in the grocery store, even if it has organic label that means it really isn’t?
The list of companies Monsanto has bought out is wrong. They did not purchase T & T Seeds of Winnipeg – it is a family owned company and has been for over 60 years. I wonder how many other seed companies listed shouldn’t be on the list.
Actually, it isn’t the list that is wrong, it is what you said about it. You said it was a list of companies that have been bought out by Monsanto, but in fact it is a list of companies that distribute or supply Seminis seeds (Seminis is owned by Monsanto). Your statement in the “Four Steps Required” is misleading.
Also, just for information’s sake, T & T Seeds says they do not sell GMO seeds.
I see that you have changed your wording. That’s good. It is very important to be careful not to spread misinformation. It damages one’s credibility.
Thank-you Robin – as a seedsman it is hard to believe people belive the worst of a company based on a blog so flawed. I have spent countless hours defending our company – which was one of the first to sell untreated and organic seed in Canada. It bothers me people do not check facts. Sarah will not comment on this so I would imagine she is not credible.
I would like to thank Sarah for posting my rebuttle to facebook. This is a first step to fair open dialogue.
Do you buy seeds from Seminis? If so, you are supporting Monsanto and, therefore, I would boycott you if I was buying seeds in Canada. If you are not purchasing seeds (non-GMO or otherwise) from any company owned by Monsanto, then I would support you whole-heartedly.
I am a fourth Generation Seedsman supplying seed to Organic Growers and Gardeners in Canada.
I am saddened to see that most people believe what is written here. It is not true. Why do people write with out checking the facts.
I am currently writting a peice that I will post to our website tomorrow afternoon Friday January 24 telling the facts.
William A Dam
William Dam Seeds Ltd
I fully agree with you Bill… we also have found many errors and misleading facts on this website and it’s unfortunate that people do not research facts before they are published. See my note dated January 25th below. Simple fact is: Monsanto has NOT purchased the companies listed on this website. Seminas is one of many suppliers…who happen to carry some very good varieties that customers want and that are NOT genetically modified.
Fact: Seminis IS owned by Monsanto therefore, GMO or not, when you buy seeds from Seminis, or anyone selling Seminis seed, you are putting money in the pocket of Monsanto.
Wow, once again, I am amazed at how anyone can claim to be an ‘expert’, i.e. you Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist, without writing the truth? How much biochemistry, biology, or chemistry background do you have to be able to write the above article? Interesting how your sources are other blogs…now thats great scientific research.
You may want to re-check your list of so called Monsanto ‘devoured’ seed companies, as many of those companies are INDEPENDENTLY OWNED.
Stop spreading lies…
A question…if Monsatan are patenting all these seeds, can’t we get together and do the same? If there is a race to patent, can’t we apply for patents on as much as possible to protect them, and get in their first?
Henny, NO ONE can patent heirloom varieties, not even Monsanto … there are many, many flaws in the above article with respect to seed varieties and Monsanto
You are correct that they cannot patent them. They CAN, however, buy up varieties and then make them unavailable, forcing people to then buy their patented seeds. The only way to prevent this from happening is to make sure you save your seeds and share them!
sarah! wish there were one of you in every city in america and beyond. thank you!
ariyele\’s last post: Episode 8: Avocado Balsamic Popcorn
I LOVE my catalog from Baker….Do I need to worry about cross-contamination from the farm behind me who I know is planting seeds from Monsanto??? The field is planted to winter wheat this year but I’m worried about contamination when they go back to corn….
One thing is that you could try to figure out when the field corn would be tasseling and pick a variety of sweetcorn or whatever corn you are growing that won’t be tasseling at the same time. A lot of catalogs will tell you. I know they say that corn pollen can travel long distances but I think it’s rare. I’ve grown popcorn 50 ft away from sweetcorn and I never had a problem with cross contamination. This isn’t a perfect solution but it’s the best we can do besides giving up corn all together.
Thanks Lisa. I hope I can remember that next year when that field is back in corn. That said, I never have good luck with sweet corn. Mine gets corn smut every time. I know the smut is a delicacy in some places but, to me it’s just gross….
My favorite seed company is Landreth . . . http://www.landrethseeds.com/
Next on my list for reliable seeds and a great employee owned company, http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Please don’t confuse sketchy corporate practice with the sound science behind GMO.
Hello…. after receiving some disturbing emails from a couple of customers who had visited your website, I feel compelled to write you about some misleading statements that you have posted online. In your article about Monsanto, you state: “Avoid buying from the seed companies Monsanto has devoured. Here’s a list of the seed companies they bought out”.This is NOT true and is a very misleading statement. Although Vesey’s Seeds has purchased seeds from Seminas for decades (long before Monsanto purchased Seminas) Monsanto has not ‘bought’ our company and will NEVER be buying our company. We are a local, family-owned business and have no company connections to Monsanto or any other international seed company. The sad fact is that since Monsanto purchased Seminas, they have started to drop good reliable home-garden varieties of vegetable seeds that many of our customers have grown to love over the years. Monsanto appears to be favouring those varieties that are grown by very large commercial operations instead so the time may come when this is no longer an issue. As long as the tried and true home garden varieties are available and are non-gmo however, Vesey’s will most likely continue to purchase seeds from Seminas for the simple reason that 95% of our customers demand those varieties which have proven to be reliable, vigorous, high yielding and good tasting vegetables. Many of you have a personal philosophy which has led you to the belief that you do not want to support Monsanto because of their business practices and history of patented genes, gmo’s and so on. We fully understand that, however as a business that has been operating here in Canada for 73 years, we have to balance personal philosophies with practical good business sense, and if 95% of our customers are asking for non-GMO Seminas seed, we simply cannot drop those varieties to make the other 5% of our customers feel good about us. Personally, I don’t like Walmart, but when I need a particular product that they carry – I still will go and purchase it there – as I’m sure many of you do. I do hope that you will continue to support Vesey’s as well – as we continue to search for an increasing number of certified organic seed varieties from Canada and around the globe as they become available, and as we continue to stand by our commitment NOT to sell any genetically modified seeds. Your comments are always welcome, and we would love to talk with you further about making gardening an enjoyable and easy experience for you and your family.
Gary, the current percentages do put your company in a predicament, sorry to say. Hopefully soon the 95% to 5% will invert to a point at which you can join us in standing up against this.
” Personally, I don’t like Walmart, but when I need a particular product that they carry – I still will go and purchase it there – as I’m sure many of you do. ”
As always…assuming gets you into trouble. I don’t shop at Wal-Mart. Never have, never will. Can you guarantee the seeds you are selling from Seminas are not GMO’s? If so, state it. If not, well, the 5% will get their seeds elsewhere. Freedom of choice…but it’s a choice I demand they give us!
Yes – we do guarantee that the Seminas seeds we sell are not genetically modified and we state this in our catalogue and on our website. Walmart aside, do you purchase groceries from any grocery store – large or small? That same store also sells food products containing ingredients ultimately derived from Monsanto-owned seed – primarily corn. They also sell food products that are grown on farms that grow gmo seed, produce gmo food and do not use sustainable and environmental-friendly practices. Instead of boycotting that store for selling those products, common sense says to be more selective in your purchases and choose products that you know are grown locally, organically, and on a farm with good sustainable practices… and in doing so, you make an educated choice in addition to supporting your local and regional community.
I buy my food at a co-op and the farmer’s market…where they sell only non gmo and organic….as for meat (yes, I eat meat) I buy from local farmers who also avoid gmo products.
Unless those farmers are certified organic, they are quite possibly feeding their cattle gmo feed… how do you know that they are avoiding gmo’s in their operation? Face it folks, like it or not, gmo food is rampant in our food supply and you are most likely consuming food everyday that contains gmo’s. Without mandatory labelling you just don’t know it.
Wow…guess you never heard of grass-fed beef, huh. And, btw, as a retired farmer….I know the people I buy from personally and yes, they are all certified organic farmers.
Gary, even “Certified Organic” can contain GMO. There are loopholes which allow farmers to use GMO feed if it’s cost prohibitive to obtain non-gmo feed, or if non-organic feed does not exist.
I could care less about some useless USDA certification (which is run by ex-MOnsanto execs) and more about who I am buying from. If I can verify how they do business, then I’m a customer.
Not only that, but GMO aside, organic beef just means they are feeding them corn and soy and a few other fillers. Cows don’t eat that stuff – it makes them sick. Cows eat grass, so I buy grass fed beef.
We need to rethink how much importance we put on a term that’s already been hijacked by the gov’t and Big Farma.
Phil Bowyer\’s last post: Winter Gardening in Idaho
This is exactly the information that I have been looking for, but can’t seem to pinpoint as it all comes back to the lists of seeds/seed companies, which isn’t very helpful to me – so ANY help would be GREATLY appreciate: Is there a detailed (or even overview) list of all the food products being sold that are produced from GMO seeds/technology that the average person can reference?? Also, how do we know if our meat sources weren’t fed GMO food?
Thank you for any help!!
Another issue with the linked-to article on “heirloom” varieties that have been purchased by Monsanto/Seminis is that a number of the listed varieties are not heirloom (or even open-pollinated) varieties–they are F1 hybrids. I have noticed in my Pinetree catalog this year that those listed (in the article as bought by Monsanto) varieties they have carried for years are marked “last chance,” which seems to indicate they are divesting themselves of the bought-up varieties. That’s good, but if the buying trend continues, what varieties will be left for small, independent, and family-owned seed companies to sell? Well, that is where we all come in. Plant selection/seed saving/storing is an incredibly important skill, and it’s not difficult to do on a beginner level.
With open-pollinated & heirloom varieties, you can buy these seeds and save them yourself. A good resource for learning about this is Suzanne Ashworth’s book Seed to Seed (and there are other resources, too–this is my favorite). Another possibility is to buy a quantity of the F1 hybrid seed (even if Monsanto owns the name) and spend a few years selecting & stabilizing the variety yourself if it’s one you really like. Seed is alive–take “their” seed and make it yours.
Rebecca\’s last post: Making Food Real–Making Real Food
I do think some editing of this article would be wise. More accurate information would be helpful to consumers. As it stands now the correct information tends to be discounted because of what is not accurate.
For example the statement: “maintain a working relationship with Monsanto-Seminis or were acquired by them.” Then item #1 says “Avoid buying from the seed companies Monsanto has devoured. Here’s a list of the seed companies they bought out: http://www.seminis.com/global/us/products/Pages/Home-Garden.aspx”
Item number 1 should make clear that this it not a list of Monsanto owned companies but a list of companies which buy from Seminis.
Beuna Tomalino\’s last post: Ready to Start Seeds?
This is so helpful!!!! I am trying to learn to garden to help feed my family safe, healthy food, and knowing which seeds are not GMO is so important!
Jessica Azar\’s last post: Avoid Splenda!
Be careful Jessica, the above article is full of incorrect facts, including the lists. Those seed companies that she is claiming have been devoured by Monsanto are actually independantly owned, some of them family owned for generations, and many of them are also on the safe-seed pledge list.
Gardening is a wonderful skill to learn, enjoy your journey, I love my gardens.
Be careful Judy! Those seed companies that retail from the wholesaler Seminis are actually inadvertently supporting Monsanto. How are some people missing the whole point of this article? If you spend your dollars with a seed company that spends their dollars with Seminis, you are inadvertently spending your dollars with Monsanto. Period.
Hot topic Sarah, thanks for sharing.
Something that isn’t stated is the fact that Organic is not guaranteed GMO-Free. Neither is heirloom I would imagine. If you don’t believe me, look at the Non-GMO Project’s verification FAQ (question 2) and do some chatting with your seed company (even privately owned), food supplier, pet food source, dairy, etc. This hit my radar on one of my homesteading forums. Even the organic companies are not required by their standards to test their product if “to their knowledge” the product is not contaminated. This means seed supplier that don’t test could be unknowingly spreading GMO seeds to the public.
http://www.nongmoproject.org/product-verification/faqs/
For the reasons listed above I support seed companies like Baker Creek (rareseeds.com) and High Mowing Seeds (http://www.highmowingseeds.com/). I haven’t talked personally with Seed Savers Exchange and do not know their practices for testing, isolation, etc. The Baker Creek catalog has an article in it by Jeffery Smith as well as an explanation in their corn section as to why they only offer the 11 varieties of corn they have (cliff notes: they test and have been for the last 8 years and it’s harder and harder to find uncontaminated seeds).
Vote with your dollars. And as sad as it is to say, try not to make exceptions. The exceptions keep feeding the corruption. Where big money is involved, follow the money, you will find corruption. That includes seeds, the organic industry and as Sarah has posted on more then one occasion, the food industry. Monsanto is connected to all of these in some form or another as well as the pharmaceutical industry. They have openly threatened to sue the state of Vermont if they pursue GMO labeling. They raised enough money to produce enough marketing in the anti-labeling campaign to “overthrow” the people of the entire state of California with Prop-37 (although there was a huge awakening with that as well).
Again, great info Sarah. I will personally stick to the companies that test their products, hoping the others will catch on and do the same. It’s how I buy my livestock feed. It’s how I purchase anything in the grocery store I can’t grow myself. It’s how I avoid GMO’s in my day to day life. And I do, completely avoid GMO’s. If I can help it, no company with any ties to or any benefit from Monsanto will receive one red cent from me.
Monsanto is not buying up organic and heirloom companies – this not true
Hi Sarah,
I have posted on my website William Dam Seeds a rebuttal to your blog. Could you plese read this and see how checking facts in blogs would be good.
Whatabunchofjokersyouare. There is no difference in health, safety or nutrition from gm and non gm. There is zero testing needed to,prove that organic food is organic – zero but about $50m of testing on each gm trait. You are Luddites who are living in the dark ages
Better to be Luddites than poisoned.
What if you are wrong?
Hate to tell you Tony, but you are dead wrong. There are many documented cases where ranchers have lost their stock due to GMO feed.
I, along with my wife, have seen significant health improvements since we ditched GMO.
And here’s a thought, if GMO’s are so safe, and so awesome, and are gonna feed the world, then why doesn’t Monsanto and Dow and the rest want them labeled? If these things are so great, they should want every piece of processed garbage, I mean food, proudly flying the GMO flag.
Also, if they are safe, why haven’t we seen any independent analysis of them?
Wake up man, your life is at stake.
Phil Bowyer\’s last post: Winter Gardening in Idaho
Well good, if you think their so safe then you eat the GMO foods and leave the good stuff for those of us who care about our future health, our children’s and the health of this earth. Watch something other then mainstream media and read something other then the studies funded by the big bias businesses your defending.
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?fbid=10151365559148948&set=a.252970578947.138710.240152903947&type=1&theater¬if_t=notify_me
Thank you for posting this. I got an email from Burpee titled Grafted Heirloom Seeds. I replied, asking if this was an oxymoron. Believe it or not, I did not get a response!
This is a good and clear article that explains how some small seed companies ended up in the position they are in (and how they are getting out of it or have already gotten out of it.)
http://www.nwedible.com/2012/12/a-brief-history-of-monsanto-and-seed-houses-who-got-screwed.html
Thanks!
Goats and Greens\’s last post: Test Driving: Eye of Round Roast
insisting that Monsanto is helping feed the starving people of the world. ….a bunch of bs…there is enough food in this world right now to feed everyone 1.5 times. we could certainly do without monsanto and their evil seeds. wondering though, if I have a garden (which there are farms nearby) if their seeds end up in my garden, can I be sued for patent infringement too?
Yes. Much of the difficulty with getting food to people who are starving has to do with internal politics in the regions where they are living. It’s a shameful thing, and I know many worthwhile organizations are working to combat this. The solutions are and will be regional-based. Monsanto is proposing a band-aid.
Goats and Greens\’s last post: Test Driving: Eye of Round Roast
Hi!! Awesome post. I take exception to one small suggestion. If Monsanto is buying up heirloom variety seeds and names we need to act fast. I personally think they plan to totally eliminate them, so their GMO seeds eventually become the only choice we have. To boycott these heirlooms actually speeds up their plan. We would be doing it for them. I think these are the Monsanto seeds we SHOULD buy. Tiny quantities. Plant them, harvest the seeds and give them away to friends and/or bloggers etc. so they are so widespread Monsanto has absolutely NO power over the heirlooms.
Just my opinion.
I am very grateful for this article and every article that comes out against Monsanto. We all need to come together and take charge of our precious lives. Anyone who does this is a true hero! The Seven Sons Farm is also a hero! It takes courage to do what they do! I am grateful to Seven Sons Farm in putting out these very needed articles and in all that they do for our families! Thank you is not enough!
We purschase all of our seeds from Seed Savers Exchange, This company is located at Heritage Hill Farms in Decorah Iowa. Not only do they produce only heirloom variety seeds, certified & non certified organic seeds they also are invested in bringing back many heritage breed farm animals. Awesome company.
dont forget sharing! saving and sharing seeds is one of the most noble things you can do!
Wow, you effeminate retards REALLY buy into the nonsensical “Monsanto is evil/ GM food is unhealthy” stupidity. Disgraceful, moronic sheep. There is NO scientific evidence that it’s unhealthy. Anti-corporate, unproductive bandwagoners.
Ok genius (as evidenced by your well-thought out, well-written intelligent statement), please be so kind as to provide proof from a source NOT owned by Monsanto that GMO’s are safe. The issue isn’t that we know they are UNsafe….the issue is, there has been no scientific documentation that they ARE. So please, share your knowledge oh brilliant one….post the links to the proof that they are safe!
Well, genius, I’m not the one making the claim. Claims made with no evidence can be dismissed with no evidence. Again, there is NO evidence that GMO foods are unsafe. Maybe you didn’t finish high school?? The ones making the claim must prove the claim. You don’t ask someone to prove a negative, freaking effeminate retard. Get a GED
Language and aggressive tone aside, Gelgamark’s point is logically spot on. You can’t ask someone to prove a negative. The burdon of proof is on the claimant.
Proving something is safe is NOT proving a negative. If so, no drugs would ever be approved by the FDA.
And Gelgamark, it’s really difficult to take you seriously when all you can do is insult people. Why don’t you try being civil? Or is that beyond your ability.
Again, when you introduce a new drug, you have to proof it’s efficacy AND safety. I see no reason why Monsanto should not be held to the same requirements.
Apparently you and Mr. Personality know something the FDA and AMA don’t because the AMA has called for safety testing on GMOs. You’d better call them and tell them it can’t be done.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-19/features/chi-gmos-should-be-safety-tested-before-they-hit-the-market-says-ama-20120619_1_bioengineered-foods-ama-drug-cosmetic-act
Here you go Gelgamark:
http://independentsciencenews.org/commentaries/regulators-discover-a-hidden-viral-gene-in-commercial-gmo-crops/
Hidden viral genes in GMO sequences that are made for human consumption are NOT what most would call innocuous. Your corporate masters at Monsanto have been caught red-handed by the European Food Safety Authority.
Gelgamark, the long-term testing on GMO foods was never done, to my knowledge. It should have been done, but it was not. We’re the guinea pigs, now.
Frankly, my views on GMO’s are nuanced. I’d like to see further studies on “golden rice”. But I don’t think I want pesticides incorporated with my corn, or terminator genes in my other food items. And I don’t trust Monsanto further than I can throw them.
And, Gelgamark, how about talking WITH people instead of insulting them? You only show YOURSELF in a bad light with that approach. It seriously makes me wonder how far along the educational process you’ve gone.
Goats and Greens\’s last post: Test Driving: Eye of Round Roast
Gelgamark, your best bet is to go over and post on CNN. Your style fits right in there with the other opinionators. It’s a great place to go for a laugh when I need one — reading the comments sections there. However, here we go in for conversation without name calling. One can disagree without being disagreeable.
I for one WORK for a corporation. It’s just not Monsanto. Ever.
Goats and Greens\’s last post: Test Driving: Eye of Round Roast
I was getting ready to purchase some seeds from Park Seeds. Does anyone know anything about this company. I did not see their name on the list of companies that have signed the safe seed pledge.
Not all seed company’s have the time to fill out all the paper work stuff. Just read about the company and maybe it tells more.
Kylie Lichty\’s last post: About Us
Thank you so much for putting this article together with good resources to help home gardeners avoid planting GMOs. I am so thankful for what you do
Keep up the good work.
Sarah, thank-you for the link to Organic Seed aliance. It is full of credible information. Things have changed since 2005, but the history and problems as seed merchants are well laid out. Also thank-you for rewording your blog it should reduce the frantic emails I have been recieving from customers. As for occupymonsanto360 – they do have still have flawed informatiion – but I will ask them for thier facts. Again we are an independent seed firm selling to Organic farmers and Gardeners in Canada. In the coming days I hope to post a list of seminis varieties to our website that we have trouble finding replacements for and many of our northern growers depend on them for thier food. We are in a catch22 – we do not support GMOs but we also depend on certain seminis varieties. I wish you all the best.
Bill
Interesting that anyone would accuse bloggers of “hiding behind their anonymity” of the internet. How many millions of dollars has Monsanto and other corporate pesticide and GMO interests to defeat truthful labelling initiatives. In my opinion, Monsanto and all of it’s affiliates can burn in hell. Onward, to our health!
I have a feeling that I’m not going to make many friends here, but please hear me out. I feel that I first need to state that I am an organic gardener (who carefully purchases seeds), mindful of what I put into the bellies of my friends, family, and livestock. GMO foods definitely give me the hee-bee-jee-bee’s.
However… it does bother me a little to read sentences like, “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.”
Monsanto has a location in the neighboring town from me, and the owner lives about a mile down the road. I have to say, I have been impressed with what his “quest” actually is. His motto is to, “Feed the World”. That is admirable. That has special meaning to me, because we have a Ugandan girl living with us who shared that organic seeds are difficult to grow in her village, but GMO seeds grow well and feed her family. Now, of course, it grows well because it’s not natural, and it is not the healthiest food for her family… but the other option is no food for her family.
I realize that stories like this do not apply to the large majority of Americans. But I do have to give credit where credit is do… Monstanto wants to feed the world, and they are feeding many hungry people. No, they are not feeding ME, and I hope they are not feeding others that have the means to put healthy foods into their growing bodies, but they are feeding those who cannot grow their own produce or buy organic. I have to respect that.
Katie,
That’s pretty good. The “feed the world” argument is nonsense. They’ve been saying that for years, yet it hasn’t happened, and yet it’s not because there’s a shortage of food, it’s because it’s not being distributed to the people who need it.
Industrialized countries throw away tons of food that has gone bad because we simply have too much of it. If they really cared about feeding the world, they would make sure that the food got to where it needs to be, but instead they only care about profit.
If they just cared about feeding the world, they wouldn’t be patenting HUMAN genes, and suing farmers whose farms were contaminated by there seeds.
I’ll also add, that the so-called food that Monsanto produces is actually harmful to us, and therefore if they were actually able to feed the world, they would actually be killing everybody, slowly.
We don’t need large industrialized farms, we need smaller farms who grow via sustainable methods that feed their own community. If we want to feed the world, that’s how we should go about it.
There are many farmers who are going to these places and helping them set up aquaponic systems so they can grow under dry climates, and teach them how to grow food and sustain themselves.
That’s feeding the world.
I’m not arguing that their food isn’t harmful. I’m not supporting large, industrialized farms. Again, I am a small organic farmer, with a small head of cattle and a few chickens to feed my family. I agree that organic is better for everyone, which is why I feed my family that way.
But I will refuse to stick my head in a hole and ignore some pretty remarkable evidences of them following through with their mission statement. I tried to provide a clear example of how GMO seeds have actually helped third-world communities, but perhaps I didn’t do a good enough job at explaining. Maybe we can look at it this way: many homeless individuals go to shelters for meals, those meals often come out of a can, and those cans are filled with anything but organic foods. Is that food good for those hungry bodies? No, not especially. But does it fill their tummies and give them another day to live? Yes, it does. I know you mentioned that if Monsanto is feeding people this way, they are killing them slowly. All I’m saying is that the alternative is to die much more quickly of starvation… I’d choose the former if I were in that situation. I am glad that I’m not — and so I take advantage of my situation and grow/eat organic. And I try my best to share any surplus I might have. But not all of us are that fortunate.
Katie, you miss the bigger picture. GMO, by definition, is not only harmful to the body, but also to the environment. This goes beyond feeding people.
Typical use of these seeds relies on chemical fertilizer, chemical pesticides/herbicides. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how this practice kills the soil, pollutes the plants, and creates superweeds and bugs that thus require increased use in chemicals.
I’m sorry, but we do not need their “technology” in order to feed people. It’s doing more harm than good. There are better ways to feed people, and giving kudos to a company like Monsanto because they’ve fed some poor people is just short sighted.
I’m surprised too, because it seems like you really know what you’re doing and I’m a bit jealous of your operation.
Monsanto is the most evil company on this planet. The harm they do to the world far outweighs anything they do that would be considered good.
Phil Bowyer\’s last post: Winter Gardening in Idaho
Yes, GMO foods are also harmful to the environment. That is one of the many reasons why I am so thankful for informed individuals like you who encourage smart, organic farming. You mentioned the very true fact that there are many individuals who dedicate their time to helping others in difficult climates set up aquaponic systems and teach agricultural education. That is wonderful! If any of us on this page are able to contribute to that cause, we really ought to — whether that means going ourselves, or supporting someone who does. But in the meantime, until every community has those resources, I’m glad that at least some of those communities have SOMETHING to eat, even if it’s not the best.
I do and will encourage and support local, organic farms. I am thankful for this article and that the writer is helping gardeners make good choices for this coming spring. It was just that one sentence that rubbed me the wrong way — I just will not make a claim on Monsanto’s behalf of what they’re “really up to” when they actually are feeding people. That’s all I’m saying. But if we can feed people better food, then we ought to do so as well.
Phil, I am whole-heartedly with you on this. If Monsanto really cared about feeding the world, they wouldn’t be suing farmers who have inadvertantly planted Montsanto-tainted seed (because it blew over the fence, via trespass, and they didn’t know they had it).
Perhaps there are individuals here and there who work for Monsanto who have ideas of helping humanity, but that’s not the Monsanto bottom line.
Goats and Greens\’s last post: Test Driving: Eye of Round Roast
Agriculture in Uganda from Wikipedia: “Uganda’s favorable soil conditions and climate have contributed to the country’s agricultural success.”
Monsanto’s “feed the world” lie is just that, a lie. Truth is farmers in Uganda are rejecting GE seed. “Haidee Swanby, a researcher for the African Centre for Biosafety said that the purpose of multinationals who have acquired rights to produce GMOs is to make profits by controlling the rights of propagation, making the small-scale farmers dependent on the seed producer by not allowing them to replant harvested seeds, as it has been for generations.”
I’m sorry, but that means very little to me… having actually been to Uganda, having family living and helping there, knowing the soil first hand, and having a Ugandan farmer currently living in my home, I actually know the difference.
I’m not trying to insult anyone here, and I feel like the fact that I agree with everyone on this page in regards to most points is being overlooked. I’m not a fan of Monsanto, everyone. I am just not willing to judge their intentions.
Someone else posted that Monsanto is a band-aid, and I could not have said it any better myself. Band-aids are not what we need — they are not going to really fix things — they are not the long-term solution. But I am thankful for the parts they are temporarily helping until everyone else has the proper help they need.
Maybe you can educate me on this Katie, but Uganda has a LONG history of horticulture and for the overwhelming majority of that time, they grew organically by DEFAULT, and they’re still here after thousands of years to tell the tale so I think that it’s not Uganda itself that can’t grow flourishing organic crops.
Monsanto garbage grows better in fields that have been assaulted w/ industrial fertilizers and pesticides for generations, whereas organic seeds grow better in organic fields. If the reason that GM grows better in Uganda is because these farmers have been taken for the same ride that we’ve all be taken for (i.e. they’ve used industrial fert and pesticides in their fields for year), then I can hardly say that Monsanto is doing them any favors. They’ve poisoned the fields to a point where the farmers have no choice, they need to buy the poison seed that grows in the poison field, then that sounds a lot like organized crime. So no, no credit to Monsanto. They aren’t feeding the world, they’re destroying our ability to feed ourselves without them.
This is a wonderful,organic, GMO free company out of Vt. http://www.highmowingseeds.com/
I just got my seed order for 2013 in, today. From Rareseeds.com, and yes they are very much opposed to GMO. Can’t wait to plant all those healthy beet and broccoli seeds!
Goats and Greens\’s last post: Test Driving: Eye of Round Roast
when you use any kind of fertilizer or food be sure it too isn’t owned by Monsanto. Many folks don’t know that bags of potting soil contain Monsanto products. Beware!
http://www.groworganic.com/fertilizers/organic-fertilizer.html
Organic, non-GMO fertilizer!
Here is an article about a couple in Orlando fighting city hall to keep their front yard garden.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-front-yard-gardens-20130115,0,7386168.story
I found this video very enlightening. Perhaps you will to.
http://youtu.be/KRDSSAXjsUY
Thanks for the video – he makes some real valid points.
I signed up for seeds of the month club from Mike the Gardener http://www.averagepersongardening.com he said his seed are GMO free. If his seeds are could you add him to the list.
Thank You
He is out of Burlington, NJ
Excellent information. Thanks.
I would like to know if it is possible to get GMOs out of you system once they are present in your body?
The yard in the pic is gorgeous! Looks so peaceful there!
Just got a booklet in the mail from “Gurney’s.” Any info on them?
Glad to see Peaceful Valley made this list! They’re truly the best of ALL worlds – non-GMO, mostly heirloom varieties and everything also certified organic.
Not many companies out there can claim that.
I’ll definitely keep them on my list. Thanks.
Thank you for posting this info. I am trying to get my seed purchase together and would like to start trying to save seeds as well. Obviously, I don’t want to start out with the wrong thing.
These Monsanto seed articles always remind me of a book I read, “Season of the Harvest.” It is a lot more sci-fi, but the GMO and the seed control is spot on. (It’s free for kindle right now too.) I think it even simplifies the level of control.
Wow! i got to this post late but if you go over to farmwars dot info you will see that BARB personally vetted this issue last fall. the post is under the SAFE SEED LADY NETWORK and she covered tons of seed companies all for the issues SARA highlighted. Many readers wrote in about their favourites and BARB sleuthed them out.
Check it out it is a momentous research project and she deserves HUGE kudos for her efforts to educate us on who to turn to to keep our food supply safe.
Stay safe, everyone!
This article, and the ‘Monsanto-owned-names’ claim and list isn’t entirely correct. I am an organic seed grower, and want to clear things up a bit for folks. First, Monsanto does not own the names of ANY heirloom varieties. Period.
Monsanto (Seminis) owns ONLY the names of the F1 hybrid varieties, as these varieties are inherently proprietary – only they know the parental lines that were crossed to produce the F1. The open-pollinated varieties on this list (Black Beauty eggplant, Marketmore 76 cucumber, Habañero pepper, Hungarian Yellow Hot Wax pepper) are NOT owned by Monsanto. These varieties are grown and sold by countless independent seed companies (some of them by us as well), and trust me, Monsanto doesn’t get one red cent of royalties, as they do not own the names of these open-pollinated varieties.
These open-pollinated varieties are on this list because they are ALSO GROWN by Seminis, NOT OWNED by Seminis. Seminis is one of many, many companies growing and selling these fine varieties that have stood the test of time.
If you want to empower yourselves when it comes to buying seed, get to know your seed source. Ask informed questions. Talk to your farmers and your seed-growers, and do your own research. The above list has been re-posted on many sites, and cited many times. I understand the desire to not support Monsanto in any way, as I share this desire.
Hope this helps…I’m happy to help answer folks’ questions on this issue if they feel so inclined to get in touch.
Good luck out there,
Justin Huhn
http://www.occupymonsanto360.org (http://s.tt/18OdD)
This isn’t entirely correct. I am a seed-grower, and want to help clear things up a bit for folks.
Monsanto (Seminis) owns ONLY the names of the F1 hybrid varieties on this list, as these varieties are inherently proprietary – only they know the parental lines that were crossed to produce the F1. With few exceptions, every variety on this list is an F1 Hybrid. The open-pollinated varieties on this list (Black Beauty eggplant, Marketmore 76 cucumber, Habañero pepper, Hungarian Yellow Hot Wax pepper) are NOT owned by Monsanto. These varieties are grown and sold by countless independent seed companies (some of them by us as well), and trust me, Monsanto doesn’t get one red cent of royalties, as they do not own the names of these open-pollinated varieties.
These open-pollinated varieties are on this list because they are also grown by Seminis, NOT owned by Seminis. Seminis is one of many, many companies growing and selling these fine varieties that have stood the test of time.
If you want to empower yourselves when it comes to buying seed, get to know your seed source. Ask informed questions. Talk to your farmers and your seed-growers, and do your own research. Learn how to save seeds. The above list has been re-posted on many sites, and cited many times, spreading misinformation. I understand the desire to not support Monsanto in any way, as I share this desire!
Hope this helps…I’m happy to help answer folks’ questions on this issue if they feel so inclined to get in touch.
all the best,
Justin Huhn
Thanks for the message Justin. You are 100% correct.
Up here in Canada our climate does not allow for growing of quality seed in quantities required as a seed company. My grandfather tried to grow seed here in Ontario with disastrous results and that was back when the climate was predictable. In vast areas of Canada the weather today is opposite of tomorrow.
Best Regards,
Bill
Anyone who grows can also produce seed. Pioneers and homesteaders in upper Canada did it, and we can too. The key is, avoid seeds from the big corporations.
“Monsanto doesn’t get one red cent of royalties, as they do not own the names of these open-pollinated varieties.
These open-pollinated varieties are on this list because they are also grown by Seminis, NOT owned by Seminis. Seminis is one of many, many companies growing and selling these fine varieties that have stood the test of time.”
This is not entirely correct. ANYTHING sold by Seminis results in money going in the pocket of Monsanto because Seminis is OWNED by Monsanto. So, to purchase these open-pollenated varieties from someone OTHER than Seminis, if THEY did not obtain the seed from Seminis, will not result in money going to Monsanto. But if you purchase from Seminis or from a company that bought from Seminis, you most certainly ARE giving your money to Monsanto.
Kitazawa Seed Company is the oldest seed company in America specializing in Asian vegetable seeds. http://www.kitazawaseed.com/
Does anyone know if they have they been bought by Monsanto-Seminis?
This is the first year that I will be planting heirloom seeds. I’m very glad that I ran across this informative post before it’s time to start my garden. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this article! Your links and follow-up are truly informative and helpful. Some suggestions I have: 1. Find that person in your neighborhood who is “the gardener”. There is always one, you’d be surprised, and usually this is the person who has the true heirlooms and is willing to give or sell you seeds and seedlings (as well as advice).
2. This same person will also probably tell you, “Save your seeds!” Do it, please! Letting just one plant of each variety go to seed will give you more seeds than you know what to do with. Share them, use them. Keep them in a locked vault otherwise. “They” aren’t coming to take your guns, they’re coming to take your seeds! (Ok that sounds a little paranoid, but it makes much more sense in the larger picture, don’t you think?)
Thank you for your very informative and valuable site. I have had spotty success trying to remineralize my teeth with diet since April 2012. I’m sure you know it can be a daunting task to completely change the way you eat, especially when you live with someone that is a junkfood junky. Though I’ve been cutting down on grains and mostly get my protein from wild caught seafood, pastured or grass fed animals their organ meats and dairy, I didn’t know how important raw grass fed butter was… until I hear you mentioned, on the Oralwellness Summit, that the first thing you would recommend to cure a cavity was raw grass fed high vitamin butter oil. I already had some raw grass fed butter in the refrigerator, but I never used it and opted for the pasteurized grass fed butter instead to save money. That night after hearing your lecture, I took a heaping spoon full of raw grass fed butter before bed and was more than surprised to see how powerful it was. Within 30 seconds, it completely dissolved the plaque from all my teeth. Since then, I’ve been taking a heaping spoon full before bed every night and all my Periodontal problems have just about completely disappeared. Thank you for your dedication and for you efforts in getting the truth out.
Thank you for your very informative and valuable site. I have had spotty success trying to remineralize my teeth with diet since April 2012. I’m sure you know it can be a daunting task to completely change the way you eat, especially when you live with someone that is a junkfood junky. Though I’ve been cutting down on grains and mostly get my protein from wild caught seafood, pastured or grass fed animals, their organ meats and dairy, I didn’t know how important raw grass fed butter was… until I hear you mentioned, on the Oralwellness Summit, that the first thing you would recommend to cure a cavity was raw grass fed high vitamin butter oil. I already had some raw grass fed butter in the refrigerator, but I never used it and opted for the pasteurized grass fed butter instead to save money. That night after hearing your lecture, I took a heaping spoon full of raw grass fed butter before bed and was more than surprised to see how powerful it was. Within 30 seconds, it completely dissolved the plaque from all my teeth. Since then, I’ve been taking a heaping spoon full before bed every night and all my Periodontal problems have just about completely disappeared. Thank you for your dedication and for you efforts in getting the truth out.
Add this one to the list.
Harvest your own seed in the fall. All plants set seed one way or another. Using your own seed will guarantee that you are not using GM seeds. We have grown wildflowers and our garden for over 40 years and love the food from it. We also eat all the food including costmetically scarred foods and mulch the residue. We also farm and can attest that some of our local “Organic Farmers” spray theri feilds at night and buy non organic farmers crops and mix them with their so called Organic product. So don’t be fooled by their stamp of approval. GROW YOUR OWN. If ou live in the city, (I feel sory for you) find ways to grow food on vacant lots or hydroponically inside. And give theexcess to the street people to better their health. Then start finding ways to convince the Managers of business (people) to allow their workers to produce from home. There is nothing more insane than a population sitting in a traffic jam because they, first of all have to dirve where the managers are, all at the same hour for the manager’s convenience! Our independance is at stake and Monsantois just the easy target.
Corporate Serfs Unite! A change in society is due, but we can change our lifestyle now. Sitting in front of a computer at home avoids the gas, the resources in a vehicle and tires, and a whole lot of time.
News to me that Monsanto can own an open pollinated variety that has been on the market for years and that countless other seed companies grow in their own supply. Other comments have been made to clarify this. A British Columbian seed growers email group has talked about these “lists” of bad vs. good and have decided it is not accurate. Perhaps home gardeners can look for seed companies who actually grow the seed they sell. Then you know the profits do not go to Monsanto.
Monsanto owns Seminis. All I am saying is, if you buy ANYTHING from Seminis or from someone who bought it from Seminis, you are buying it from Monsanto. What is so difficult to understand about that??
It is difficult to understand because not all the varieties listed are coming from Seminis. Seminis produces them but they are not the only seed company who produces that seed. Take Marketmore 76 seed as an example, Seminis produces this seed, but other non-Monsanto affiliated seed companies also produce this seed. By spreading information that leads a reader to believe that all Marketmore 76 seeds are Monsanto tainted is misleading and unethical. It would be much more ethical to guide users to discuss,with the seed company they purchase from, where their seeds come from. Not all seed companies that do business with Seminis are bad companies, some have done business with Seminis for decades.
If I buy verified non-gmo, non-seminis seed from a seed company that produces the seed themselves, but also offers Seminis seed, what is wrong with that? I would not be putting money into Monsanto, correct?
Bottom line is that if we put small seed companies out of business because a limited amount of their seeds are bought from a Monsanto affiliate, we are contributing to the demise of small seed companies and Monsanto wins that way as well aka not as much competition.
Instead make an informed decision to not buy Monsanto Products, not put out of business small companies who have done business with Seminis for years prior to the Monsanto buyout! Contact your seed company and only buy seed that they either produce themselves or come from a non-Monsanto affiliated seed company! You will be sending an even bigger message to these companies, supply and demand. If people do not buy these seeds then these companies will eventually phase these seeds out!
Nicole, this one statement of yours: “Not all seed companies that do business with Seminis are bad companies, some have done business with Seminis for decades. ” tells me you are missing at least part of the point….
No, not all companies that do business with Seminis are “bad” companies HOWEVER, some of us do not want ANY of our money to end up in the bank account of Monsanto. Therefore, we do not want to do business with any company that buys seed from Seminis.
To simplify: You buy from Company X- Company X buys the seed from Seminis- Seminis is owned by Monsanto- your money goes to Monsanto.
So, if you want to do business with a company that is buying seeds from Seminis, find out WHICH seeds and don’t buy those. I would also urge those companies to find other sources for seed.
The problem is there is no simplified answer. If as a consumer you do not buy seed that comes from Monsanto, Seminis, De Reuters…etc your money will not be going to them, period.
But not buying any product from a company because it sells a limited amount of seed from those companies is only helping Monsanto void the market of it’s competition.
Example: a seed company has 10 seeds that it supplies its customers with that come from Seminis. The company also grows its own seed with hundreds of other varieties not associated with Monsanto. Your options are to boycott the company and subsequently but that company out of business or simply not buy the Seminis seed. Your option being the former, my option being the latter.
Makes complete sense to have a small company go out of business clearing the market of Monsanto competition, making hundreds of people unemployed and next time an uninformed person goes to buy seed there is one less option for that uninformed person to go to and most likely they will end up at a big box store buying Monsanto seed. But, as long as the money that was in your possession doesn’t go to Monsanto though it is ok, right?
By making a conscience decision to not purchase those particular seeds from that company you are doing more good than just simply dropping them, keeping people employed, and by virtue of supply and demand those seeds will be dropped and other seed choices will be available.
But hey if you really think that boycotting a small seed company that produces some of its own varieties of seeds is going to put Monsanto out of business, have at it. You are only hurting the entire cause and making it easier for Monsanto to rule!
Peru just BANNED Monsanto! Come on America – do we really want corporations to control our FOOD? Amend the constitution to abolish the ability of corporations to exercise never intended constitutional rights http://www.movetoamend.org
I shared this blog only to stand corrected. Read the rebuttal from William Dam, president of Wm. Dam Seeds: http://www.damseeds.ca/productcart/pc/viewcontent.asp?idpage=13
Thanks for this timely post, Sarah! Unfortunately, I think the non-GMO seed market and which companies are “safe” to buy from is going to be a moving target as Monsanto strives to gain even more power over our food supply.
Brande Plotnick\’s last post: Homemade Bath Salts and the Art of the Bath
Award-winning documentary “Genetic Roulette” is online until Feb 10th! A must see for anyone who eats: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/posts/genetic-roulette-free-screening/
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but I am not having any luck researching this. What about cotton clothing? Can I find any that is not bt or gmo? I am concerned especially for my young children and what they are wearing. Are there certain countries of origin I should avoid or just assume it is all bt and look for organic cotton? What about what they call green cotton or Oeko- tex certified?
Excellent question,Danielle! Does anyone have a substantiated answer?
WOW! I had honestly never thought about how I might be supporting the evil Monsanto by purchasing organic seeds or seedlings at my local nursery!
Thanks, Sarah, for putting together the 4 easy steps. Those links are INVALUABLE!
I suppose that if we discover our local farmers are growing organic Monsanto-owned varieties, we should express our concern and let them know. Perhaps they aren’t aware…
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Hi there! How about West Coast Seeds in Canada? Their seed guide is full of information on how they have only organic, non-GMO seed. I’d be interested in their business ownership/affiliations… Thanks!!
West Coast Seeds is a good company, but not different than any other mainline seed company. They carry organic and conventional seeds – not just organic. Some of thier product line is from Seminis also.
Video – If its still available, watch this excellent documentary at:
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/posts/genetic-roulette-free-screening/
If GMO is so great, why can’t we get food labeled and why are there no unbiased health studies?
It’s like the whole Hemp Conspiracy of the early 1900′s all over again! How can the US government stand by and allow this to happen… this power, bullying and underhandedness by Monsanto is very distasteful and should not be allowed to happen.
Thank you for sharing this information. Monsanto sends Millions to Texas A&M to push their agenda through the system. Even Texas Farm Bureau is pushing GMO! I thought those farmers were smarter than that! Money is the root of all evil and I pray that some of these Farmers wake up and realize what they’ve done.
In Canada you can try OSC Seeds
http://www.oscseeds.com/index.php
Re: Burpee
I came across this today: http://www.burpee.com/gygg/content.jsp?contentId=about-burpee-seeds
Buena,
Thanks for the update on Virmiculite. I loved starting my seeds (sq ft garden) in virmiculite. I am looking forward to using that again this spring.
Thanks,
Robert
I have personally used many seed companies from Canada (as I am Canadian) and was upset to see some of their names on this list. After further research, I see a lot of the information in this post is not true and that gets me angry. I’m going to continue to support these seed companies in Canada. As a consumer, it’s very important to research information before you make a decision. Often it is one-sided. I support the Weston A. Price Foundation but find many of the posts on this blog are not completely accurate. What bothers me is that when others refute what is written or challenge it, they often do not get a response (from Sarah). This lack of response does NOT lend credence to the blog post. If you can’t defend what you say, then you should not be posting it. Silence, in this case, is not golden, it’s rather cowardly. I’m all for health but not for the high-horse attitude one gets on when one thinks they are on the right path (I notice this in the raw/vegan food movement as well as in many religions). It’s really very bully-like and limits credibility. Please think carefully before you damage someone’s livelihood. And, if you are going to post information that will get someone’s dander up – then be prepared for an argument. If you don’t know how to argue, then maybe you shouldn’t be running a blog that often challenges the way people live, because not everyone agrees with you, and sometimes, you just may be wrong. Be big enough to admit it when you are.
Heather, there is no way to correct the errors if you don’t point them out. Which Canadian seed companies are incorrectly noted to be selling either GMO seeds or seeds owned by Monsanto (not all Monsanto seeds are GMO).
It must be nice to be able to have principles and live the life one wants. When you live below poverty level, and can only afford the cheapest foods, GMO’s come along with the program. And buying seeds is out of the budget as is the cost of creating a garden, then paying the water bills to keep it all alive in hot zone 10. I wish I could live a perfect organic life. But it isn’t possible right now….and may never be.
Christy, I find myself wondering a couple of things….1) Why are you on this site if you don’t have a garden, 2) what, exactly is the point of your post??
Frankly, after reading your little note the word that pops into my mind is……Troll…..
Christy, I can tell you from experience that just because you live below poverty level doesn’t mean you cannot grow your own food. And don’t let anyone as judgmental as the other person who comment to your post discourage you from seeking advice or help. All it takes to at least give growing your own food a try is a little bit of dirt. Anyone can make compost to amend their soil, which means less watering is needed. Seek out farmer’s markets in your area, THAT is generally the cheapest food you can spend your dollars on. Check your area for local growers, perhaps you can make friends with someone who already grows their own. Obviously you have access to the internet, so do some Google searches on frugal gardening. There are ALWAYS ways to cut back in other areas to get what you want. Our local farmer’s market even accepts food stamps. You ALWAYS have better options available to you. You just have to figure out where they are and get creative.
Heather, your passive-aggressive approach is really annoying. If you have a problem with something I said, say so. I am a big girl and can handle it.
Now, please show me where I was being judgemental of Christy? I asked two legitimate questions. Neither of which she answered. That is not judgemental. Had I posted “you have no right to be here or to comment because you don’t have a garden” THAT would have been judgemental. No, I asked her two questions and made an observation that her post, having no apparent point to it other than “oh, poor me….I can’t afford to grow my own food (which is baloney, as you point out) and all you people who actually have money should feel sorry for me” to me screams “troll.” Apparently you don’t know what a troll is. Typically they post meaningless, pointless statements designed to get people riled up.
Christy, I live at poverty level and have 8 raised beds that allow me to grow about half my years vegetable supply (and overwinter kale, chard, etc). I used free pallets (untreated woods to create my first beds, and some manure from local horses to help build my soil. I bought a barrel from habitat for humanity and made a composter (had to keep animals out)
I spend about $30 a year on seeds and people give me leftover seeds that they have. I grow alot of garlic which is pretty remarkable because two big heads creates alot of garlic.
The best thing is to start small..maybe just with garlic, or lettuce and one raised bed.
Hope this helps you start. Peace and love, Robin
Check out this article about Seminis and Monsanto – maybe we are jumping to conclusions. Here is someone who took the time and called Monsanto.
http://suburbanvegetablegardening.com/gmo-and-the-gardener-should-we-be-afraid/
——MONSATAN—–
It amazes me that the seed companies associated with Monsanto actually believe the lies they’re being told. How is Monsanto helping to feed the starving people of the world? The only way they would care about any starving people, is if they are profiting off of them by feeding them their toxic foods grown with their genetically modified seeds. It’s not natural and it’s not healthy and any seed company that refused to see that is as bad as Monsanto. The FDA approves whatever is in their best interest to approve. They could care less whether what they are approving is safe or not. They have proven that over and over again. The day that people in bed with Monsanto open their blind eyes and see what’s going on, will be a wonderful day. I don’t know if it will ever happen though, so I can only hope that enough people can stand together against these big corporations who care nothing about the health and well being of anyone but themselves. I hope they enjoy their big bucks while they are destroying a large part of our food supply. THEY MUST BE STOPPED AT ALL COSTS!!! I sure hope it happens soon, before they get an even stronger grip on our food supply.
I see that Southern Exposure has signed the pledge. The seeds are sold at MOM’s. I hope they are independent from Monsanto.
Has anyone else had trouble getting the occupymonsanto360.org website to open?
I just tried opening these links and the only one that works is the seminis one. Please update!
This is a good article, BUT listing the names of the seeds does not do justice to the people independent from the companies, who try to keep heirlooms pure. Many of those names have been used long before monsanto got in the game. My advice is to know you’re supplier. I deal with private gardeners who know the history of their seeds.
Thompson & Morgan claim to have taken the Safe Seed Pledge… not sure how to verify that, though.
Hi there, after reading this remarkable post i am also delighted to share my know-how
here with friends.
Fun Wood Projects\’s last post: Fun Wood Projects
hey guys. does anyone know if these seeds are safe?
http://www.campingsurvival.com/allnacuhese.html
Sarah, thanks for posting this informative article. I have started a project to fight against Monsanto’s growing concentration of ownership: http://openfi.re/projects/urbsly
The first step is to build a universal seed catalog that will make avoiding Monsanto-produced seeds (and finding alternatives) much easier: http://bit.ly/XvrpX9
I have seed packets that are made by:
– American Seed
– The Page Seed Company
– Burpee
None of these were on either the Monsanto affiliated or the non-affiliated list – how do I find out if they are?
Thank you,
Laura
March 28, 2013
Horrible…why don’t we ask Monsanto and president Obama what’s on their dinner plate tonight??
I saw a post about this bill being passed and have seen a few people quickly getting upset about it. Here is another post where they actually read the provision and found that it doesn’t protect Monsanto, it actually protects the farmer. Check out this post to get both sides of the story.
From Illinois Corn: On the so-called “Monsanto Protection Act,” has anyone who’s upset about it actually read the provision itself?
Here’s NPR’s Salt on what it is and isn’t: Did Congress Just Give GMOs a Free Pass in the Courts? http://n.pr/14rhfy3
A blogger in Oregon actually has read what’s contained in the provision: Falsely labeled “Monsanto Protection Act” doesn’t protect Monsanto, it protects farmers http://t.co/0YTTAXjir1
Ag Professional had a story on the provision in July of 2012 (yes, it was around in July of 2012; so much for being “snuck through the system”) http://bit.ly/14rgEMP
So glad I have my High Mowing catalog in front on me
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/03/dear-liberals-its-not-king-obamas-fault-its-ours/
Thanks for this article. In light of this weeks (and the on going) control of our food chain … I have been thinking so much of what changes need to be done. I try to talk to people but am so often faced with people just not knowing how to make change. So I am reaching out to very knowledgeable and articulate people like you … I think not only do we need education about what is happening to our food chain and what we should be doing BUT how to do it! It is so difficult to change everything we do … buying groceries (especially on a budget and for big families), cooking, planning new meals, finding local sources, etc… all without supporting Monsanto and other big business. Would love to hear your ideas!!!!
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/mpa.asp
@ Chelsea, interesting that you took your language directly from monsantoblog.com. Hmmmm. http://monsantoblog.com/2013/03/28/3-links-on-the-falsely-labeled-monsanto-protection-act/
Mayb we can all eat healthier if whole foods can reduce their prices and/or these companies can enlarge the quantities of their packages. A very small box of cereal for $5? Ridiculous! I have three kids to feed. They need to lower prices or make their servings bigger.
The problem with the rider is that the so called studies can take a very long time, meanwhile, who is conducting them? And please stop quoting snopes. Do your own research. They cherry pick articles just like everyone else.
Lol. Chelsea – protect the farmers? The farmers who plant Monsanto seeds. Interesting how that makes it all better. How about it protects Monsanto’s future shares because now the farmers will continue to plant their seeds with the additional protection this provision has afforded them!
I hate to point this out, but we were always on our own. The government wants us fat, sick and nearly dead as there isn’t any money in the alternative…
Cindy, find a food co op, or buy by the case from Amazon. Whole Foods is overpriced.
if only the government would stop subsidizing corn and soy… and start subsidizing organic produce. that would cause the price to be able to go down Cindy
Or don’t buy cereal in the first place and eat WHOLE foods for breakfast.
Kristine, isn’t that a documentary? My husband and I are shoveling dirt into our raised bed gardens right now….I guess I better go back outside and help!
so so sad. *sigh*. And to think that it got in there anonymously. If you believe so much in something then don’t be afraid to back it up with your name. The victory garden is a GREAT idea
We need to get some press on this situation (like you did with kraft) to get this thing yanked outta there!!
Good call on that response you wrote to the CEO. The truth is that their GMO products are poisoning a huge portion of the population who develop allergies and food sensitivities to their monstered varieties. Feeding the world while killing it, more like it. Excellent topic, dear friend.
I just built a garden and I would like to know where to buy good seeds. I am a first timer.
Snopes has their own interests as well, and they make plenty of “mistakes.” Think about it: if they were so accurate, they would be the ones delivering our news. Don’t rely on them like they were gospel…they’re not.
We’re all doing the best we can. Thank you for this information.
Thank you Sarah!!!!
Thank you Sarah!!!!
Actually, I honestly didn’t know it was on their blog. I got it from a corn growers organization site and thought it was from them. But those links are from separate places on the internet, Monsanto didn’t write those posts or force people to write them so they are independent sources.
Rareseeds.com seedsavers.com. Are two sites for safe seeds.
I didn’t say it all makes it better, but you also aren’t understanding the point I was making. I am not defending Monsanto. It is more about protecting that farmer’s investments for that year. (And please don’t think that I mean the money Monsanto gets for their investments) I am saying that a farmer’s crop is their livelihood. The investment costs to raise a crop, regardless of whether its GMO or Non-GMO is astonishing and pulling a crop out from under a farmer without proper proof that it is dangerous for consumption, or without something to protect them from losing that investment for the year (similar to crop insurance) – could be devastating to not only that year’s profit, but their whole farm’s security.
We bought a bunch of heirloom seeds to do exactly this from seed savers exchange.
Please stop tearing each other down. Educate gently and without arrogance. There are many cancers in the world, only some come from bad foods.
Chelsea…I hear what you are saying. The issue is that Monsanto needed to “protect” the farmers so that they would feel “secure” in “investing” in next year’s seeds. This is the issue.
Chelsea, the rider only ‘protects’ farmers if farmers are trapped within a system that offers few options. Monsanto has a monopoly on a number of crops and they protect that monopoly with legislation such as this. USDA is complicit in protecting that monopoly, which obviously reduces agrobiodiversity and puts our food system at risk.
Zena Morency, pretty crazy that I find this post today after asking you about it yesterday!!
So sad we have to go to such lengths to even find seeds that are not tainted.
what a disaster- shame on congress and the prez.
I’m totally on board with this, but I keep hearing this thing he passed is completely untrue and doesn’t even exist. Snopes.com and badskeptic.com said its not true.??? Either way I wish everyone would wake up! I am lucky to live in a great community that is very aware of GMO’s and their danger.
Julie, I had no idea. I thought just grabbin some seed pkts at Walmart and planting my garden with no pestisides was good enough. Ahhhhhhh
Is it safe to buy seedlings and how would you know what you’re buying?
You can just collect seeds from your organic fruits and vegetables and use those seeds for your garden and know that they are free of GMO.
I cant believe this even happened. We can no longer trust our government. I did hear that Obama was looking in to veto this but there was a certain rider missing that would have allowed him to do so?
Also, the point is not whether or not you’re a shill; the point is that you need to consider the source.
Well I read one of the above (from Chelsea Nord), who turned out to be a Libertarian-pro-big-corporations-sort-of-a-guy. Biased? Well, just maybe: to save you the effort, here’s the last paragraph:
“Anti-GMO conspiracy theorists should stick to quack science and retreat from their misguided foray into regulatory analysis. GE food poses no threat to human health or the environment. The absurd reaction to this provision shows how desperate the anti-GE crowd has become.”
Not exactly a neutral, objective observer, eh?
Shared!
A few weeks ago Sarah posted an awesome list of seed providers on her website!
Check it out
A few weeks ago Sarah posted an awesome list of seed providers on her website!
Check it out
I LOVE rareseeds.com
Thanks so much for the lists and keeping us informed!
Jody Strom
Good resource
link?
I have already bought seeds for my garden from “Seeds of Change in CA and “Vegan Seeds from FL” Do you know anything about either of these companies?
Thankyou!
I was beginning to doubt that it was possible to find some intelligent content for once, I was getting tired of the retarded
drivel I find on a daily basis, thanks.
Belinda\’s last post: Belinda
followed site containerseeds. com, this site is some kind of joke, links to see what seeds they offer lead no where. waste of time don’t you check out the sites you recomend? see if they real work?
You must be doing something right if the big wigs are calling you. Keep doing it.
Seedsnow.com is also a good one
I like this Laura but if we live in communiities that do not allow gardening this is not an option, Yes, it is a wonderful thing to do but we can still keep the push on our government to label foods by writing, callings etc, see the video from last night?
I don’t have to read a thing to know I want nothing to do with gmo’s..I want to read who else wants nothing to do with them
Oh, dear God, what next?
I only saw one mention of Territorial Seed Co. in the comment feed. This comment indicated Territorial is A-OK, but it is not listed on the GOOD list. Any information out there? Thanks.
This is a wonderful post full of great resources. Thank you so much for putting it all in one place. I am definitely sharing it on FB and hopefully linking it in a blog post soon! Thank you for all your hard work and research.
Amanda @Natural Living Mamma\’s last post: Simple Meals Friday
I’ve been using Baker Creek for all of my seeds for the last few years. My garden has transitioned to all heirloom seeds over the last 4 years and I love what I grow! I will stick with Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), because I’m SURE that Gerre Gettle will NEVER sell out to the corporate food killers.
kerry\’s last post: Cause I’m a Pimp, Girl
The seedsavers exchange is a non profit collective of heirloom farmers who have taken the safe seed pledge. The seeds for sale in thier catalog are grown at Heritage Farm and have no ties to Monsanto. They do not appear on any of your lists.
Would it be o.k. if I put a link to this web page on a blog page of mine? It’s a very well thought out and informative article!
Thank you for this article! Confirmed that my long time supplier of awesome seeds, Victory, is a good one! Sooooooo happy:) Monsanto can keep their scummy hands off my food! I read labels at my local Coop too and avoid any boxed food that does not have the GMO free logo on it. I am also getting better at propagating my own seeds, one day I will be a very good gardner!
PLEASE CHANGE NAME OF YOUR AMAZING ARTICLE! It’s barely showing up on facebook. A better title would be “Keep Monsanto out of your garden, the four easy steps”
Can seeds be declared organic? You know Monsanto is going to find a way to corrupt The Safe Seed Pledge
I have a number of friends who are fanatic about a soy-based product known as Visalus. They are promoting it as a weight loss/health/nutritional supplement. I read that because of cross-pollination that there is no longer such a plant as non-GMO soybean being grown in the USA. When I ask the company to back up their claim that their product is non-GMO, all I get is ‘our assurance’. Would someone please test this product because we could have an epidemic of very ill people as their sales are quite high.
Where can I buy monsanto free seedlings? like for tomatoes etc?
I went to check online for a seed company located in Kentucky, and found one. Ferry Morse is the one I found, the only one. I found an article shortly after talking about how their seed factory terminated all their employees right after lunch, some who had been there for 40yrs!
Turns out that Ferry Morse had been bought out by Jiffy who is owned now by Plantation products of Mass. Well, I just went looking and quickly found that Plantation belongs to MONSANTO. So please dont buy anything from any of these companies. Unfortunately Burpee is also owned by Monsanto.
Sherry, alittle knowledge is a dangerous thing – Burpee is not owned by monsanto it is owned by Ball family. Watch what you read on the internet
Burpee is privately owned by the Ball family – do not believe everything on the internet
Correct, Burpee is not owned by Monsanto HOWEVER, they do sell Seminis seeds so, you have to be careful what you buy from Burpee. If you buy Seminis seed, regardless of WHO you buy it from, you are buying from Monsanto and thus, putting money in their pocket.
So buy from Burpee, but be very careful WHAT you buy….
So if you are boycotting companies based on what they sell and who they do business with does this mean you do not drive a car and you do not use technology? Oil companies are destroying our planet and technology companies are creating vast ewaste which is also hurting third world countries. Monsanto may not be an angel but what makes them your target and not others?
I am boycotting Monsanto. Where does it say that I am boycotting companies that sell Monsanto?? I just won’t buy Monsanto. Why? Because I choose to not put GE foods in my body if I can avoid it. I also don’t eat Agent Orange or DDT.
As for driving and technology…kind of a stupid question, don’t you think since this discussion is on a computer. Yes, I drive, out of necessity. Yes, I (obviously) use technology, again, out of necessity. It isn’t necessary for me to put Monsanto’s poison into my body because there are alternatives. The purpose of boycotting is to make sure Monsanton doesn’t take those alternatives away.
Sometimes you gotta pick your battles.
Hi Sarah! I found the heirloom seed company I do business with on list #4 from MO. I have been buying from them since last summer. You should see my spring veggie garden….God bless Sarah…..
Glad I found this post today addressing some of my concerns. I’ve been delaying getting my garden in until I could do some research. And here it is! Maybe I’ll have a garden this year after all!
So what does this mean? When I purchase seeds I am just inadvertently giving my money to Monsato, I am I purchasing seeds that may have GMO material in them, or both?
What bothers me most is that it is a blatant act of aggressive control of the world’s food supply. Why have no governments taken a stand on the issue? Might it be that they are all bought and paid for by these monsters? Just who are “Monsanto,” anyway? They pose a “clear and present danger” to the liberty and freedom of people all over the world. They must be stopped (eliminated?).
Hello,
The link for Monsanto free seed companies is broken. Please help us fix it….I was just about to look up a company so I can purchase some seeds. Thanks!!!
Salut tous le monde,
thank you so much for this valuable information, and here is the current link to the non-GMO seed companies: http://occupymonsanto360.org/2012/03/06/monsanto-free-seed-companies/
This link doesn’t work either.
What I do with mail I don’t want to receive is put it right back in the ‘enclosed envelope’ and send it back to them!! IF it has postage paid. They love to receive their envelopes back with no order inside and THEY paid the postage for that.
Just seeing this article today. Thank you. Unfortunately, I am unable to connect with the occupymonsanto360.org links. From what I can tell from facebook, the site isn’t available, possibly due to hacking. Shame, would really like to see that information.
The links in numbers 2. and 3. above do not work.
Okay, so I have been trying to view the list from link #2 and link #3 and cannot get them to open. Does anyone have a better link?
I have some Ferry Morse Organic seeds and want to know if they are on either list.
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