"These happy golden years are passing by, these happy golden years." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Monday, September 14, 2009

Biggest Garden Flop




... this summer: planting seeds saved from store bought winter squash last year. When did science mess with God's creation to produce fruit/veggies with sterile seeds? Now I'm on to the importance of heirloom and open pollinated seeds that you can save yourself year after year. More on that topic later on my garden blog. Needless to say, the 'seeds' produced lots of blossoms and leaves ... and took up considerable valuable property in my garden! Thank goodness I planted some winter squash from a seed packet as well ... although these seeds are probably not open pollinated or heirloom so I will need to buy more next year. Am I the only clueless gardener on this topic? Things will be planted a bit differently next year, Lord willing. Let's see: Plants that produce sterile seeds equals more money to the seed vendors, duh! Let's see: planting heirloom seeds that eventually adapt to the growing conditions in your area, can be harvested and planted again year after year. Our forefathers knew this procedure; why on earth has our generation become so inept at the cycle of our food supply? I actually had a young person visit this summer that asked if you stored corn stalks in the garage in the winter and replant them in the spring! And also told me it was such a lot of work to plan, plant, and tend to a garden if you had to start over each year. What a sad scenario. Too many days spent playing video games instead of playing in the dirt as a child, eh?

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
Genesis 1:29-30 (NIV)

Photos: Mrs. Mac's backyard rock wall, a sunflower ` mid size, you should see the largest!

13 comments:

Kathryn said...

One answer: $$$$$

I hate to tell you that a number of crops grown have "terminator" seeds. And a lot of crops are genetically modified & you don't even have to be told (in the US) when you purchase it. Science doesn't know the result of GM "foods" but the FDA has taken the stance that they are the same, but we don't know that!

If you buy any processed food with non-organic corn or soy, you have a 70-90% chance that the soy or corn was genetically modified. It has been found that folks tend to develop allergies to the GM stuff more easily, & once you are allergic to it you can't even eat the organic/heritage stuff either. I've a friend with a severely limited diet because of this.

Sorry to go on about this, but messing with God's creation & what is natural is one of my passions. We are not being good stewards of God's gift to us.

Donna said...

Someone gave us some pumpkin seeds that we planted this year. DD was very upset that even though we had lots and lots of blooms, no pumpkins.....sad.

Constance said...

Who would've thought? I sure wouldn't have! I harvested all of the seed pots after my Blue Bonnets bloomed this Spring. A lot of work for a small amount but oh so worth it! I sprinkled them in the flower bed and I already have some sprouting up. Next Spring it'll be even MORE lush than this years!

Have an awesome week!
Connie

Mrs. Mac said...

I have had deep suspicions of late that my allergies (skin hives for the past few years) are a direct result to these altered seeds. Now my grandson is allergic to peanuts and the Lord revealed to me that it is a direct result from the same man made mess-up.

Mrs. Mac said...

P.S. If you are a gardener with any knowledge of this, please spread the word about the importance of heirloom and open pollinated seeds. This will now become my passion.

Trish said...

We will have to study up on this. Tom is the gardener around here and has gone completely organic...corn gluten for fertilizing the grass...No pesticides or toxic weed killers.
The corn gluten works excellent (took a few years) 1) benefit...it keeps dandelions way down. 2) if you have a female dog when they wee wee, it does not fry your grass!!! Because there is no high nitrogen being dumped on it from fertilizers.
God's ways are the best...

donna said...

Cathy,

It is one of my passions too Cathy, so I join you!!! And I am convinced I can get my most recent health issues under control by eliminating ALL processed foods from my diet ....I just keep researching, reading and learning more each day...

blessings
donna

Jada's Gigi said...

We've been leaning toward organic since my hubby's illness. It freaks me out to read what all "science" has done to our food system.

Mrs. Mac said...

Trish, I've never heard of corn gluten as a grass fertilizer .. very interesting. This topic goes way beyond what we grow in our own little backyard gardens .. all of our food that we eat can be genetically modified in some way, but I know I'm not alone in these new allergies. There is a link in my garden blog called Wood Ridge that has lots of info and additional links you might want to explore.

Mrs. Mac said...

Hey Donna, I 'm glad you are eliminating processed foods .. we have pretty much done the same and now when we do eat out, I can really notice how much saltier food tastes ;( It's quite a different shopping experience now days skipping the bread, cereal, boxed goods isles, etc.

This past summer we purchased a second deep freezer for our garage and have stocked up with the veggies from the garden and local farm, dried herbs, bought local red angus beef from a farm. I'd really like to find a good milk source.

donna said...

Hey Cathy...it's me again....:)
have you considered rice milk or goat's milk...I don't drink milk and haven't in years, but I know my sister has never bought cow's milk....she uses rice milk and so does my Jen...for little Vera...very little dairy....I finally gave up cheese last year; I do eat yogurt, but switched to Greek yogurt...and I take a calcium,magnesium plus boron supplement as well as vitamin D ...(along with other supplements as well)

we also bought a freezer and it is fairly well packed right now...I have to limit my red meat, but do eat turkey, chicken and lots of salmon....wild caught..Ron has been wonderful about eating out...it used to be once a week, but now we might.....once a month....so he is being supportive of my restrictions....no breads, pastas, potatos....

I cook up beans or rice fresh everyday....and just eat lots and lots of fresh veggies....

gosh...sorry I rambled...

Dr. Jim said...

Hi M&M, I grew up on a farm where when I first remember we raised crops from seeds saved.
Then the corn yields became so much higher using he hybrid corn which is cross bred sometimes many times.
The seed from the hyrid plant produced 'throw-back' plants with very low yields. Some of the corn ears produced were even Indian Maize (red) looking.

Now further developments in making those high-yield seeds is that some are absolutely sterile.
At any rate, DO NO EXPECT TO GROW A DECENT PRODUCING PLANT from the offsrping seed of what you buy in the store.
You might or might not get something good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_(biology) paste that link.

It is a whole lot less stress just to go to the hardware store at seed time and get what you want.
If you miss planting time and the hardware store is out, go on line to the nursery seed producers and browse for what you want. They will mail you your seeds.

I hope this helped,
Dr. Jim (link above)
..

Mrs. Mac said...

Dear Dr. Jim,

I appreciate your help and enlightenment since you grew up on a farm. Now the seed companies are further messing with God's design by genetically modifying the cell/dna structure .. even injecting herbicides/pesticides so there is no need for spraying the fields. Only now people are developing allergies to these GM seeds (I suffer). I'm going to be ordering open pollinated/heirloom seeds this spring as they will adapt to my area after a few years. I don't mind pulling weeds .. but I do mind having herbicide genetically modified inside the seeds.