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Heirloom varieties
Flower and vegetable varieties that were bred and handed down by generations of gardeners and farmers are known as heirloom varieties. These varieties have persisted till today because they were recognised for their superior qualities such as great flavour.
Modern hybrid seed varieties can be more suited to the transport and shelflife needs of supermarkets than the taste of the produce. They can also be infertile, or the seed they produce may not display the same characteristics as the original plant.
You can collect the seed from heirloom varieties and continue to grow your own seed indefinitely. Please take care with these plants, though, if left to seed freely, these plants can become weedy problems in the bush. They should be contained to a specific area in your garden.
Heirloom plants provide more choice and variety than modern hybrids.
Saving Heirloom Varieties
An organization was established to preserve heirloom varieties such as this unusual yet inviting asparagus (photograph courtesy of Diggers Seeds).
Diane and Kent Whealy founded Seed Savers Exchange in 1975, after Diane’s terminally-ill grandfather gave them the seeds of two garden plants, Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory and German Pink Tomato. The grandfather’s parents had brought them from Bavaria when they immigrated to St. Lucas, Iowa in the 1870s.
Seed Savers Exchange is a nonprofit organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations. When people grow and save seeds, they join an ancient tradition as stewards, nurturing our diverse, fragile, genetic and cultural heritage.
Seed Savers Exchange has built a network of people around the world who are committed to collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants. This network ensures that this endangered garden heritage is available for future generations.
Few gardeners comprehend the true scope of their garden heritage or how much is in immediate danger of being lost forever.
In Australia, Diggers Seeds is a member of the Seed Savers Exchange. Diggers’ philosophy is to promote the diversity and free availability of heirloom seeds, and fight all attempts to own or destroy the inheritance of open pollinated heirloom seeds. www.seedsavers.org
Diggers opposes genetically engineered seeds
"We oppose genetically engineered seeds which involves the mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms. This poses great biological risks as well as economic, political and cultural threats."
"To date, genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks and long term effects of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, agricultural ecosystems, and ultimately people and communities. The currently offered list of GE crops promotes the sale of chemicals and encourages monopoly control of our food supply." www.diggers.com.au
In Australia, visit www.seedsavers.net for information on Australian seedsavers.
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The information contained on this page is Copyright © SGA and intended for personal use only.
You may not use the information for any other purpose without the express written permission of SGA.
