Heirloom Seeds and Why They Are Important

Great tips on homesteading, frugal living, and self reliance.
	Heirloom Seeds Heirloom seeds are a wise investment not only because you are saving an age-old variety of vegetables, but also because food grown from these seeds are far better for your health. But don't expect to find heirloom seeds in your local gardening center. What's the Difference Buy a pack of seeds from many seed companies, and you're likely to have a package of hybrid seeds. So what's wrong with hybrid seeds? And why should you use heirloom seeds instead? Here are a few reasons: Gardening Self Reliance Hybrid seeds are produced through cross-pollination, the mixing of plants of two different breeds for a specific reason, such as bigger fruit, a different look, etc. But the problem with hybrid seeds is you won't be able to harvest further seeds from the fruit they produce. Buy some tomato seeds of a certain variety, grow them and then harvest the fruit. Save the seeds, and you may get the same sort of tomatoes...or you may wind up with a different variety altogether. Or worse still, the seeds may be sterile. Heirloom seeds, on the other hand, will produce the exact same type of fruit year after year, generation after generation. Greater Variety Commercial growers, interested in the bottom line, only want those vegetables that produce a large yield. That means fewer types of vegetable available at the supermarket. Those of us who grew up getting our food from the store rather than growing it never knew of the great variety of vegetables we were missing out on. With heirloom seeds, we get to enjoy the tomatoes our great grandmothers likely served their families. From a survival standpoint, greater variety is crucial. If you only have a single crop of vegetables, a blight could come along and completely wipe it out. But with the wide variety that heirloom seeds will provide, you will still have food on the table even if one type of vegetable isn't successful. Heirloom Seeds Provide Better Taste and Nutrition Hybrids have been developed to produce vegetables that can travel long distances without bruising or spoiling. The downside of these vegetables is they have less taste and nutrition. Heirloom seeds will provide you with vegetables that taste the way they were meant to taste. Heirloom Seeds Are Healthier for Us and the Planet Not satisfied with what hybrids can produce, agriculture is not turning to genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs. Breeders are now splicing the DNA of different plants (or just about anything else they see fit) with the vegetables we eat, hoping to "improve" the food. But it's not necessarily safe. In a recent study released by the International Journal of Biological Sciences, researchers have found that genetically modified corn is linked to organ damage in rats. The damage occurred in the kidney and liver functions of the rats, two major diet detoxification organs. There was also effects on the heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells of the rats. Eating these genetically modified organisms could also aggravate allergies. By growing food from heirloom seeds, you help ensure a healthier lifestyle. More Helpful Information On Gardening Most of us keep a homestead for the practical purposes of raising our own food, but cottage gardening can show us the importance of adding beauty to our surroundings. Here's how. A great step towards self reliance is learning to grow medicinal herbs. Learn what healing herbs you can plant in your homestead garden by clicking here. A great way to cut back on costs is by purchasing your heirloom seeds in bulk, but unless you learn how to store those seeds properly, you'll end up wasting your money. Learn tips on purchasing and storing bulk seeds by clicking here. You can get an early start on your organic gardening and save money by starting your heirloom seeds indoors. Here are a few tips. Are you looking for easy vegetables for beginning gardeners? Here are a list of some of the easier vegetables to grow. One of the most crucial decisions you'll make in planning a garden is the best garden location. To find the right spot for your garden, here are a few tips. By using raised beds, you'll have a spot that is easier to work with soil that warms up much faster in the spring. Here are some tips. Better still, by using Patricia Lanza's Lasagna gardening principles, you can have easier raised beds without the digging. You can get the know-how here. You won't have a productive garden unless your garden soil has sufficient nutrients. Making compost is the best way to return those nutrients back to the soil. Learn how. By mulching around your garden plants, you not only retain crucial moisture in your beds, but you also add nutrients to the soil. Here are some tips. In addition to making your own organic gardening spray, you can also control pests through the flowers you add to your garden. Here's how. Work in your garden long enough, and you're bound to cross paths with poison ivy. For help on dealing with that awful, itchy rash, click here. Do you have limited space? With container gardening you can grow a garden in a limited space, even on a balcony. Learn more. Thinking of pursuing container gardening? You'll need the right container for the type of plant you're growing. Here's how. If you're ready to pursue the self sufficient life through gardening, you'll want to read this article. Did you ever think you could compost indoors? You can through the use of vermiculture, the practice of composting with worms. learn more here. How about growing your own lettuce and other salad greens in winter? You can with the use of a cold frame. To learn how to build and use one, Click here. Are you new to gardening? Read some tips on starting a vegetable garden by clicking here. Return from Heirloom Seeds to Home	Build Your Own Chicken Tractor! *You Can Build a Chicken Tractor* Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe. Simple Remedies at Home That Save Money Did you know... Herbal remedies can be used to treat a wide range of minor ailments including: Bladder infections Canker Sores Coughs Depression Eczema Fatigue Headaches Menopausal symptoms Insect bites Influenza Menstrual cramps Sore throat Warts *And many more!* *Learn more by clicking here. Subscribe to my free ezine!* Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe.
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