Heirloom Seeds and Why They Are Important

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	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 the heirloom variety 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. 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. 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 plants, you help ensure a healthier lifestyle. More Homestead Gardening Links Thinking about gardening the organic way? Follow these simple steps first. Want to save even more money when gardening? Purchase bulk seeds for cost savings and self reliant preparation. Get an early start on your gardening by starting your seeds indoors. Here are some tips. Ready to grow your own vegetables, but you're not sure where to begin? Learn which vegetables are the easiest to grow by clicking here. Are you thinking about putting in a garden? Follow these tips. For healthy strong plants, put in raised beds. Or avoid the digging altogether and put in these easier raised beds. For truly rich, healthy soil, learn how to make your own compost. Protect your plants and keep down weeds by mulching. Here are some mulching tips. Build up your soil, and you'll keep pests down to a minimum, but what happens if pests do attack your garden? Here are some pest control tips Gotten into poison ivy lately. Learn how to treat that awful itch. Here's how. Do you have limited space? Consider growing your organic garden in containers. Ready to have your own container garden? Here are some tips on finding the right garden container Gardening can be much more than a hobby; it can also be a way to raise most of your food. Here's how. If you want the richest humus for your gardening, consider composting with worms Want to have fresh greens for your salad all winter? Then build this easy, effective cold frame. Get your garden off to the right start with strong growth and an early harvest. Learn how you can germinate seeds. So why should you pursue organic gardening? Learn the benefits by clicking here. True self sufficiency means being able to produce your own excellent-quality seeds. Here's how. To save seeds, you must start with quality plants. Learn why you should purchase the seeds of heirloom plants by clicking here. Have you thought about organic gardening but don't know where to begin? Try these tips. As homesteaders, we primarily think about gardening to raise food, but beauty is also important. Learn the importance of cottage gardening. When planning your garden, don't forget to grow herbs. Not only do they smell nice and add flavoring to food, many also have healing qualities. Learn more. Got a bumper crop of potatoes or other root vegetables this season? Learn an economical way to store them to keep them fresh all winter 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. 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