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 heirloom garden seeds is far better for your health. But don't expect to find a wide variety of these seeds in your local gardening center.

We use only heirloom seeds to protect our health and the health of future generations.

That's because industrial agriculture has demanded hybrid seeds, going to the lab time and time again to produce factory food that is uniform in appearance. And in doing so, we've nearly lost something precious: variety, flavor, texture, and nutrition. 

It's time we fought back and started growing heirloom produce.

What's the Difference With Heirloom Seeds?

Even many seed companies sell mostly hybrid seeds. So what's wrong with that? And why should you use the heirloom variety instead, investing in seeds that are safer and healthier?  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.

Organic heirlooms, on the other hand, will produce the exact same type of fruit year after year, generation after generation.

Greater Variety

heirloom-seeds-starter-pack

Commercial growers, focused on the bottom line, only want vegetables that produce high yields. That means fewer types of vegetables are 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.

Heirloom garden seeds give you a wide variety of foods.  Find some here.

With heirlooms, 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 now 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 kidneys and livers of the rats, two major organs involved in dietary detoxification. There were also effects on the heart, adrenal glands, 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.

How Can I Find Heirloom Seeds?

First, go local. Visit your local farmers’ markets. They’re in the business of selling the best and healthiest produce. They’re likely to have seeds they sell as well. Also, visit your local food cooperatives. Our neighborhood co-op sells heirloom seeds. I bet yours does as well. 

If you can’t find what you are looking for locally, go online. I’ve had good luck buying my heirloom seeds from Johnny's Seeds. They’ve got a wide variety of organic, non-GMO fruits and vegetables.

Then, save money by buying your heirloom seeds in bulk and storing them properly. Place your seeds in a freezer bag, press out the oxygen, and then keep them in your freezer. They’ll last for years that way.

By developing gardening skills, saving seeds, and growing heirloom varieties year after year, you'll not only improve your health but also the health of future generations for years to come.

Learn More About Organic Gardening

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About the Author

My name is Sue Merriam, and I began the journey of self-reliant living more than three decades ago, which enabled me to stay home with my children. Fifteen years ago, I founded Joyful Homesteading to help others save money and face the future without fear. My goal is to give you practical, honest advice so you can save money and experience the joy of simple living. I hope you join me.

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