Sorry, but there is no "exact" definition for this term. In fact, there still is no agreement between gardeners as to what constitutes an heirloom and what does not.
What everyone does agree on is: Heirlooms are always open-pollinated varieties. This means that if the seeds produced from the plant are properly saved, they will produce the same variety year after year. This cannot be done with hybrids, which are a cross between two separate varieties, as the seed produced from those plants will either be sterile, or start to revert back to the parent plants. Supposedly there is no exact definition for the term heirloom. However, there are many characteristics regarding what constitutes an heirloom that gardeners do agree on.
Heirloom Seeds are OLD. Exactly how old a seed variety must be to earn the classification of heirloom is highly debated. Most gardeners agree that Heirloom varieties should be at least 50 years old. Some say the seed must be 100 years old, while others use the year 1945, the end of World War II, as the marking point (1945 was also the beginning of the widespread use of hybrid commercial seed varieties). Commercially marketed, hybrid seeds gained great popularity in the 1970s. Many Heirloom varieties are 100-150 years old and some are much older.
Heirloom plants are High in Quality and Highly Quirky. Many gardeners are drawn to Heirloom seeds for one simple quality: FLAVOR. Heirloom plants taste the way we imagine our fruits and vegetables, in a perfect world, should taste. Heirloom plants taste wonderful, look beautiful and (in most cases) are easy to grow.
Heirlooms are also more "quirky" than their predictable hybrid counterparts. Heirloom seeds may be slow to germinate, they may show up after you've given up on them or they might come-in erratically. Some varieties have "unusual" qualities and growing habits that must be learned and appreciated through experience.
Heirloom plants, vegetables, herbs or flowers are also referred to as "cultivars". A cultivar is an assemblage of plants that have been selected for a particular attribute or combination of attributes, and that is clearly distinct, uniform and stable in those characteristics. Cultivars, when propagated by appropriate means, retain those characteristics
Heirloom seeds that are grown and selected year after year in a particular region or garden will adapt to that areas soil, climate and pests, making it an ideal micro-climate cultivar.
One thing EVERYONE agrees on, is that the taste and quality of the Heirloom fruit is far superior to any hybrid or supermarket strain!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Genetically Manipulated Foods
A fascinating article. Just one more reason to grow your own food!
(NaturalNews) As scientists are busy manipulating the genes of edibles including corn, soybeans, canola, papaya, zucchini, and now rice and salmon, an interesting fact comes into light about what exactly scientists know and don't know about human genes. According to geneticist Steven Salzberg of the University of Maryland, "Not only do we not know what all the genes are - we don't even know how many there are."
Genetically manipulated foods have been found to change the genetic structure of our healthy bacteria - and this makes one wonder if GMO foods might be altering our own genetic make-up as well. But if they are, how would we know? By a geneticist's own words, scientists can't even find all of our genes - let alone know what they all do or how they'll act if they are changed. In addition, one gene often controls several different things - and with scientists not even knowing all of the genes we have, it makes it pretty difficult to know where to look when things start going wrong - and next to impossible to fix.
In all seriousness, isn't this a little like letting a kindergartner have free reign over a delicate, extraordinary, and extremely complicated project that affects the health and, quite literally, the survival of our entire species? How smart would that be?
Some of the foods that scientists are genetically manipulating - and dumping into grocery stores - make it impossible for plants to reproduce naturally. These plants have what are called terminator genes inserted into them and terminator genes are literally designed to end the reproductive ability of the plant. According to GMO manufacturers, these genes have no other purpose but to protect the profits of the manufacturers by discouraging seed saving.
But what happens if these terminator genes permeate our own genetic make-up - the same way the genes of GMO soy incorporate themselves into the genes of our healthy bacteria? There's been little to no testing of this, but perhaps it's one of the reasons that animals consuming genetically manipulated foods often become sterile and have reproductive problems. Perhaps it's one of the reasons that human infertility rates have been sky-rocketing too.
Despite the extraordinary risks and deplorable consequences, the FDA stands firm that no testing is required for these new, genetically different foods that scientists are making up in laboratories. The agency is also staunchly against labeling these new genetic creations so that informed people who actually want to have children can easily avoid them.
Here's what we know: the genes of these new genetic creations can and do leak into other living organisms. We also know that these scientifically derived foods have genes specifically designed to put an end to reproductive ability and produce pesticides continuously. With GMO foods lining grocery store shelves, this combination unfortunately takes the term buyer beware to a whole new level.
(NaturalNews) As scientists are busy manipulating the genes of edibles including corn, soybeans, canola, papaya, zucchini, and now rice and salmon, an interesting fact comes into light about what exactly scientists know and don't know about human genes. According to geneticist Steven Salzberg of the University of Maryland, "Not only do we not know what all the genes are - we don't even know how many there are."
Genetically manipulated foods have been found to change the genetic structure of our healthy bacteria - and this makes one wonder if GMO foods might be altering our own genetic make-up as well. But if they are, how would we know? By a geneticist's own words, scientists can't even find all of our genes - let alone know what they all do or how they'll act if they are changed. In addition, one gene often controls several different things - and with scientists not even knowing all of the genes we have, it makes it pretty difficult to know where to look when things start going wrong - and next to impossible to fix.
In all seriousness, isn't this a little like letting a kindergartner have free reign over a delicate, extraordinary, and extremely complicated project that affects the health and, quite literally, the survival of our entire species? How smart would that be?
Some of the foods that scientists are genetically manipulating - and dumping into grocery stores - make it impossible for plants to reproduce naturally. These plants have what are called terminator genes inserted into them and terminator genes are literally designed to end the reproductive ability of the plant. According to GMO manufacturers, these genes have no other purpose but to protect the profits of the manufacturers by discouraging seed saving.
But what happens if these terminator genes permeate our own genetic make-up - the same way the genes of GMO soy incorporate themselves into the genes of our healthy bacteria? There's been little to no testing of this, but perhaps it's one of the reasons that animals consuming genetically manipulated foods often become sterile and have reproductive problems. Perhaps it's one of the reasons that human infertility rates have been sky-rocketing too.
Despite the extraordinary risks and deplorable consequences, the FDA stands firm that no testing is required for these new, genetically different foods that scientists are making up in laboratories. The agency is also staunchly against labeling these new genetic creations so that informed people who actually want to have children can easily avoid them.
Here's what we know: the genes of these new genetic creations can and do leak into other living organisms. We also know that these scientifically derived foods have genes specifically designed to put an end to reproductive ability and produce pesticides continuously. With GMO foods lining grocery store shelves, this combination unfortunately takes the term buyer beware to a whole new level.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Food Prices Are On The Rise
No surprise.........food prices are on the rise. And with the Fed watering down the dollar, the U.S. is heading into a price inflation scenario. This means you and I will have to spent a lot more money to buy the same food in 2015 as we did in 2010.
What can we do about this? As the spring comes back in a few months, it might be a good time to start thinking about growing a little garden for yourself.
Gardens aren't just for fun any more - they are quickly becoming a necessity!
Kim In The Garden ;o)
What can we do about this? As the spring comes back in a few months, it might be a good time to start thinking about growing a little garden for yourself.
Gardens aren't just for fun any more - they are quickly becoming a necessity!
Kim In The Garden ;o)
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