Seed ordering time is upon us and I am stoked as this year will be the first time I have started a garden from seed(and it seems I’m not alone).  Sure I could stick with the safe, little seedlings from the nursery, as I’ve done in the past, but beginning with seeds opens up a magical variety of options, like a pink accordian tomato or a mini red turban squash. Just listen to how excited Jere Gettle from Baker Seed Creek Company is:

When gardeners and farmers save seeds they’re not just keeping these funky heirlooms around for good looks and tastes, but they are also preserving and strengthening the genetic diversity of crops.  Industrial farming practices usually maintain monocultures, which have continually proven to be a risky investment for our food, prone to crop failure, and in some cases, as in Ireland, leading to famine.  And companies like Monsanto continue to buy up smaller seed companies, removing control from farmers, and putting the future of our food under lock and key (among other nefarious activities), but I digress.

The point is we need to maintain control of our food by growing our own, supporting local farmers, and saving seeds from one season to the next.  What better time to start a garden than when budgets are tight, and food safety is of national concern.  Heck, you don’t even need a backyard to start gardening.

Stay tuned for more updates on my gardening activities and takepart by learning more from The People Who Feed Us and the upcoming film Food Inc.