I suppose I started it all by letting Hondo sit on my lap when he was a puppy. I did that with Spencer too. The trouble is that when I “explained” to Spencer that I still loved him but he was too big to sit on my lap, he understood. Not Hondo! He sits on everyone; Spencer, me, our visiting Lab, Buddy, and Will. Last night it was -12 when Will came in from chores. He sat down to warm up before he took off his chore clothes. Hondo was feeling needy and probably his feet were cold. So he popped right up and sat on Will’s shoulder. I couldn’t resist a picture!
Like all of you, I’ve been paging through all my seed catalogs like mad. Sure, I’ve decided on some new open pollinated and heirloom varieties to try this year. But I’ve also noticed that a whole lot of plants and seeds are now Plant Variety Protection and trademarked! Not just a few as in the past but a whole lot — pages of them! What this means is that you can buy the seeds or plants, but without “permission” (and paying a fee), you can’t propagate, distribute, or sell the seeds/plants you have grown. For decades, I’ve grown and given away billions of seeds. Now we have our little seed business so we can afford to help keep dozens of open pollinated and heirloom varieties alive and well. But now companies and commercial plant breeders are now “protecting” varieties, creating a monopoly on them. We’re tickled to have folks grow our varieties. And if they want to share them or even sell the seeds, great! (But then, we aren’t trying to get rich on our “own” special varieties!)
I’ve been pulling seeds out of our squash and pumpkins daily now. Most of the pumpkins are done; they don’t last much past the first of the year. Luckily, our squash are better storage candidates. We’ve eaten a lot of two year old Hopi Pale Grey squash that were still awesome. They’re still our very favorite squash. When I open one, we eat part for a meal, then I either can up the rest or make pumpkin pies. We quit growing acorn squash because it is basically bland and doesn’t store well at all. This year we grew both Canada Crookneck and Waltham Butternut as well as a new-to-us squash, Geraumon Martinique. This spotted dark green squash is wonderful! We’ve had raves from friends who we shared with and we’ve sure eaten our share. Very sweet and a wonderful aroma!
Our goats are also squash addicts. When they see me coming with an armful, they start yelling so much I’m afraid the neighbors two miles away will call the Humane Society on us! They eat everything: the guts, seeds (immature ones), meat, and skin. With their orange mouths, they bleat for more. And it’s good for them too.
Our weather’s turned real cold. Last night it was -22 with a high yesterday of -6. I’ll sure be glad when the next few days have passed and it warms up to the 20s. Above zero! — Jackie
All I can say is big business as usual, and if people want to change things, then they need to pay attention to who they vote for.
If someone is obviously in the pocket of these Mega Corporations, then don’t vote for them. It’s pretty simple actually, if enough of them loose their positions they just might start paying attention!
Please don’t ever get discouraged Jackie, we all love and appreciate everything you and Will do for us!
Bobbie,
Never fear. We will never “protect” or “patten” any of our seeds. Nor will we ever sell treated or GMO seeds. We WANT people to save seeds and grow them on for generations. Diversity is SO important to this universe. Unfortunately some big companies don’t think so and wish to create monopolies along the way. This is SO wrong and simply against nature. We have our Mn Dept of Agriculture permit to sell seeds as we don’t want the “seed police” at our door. However in signing it we agreed to an “inspection” without prior notice, at any time of the day (or night???). We were not real happy about THAT although we sure do have seeds for them to gather and germinate test. But visions of black helicopters and agents wearing bullet proof vests dropping out of the sky in our backyard at 2 A.M. are not comforting!!! Our seed business grew out of our desire to help homesteaders pack their gardens with wonderful, tasty, beautiful and productive varieties, some of which are very rare in this day and age. We didn’t want to “start a home business” and will always stay small. We love our seeds and the gardeners who support us.
Miss Jackie and all,
I too have read about the Seed Police.
Long ago a lady executive many tiers above my position of supervisor in an unnamed agency said to me “It is easier to get forgiveness than to get permission. You know the agency, it’s regulations and policies, and you know what you are doing. When you need to do so, make an informed decision, share that with your staff and go on about your work. Keep your mouth shut around those above you whom you know are troublemakers. If it ever becomes an issue say ‘ O I’m sorry, I didn’t know about that policy and will certainly be more careful in the future.’ The chances are you’ll be fine. Just don’t tell the world everything you know.” As regards the seeds from open pollinated varieties I have long saved whatever I feel I need and like, Period!!!! I have had some so long I guess they are probably my own strain of what ever variety. If anyone were to make it an issue I think my reply would be something like “Anyone who knows me also knows that I shop in ‘ BLA- BLA Big Box Store’, the local farm store, the local hardware store, etc. I purchase seed wherever I see it; when I need it. I don’t usually save my cash register receipts. Isn’t my garden doing well?”
I’m not telling anyone else how to conduct heir lives. Rick
Hope you keep reading, Bobbie. We’ve had Seed Police for a long time, and some of them have been at people’s doors.
I was just reading about this “Trademarking” seeds! For heavens sakes — I jumped up from the table and did myself a little war dance! What the hay? This just rattles my brain. How in the world can people “BUY” and “OWN” certain seeds? Oh, I know…..I read the article where they “claim” they developed all these seeds from breeding and cross-breeding” these “trademarked” seeds. I say BALONEY! I’m not buying it and I’m not going to worry about it.
I think all these rules and regulations are just plain nonsense! Hope you don’t buy into it either and keep on doing what you’re doing and selling good quality, healthy seeds for others to purchase from you.
You and Will were the first people I thought about when I read this article in the Capital Press paper — Grrrr……………
What next? Are we going to have the Seed Police at our doors?
Bobbie
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