Backyard Composting For Vegetable Garden

 

Where To Find Bulk Organic Vegetable Seed By Anna Hart

 

Growing organic vegetables from seed is a great way to combine healthy diet and healthy exercise. Most people want to start small, but maybe you already did that. Maybe you loved your small organic garden so much you decided to expand it into a small farm. Perhaps you and your friends have set aside land for a community garden, and need bulk organic vegetable seed to share. Maybe you've decided to begin marketing bulk organic vegetable seeds.

You have several potential sources for bulk organic vegetable seeds. We cannot recommend any one specific source, and offer the information below only to help you in your search.

Local Nursery or Garden Store:
Nurseries near your home may sell bulk organic vegetable seed. Check your local phone directory, and call a few. If they themselves do not carry bulk organic vegetable seed, they may be able to tell you who does.

Garden stores in your area are another potential source of bulk organic vegetable seed. Home centers that sell supplies for home repairs often have a section for gardening. Large, discount box stores usually have garden centers, too. If you live in a rural area, you may find bulk organic vegetable seed at a farm supply store. Again, ask for referrals if the store does not have what you need.

Seed Catalogs:
You may be able to order bulk organic vegetable seed from seed catalogs, and have it delivered to your address. Companies such as Burpee Seed Company have many kinds of organic vegetable seed in their catalog, and will no doubt be able to fill your order for bulk organic vegetable seed.

Online Seed Companies:
The Internet, a potential source for so many things, has several seed companies that offer bulk organic vegetable seed.

1. Seeds of Change is a well known supplier of quality bulk organic vegetable seed. Many who do organic farming, or have large organic gardens, rely on this seed company.
2. Snow Seed Organics in California is another company you may want to check for bulk organic vegetable seed. The website says this company is the first fully certified organic seed dealer west of the U.S. Rockies.
3. Johnny's Seed Company has been selling bulk organic vegetable seed and organic farming aids since 1973. This company also is a certified organic handler and processor, able to meet the new USDA organic requirements for the organic seeds they sell.

Those are only examples. There are many companies online from whom you can order bulk organic vegetable seed, and have it delivered - often free of charge - but study each site carefully, and look for recommendations in online forums.

CAUTION:
Before you purchase any bulk organic vegetable seed, you should be sure it is certified organic. You will want to ask about the supplier's documentation, including organic certification. This will differ from country to country.

In the U.S., ask for: the grower's certification number; issue date of certification; date when the annual inspection was completed; name of the inspecting company; and name of the certification director. Some companies, such as Seeds of Change post their Organic Certification online.

Before you purchase bulk organic vegetable seed, be sure the grower can warrant the absence of transgenic germplasm. That is, have they proven to the certification director that they have not genetically modified the seed?

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About The Author:
© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about organic gardening at http://www.organicspringtime.com. Anna is posting new articles every week on that site, each one dealing with some facet of organic gardening. If you want information for yourself or someone else on how to grow an organic vegetable garden, you will want to read Anna's article on the subject.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Grow A Home Vegetable Garden: Hybrid vs. Non-Hybrid Seeds, Which? By Lisa Carr

 

Springtime is in the air and it is time to start turning thoughts to the great outdoors and gardening. Growing a home garden is both rewarding and satisfying. And, with the economy in such sorry shape, growing your own food is now becoming an economic necessity! According to a recent AP article by Gillian Flaccus entitled, Dollars From Dirt: Economy Spurs Home Gardening Boom, "The National Gardening Association estimates that a well maintained garden yields a $500 dollar average return per year. A study by Burpee Seed claims that $50 dollars spent on gardening supplies can multiply into $1,250 worth of produce annually."

It is now not a matter of whether to grow your own vegetables, but what is the best choice in seeds with which to grow your garden. Should you use hybrid or non-hybrid seeds?

First, we need to have a basic working definition for hybrid and non-hybrid seeds, and second, we need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using either seed for growing.

Hybrid seeds are a result of special "breeding" techniques. In other words, these seeds have been deliberately crossed with 2 different parent varieties. The advantages of using hybrid seeds, even though they generally cost more than non-hybrid seeds, is that the resulting plant and fruit is often stronger and more resistant to disease. The fruit of the plant tends to be more uniform in shape, ripen at the same time, has better keeping qualities, and sometimes can be harvested early. The disadvantages of using hybrid seeds is that you can not save the seed from that plant for your next years garden. The seeds are totally worthless for replanting. This results in the gardener having to purchase new seeds each year. This is the main reason companies like Monsanto want heirloom/organic type farming done away with. These companies want you to rely on them for your food and seeds! If you don't believe this, there is legislation going on right now trying to regulate organic farming, etc. I invite you to visit the links below where I have posted the aforementioned bill!

Non-hybrid seeds, also known as heirloom seeds, are seeds that will produce plants which are true to the parent plants since there has not been any blending of genes. These seeds can be saved from year to year. The advantage of this is self-explanatory. You can rely on yourself to have garden seeds from year to year. You do not have to run to the store each year to replenish your garden seed supply. Heirloom seeds have their own built-in hardiness, since after years of being used, particularly in a certain location, they have developed a resistance to local diseases and insects. In addition, the seeds have adapted to the local climate and soil.

In my garden, I use both non-hybrid and hybrid seeds. I have been working very hard the last couple of years to use only non-hybrid seeds, and I love the results. I have learned to save my own seeds and will be sharing techniques in future articles. By the way, I will also say that if you do buy hybrid seeds, if you take good care of your extra seeds by storing them in a cool, dark place, these seeds can be used for a couple of years past the expiration date. The trouble is, once you are out of these seeds, you are out, whereas, with a non-hybrid plant you can crack open a fruit at the end of the season, save your seed, and you are good to go for the next gardening year!

Regardless of what you do, I would urge each and every one of you to have your own vegetable garden...starting this year! It's a lot of work, but you will enjoy fresh tasting vegetables, lower your grocery bill, and eliminate the worry of who and where your produce was grown! Happy Spring!

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About The Author:
Lisa Carr is a "homestead mom" whose interests and expertise include: living off the grid, growing and preserving food, etc. For helpful tips in these and other areas, especially those addressed in this article, go to

Article Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com