As gardeners, we take pride in knowing where our food comes from. By raising our crops from seed to harvest, we trust that the food we put on our tables is fresh, nutritious, and grown sustainably. But have you ever stopped to think about how the seeds themselves were grown? As the foundation of your garden, and of the food system as a whole, the seeds you choose have a big role to play in the quality and ethos of your garden.
As experienced vegetable farmers, we feel strongly about the importance of high quality organic seeds, which is why all of the vegetable, herb and flower seeds that we offer for sale are certified organic, non-GMO, open pollinated and adapted for the west coast.
These are a lot of qualifiers for something as seemingly simple as picking out a packet of tomato seeds, and this is where the organic certification process comes in. In a sea of claims about quality, ethics and everything in between, the confidence that comes from knowing your seeds are organic and grown according to a set of rigorous standards can help you feel good about what you’re putting into your garden, as well as the quality of the vegetable, herb and flower seeds you may find for sale online.
So, let’s break it down. The term organic is regulated, meaning that not anyone can put it on their products, and those that do have been verified by a regulatory organization that monitors the practices of farms and processors. There are lengthy documents detailing the regulations that organic producers follow, but essentially you are guaranteed that no synthetic, conventional or non-organic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or fertilizers have been applied to the crops grown on these farms. In addition, organic producers pay special attention to building the health of the soils and ecosystems where they farm, all while producing the best possible quality products.
You might wonder what it matters that your seeds are organic, if the plant is being grown in your garden anyway. But seeds have a greater memory than you might think. On the surface, seeds grown conventionally may have been coated, treated or contaminated with herbicide during the harvesting process. Beyond that, a seed that is grown using synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers may perform adequately under those conditions, but with every generation it is losing resilience and becoming more dependent on these products and less able to withstand the rigours of the environment without them. An organic seed, on the other hand, has been selected for its inherent resilience and proven ability to withstand the pressures of its particular environment.
Organic seeds actually become stronger and more resilient with each generation!
So, the next time you’re ready to buy seeds, remember to look for vegetable, flower and herb seeds for sale from your local organic seed farm, and get ready to grow your best garden yet.
Curious about the other terms we use to describe our seeds? Head to our blog to read more about open pollinated seeds and regionally-adapted seeds best suited to the west coast.