for the love of seeds

Food. We love it and would die without it. But how often do we take a moment to think about where it comes from. Do we consider those DNA filled capsules that have been saved and reproduced through the generations in order to feed us in the future? How is it we have so little interest in one of the most crucial aspects of our survival? We've become so accustomed to food being readily available to us, whether in a processed form or as 'fresh' produce at the grocery store, that we take it for granted. Many of us no longer value the seeds that we scoop out of the pepper. We don't have to think about where the seeds for lettuce come from. We ignore how much genetic information that chickpea holds.

Over centuries our ancestors reproduced seeds and took note of their characteristics so that we could someday be able to have hardy varieties that would grow in our own specific climates. All of this time and energy put in to ensuring that the future generations would have food and what has happened? We have become so disconnected from our food and its sources that few of us realize how endangered our seeds are. We, through our acceptance of what is offered at the grocery store allow seeds to become part of an industry that is hoping to scrap everything our ancestors have done for us, by mutating the makeup of seeds so they cannot reproduce, in order to grow profits.

We are exposed to a variety of different vegetable and fruits when we go to the grocery store, right? One can decide if they want a zucchini, a tomato or that weird green thing that no one seems to know how to cook. This seems like enough. Yet instead of having an option of hundreds of tomatoes it is dictated to us that we have five or six options that are readily available at most grocery stores. The other hundreds of flavour-filled varieties will be forgotten because they are not quite as good at growing quickly and strongly on a mass production scale.

It is near impossible to ensure that everything you consume is made from heirloom seeds and happy plants. From the bread you eat to the eggplant you buy, there is a good chance that somewhere along the way a mutated seed has made its way into your food. What I'm suggesting is that we become more aware of this phenomenon of becoming disconnected from our food.

Look at the seeds the next time you're cutting up a fruit or vegetable and think about the history behind that specific food.

Learn ways to save the seeds (though many grocery store varieties will not be able to reproduce). 

Buy your seeds from responsible seed and food lovers.

Be aware of the fact that people throughout the world are fighting a battle against multi-national seed companies to stop them from turning seed saving into a profit driven industry.

It would be lovely to think that we would all buy only heirloom seed vegetables and products, but for now knowing the challenges facing our food is a promising first step.