GMO Free Open Pollinated Seeds & Giveaway

Photo credit: Oregon Culinary Institute Blog

In lite of Proposition 37, and so many people becoming aware of Monsanto, and all the GMOs (genetically modified organisms) I felt a need to share a great resource for GMO free open pollinated seeds.

I found "Mary's Heirloom Seeds" through a blog hop, and she was hosting a giveaway. Yeah!!! I was the runner up, and received a free packet of basil. At the time I won I had no idea that I was getting GMO free open pollinated seeds. I was tickled to death when I read this information on the seed packet, and placed an order for more seeds.

Photo credit: Mary's Heirloom Seeds

Purchasing products which are healthier for me and my family is important to me. Mary uses her product  which is also very important to me. While our government promotes GMOs they nor their families ingest them, but want us to. Mary is great about sharing her knowledge of the seeds she sells, and very approachable. She has agreed to giveaway her "In the Kitchen" seed pack which contains the following Basil-Fine Verde, Cilantro, Dill Vierling, Oregano, Tarragon, and Thyme. Okay so hopefully I have your attention, and want to share some questions I had for Mary, and her responses.

Photo credit; Mary's Heirloom Seed

Hi,  I'm Mary!  I am so excited to be able to share my passion for heirloom seeds and organic gardening.

You may have noticed that the price on food, especially produce has been going up.  The quality, not to mention the nutritional value, has been suffering for quite a while.  I have been growing my own vegetables and besides the money they save me the flavor is WAY better than the vegetables available at the supermarket.  It also makes me feel less dependent on the supply and I know what goes on my veggies.  I put together a few packages of seeds that seem to belong together and the individual seeds are available also.  

It's Your Life:  Heirloom seeds are past down and can go back many generations how are yours heirloom?
 
Mary: Heirloom varieties are those that can be traced anywhere from 50 years to more than 500 years.  Take for example the Calabrese Broccoli. This heirloom variety was introduced into America from Italy in the 1880s. The French Breakfast Radish is a pre-1885 French Heirloom grown in the US.

The varieties I have chosen to offer at Mary's Heirloom Seeds are hardy varieties.
A seed that has been tampered with such as genetic engineering is not an heirloom variety.  You will not find "frankenseeds" at Mary's Heirloom Seeds.

It's Your Life: Where do the seeds come from?
 
Mary: All of the seed varieties are grown in the US.  I buy them in bulk from a reputable supplier in the US who is a big supporter of the non-gmo movement.
I have signed the Safe Seed Pledge.  I would not sell anything that I would not grow in my own garden!

It's Your Life:  How long have you been selling seeds?
 
Mary: I have been researching non-gmo versus gmo, organic versus conventional seed varieties for 4 years.  I started Mary's Heirloom Seeds in 2011.  Deciding which seed varieties to start with was no easy task.  I started small with a few tomato varieties and a few veggies.  I eventually added herbs and a few more veggies.  In 2012 I added organic sprout seeds and sprouting kits.  I hope to increase the heirloom seeds varieties quite a bit in 2013!

It's Your Life: What made you decide to start selling GMO free open pollinated seeds?
 

Mary: After years of researching nutrition and health I knew I needed to start growing a few things.  I started on my apartment balcony using whatever seeds I could find.  I remember I tried strawberries and tomatoes at first.  It was a disaster! 

I had to do quite a bit more research into seed varieties before I decided that non-gmo, open-pollinated is the only way to go.  Unlike hybrids or GMO’s which often have problems reproducing to the parent strain, Heirloom seeds can be saved and replanted, ensuring a trustworthy supply of food year after year.

Photo credit: Mary's Heirloom Seeds

Mary is also having a sale on her sprouting kits until October 31, 2012 with free shipping on orders over $25. Two ounces of free seeds with the purchase of each sprouting kit, making it a total of 4 ounces of seeds.

                                  SAFE SEED PLEDGE

 "Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms poses great biological risks, as well as economic, political and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy people and communities."   http://www.seed-network.org/network/members.php

Genetic Roulette Movie The Gamble of our Lives lengthily, but a great source of education on GMOs.

You can also find Mary blogging on her other blogs as well as on Facebook.

 Back to the Basics

Mary's Kitchen

I am making it easy to enter, personally I don't like all the follow this, and that, so just leave a comment. Stop by Mary's Heirloom Seeds, and tell which product you would like to have, and why.

Giveaway ends on October 26, 2012 winner will be notified by email, make sure I have access to that, and will need to respond with shipping information within 24 hours. If not another winner will be chosen.

This blog post was shared at Living Green Tuesday Link Up,  Show Off Friday, Courtship Connection,  Friendship Friday,  Eat, Make, Grow Blog Hop.