Why Buy Organic Seeds?

by Shane Smith, Outreach Coordinator

One of the best cures for my annual bought with cabin fever is to pour over the latest seed catalogues and begin to map out a plan for my coming garden in spring. The important role of organic seeds for small vegetable gardeners like me is often overshadowed by the demand for organic food.  Since food goes directly into our bodies, the methods by which it was produced oftentimes feel more important than the methods by which the seed is produced. 

Shawn with the High Mowing Seeds

There has been a lot of seed-company consolidation that's taken place over the past decade and currently it's pretty difficult to find seeds that aren't owned or produced by large biotech corporations, such as Monsanto and Syngenta. In 2005, Monsanto acquired Seminis, a seed company that, at the time, controlled 40 percent of the U.S. vegetable seed market. Small organic seed companies like High Mowing typically work with smaller local companies that either breed their own seed or work with a network of farmers, instead of buying from large corporations. Smaller, local seed companies will most likely benefit your garden, as the companies will know what grows and thrives well in your local climate.  

At High Mowing Seed Company, they believe there is a better way to improve seed stock than using genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and adding chemical amendments to soil.   High Mowing Organic Seeds is committed to providing the highest quality, 100% organic seed to growers. When you buy organic seed, you have the assurance that the seed was grown without synthetic chemicals and you are supporting farms and companies that are committed to organic agriculture.

For the past five years the Co-op has offered a wide variety of High Mowing vegetable, herb and flower seeds.  Look for them in the produce department.