Beware of food from groceries?

It’s that time of year again—time to start planning the garden and gathering seeds to start inside. Last spring I wrote about the importance of buying pure, heirloom seeds and supporting those companies that have taken the ‘safe seeds’ pledge—the pledge not to include seeds from huge biotech conglomerates in their stock. These huge biotech corporations are the same companies that manufacture dangerous pesticides, which I also refuse to use.

I mentioned in my column that I purchased Botanical Interest seeds, a seed company that is committed to heirloom, pure seeds, and I purchased them at Allisonville Nursery (double bonus—supporting a local business. And Botanical Interest seeds are in stock now!)

I received a wonderful response to that column from Michael DePape of Botanical Interests, and here it is, in part:

“Gardeners and consumers of all kinds should be more concerned about the food that they are purchasing in the grocery store. There is no law to require labeling of foods that contain GMO (genetically modified organism) products. Chances are you may be purchasing cereal, fresh corn, corn tortillas, soy products, and all sorts of processed foods that contain genetically modified ingredients.

The best thing you can do to vote with your dollars and for your own peace of mind is to grow your own food and purchase certified organic products. (Organic products cannot contain GMO ingredients.)"

Ever think of growing some of your own food? It may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Although you can build your own raised beds or till a new garden, which is great, to start out you might want to plant edibles right into your existing flowerbeds, amidst your other plantings, and expand from there.