Before and After

Gardening is a therapeutic activity and a healthy hobby which contributes towards a greener, safer, and healthy environment. However, people are becoming more conscious of the materials used for gardening, like every other product. Sustainability has given a new perspective on things; similarly, the demand for organic seeds for gardening is rising due to health concerns. This form of gardening is not only focused on home gardeners; perhaps it is used by farmers on a small scale. The reason is that seed is a fundamental component of our food and agriculture, but most of the time, it is ignored. A seed is the base of any plant and plays an integral part in withholding plants' strength against weather, pests, and diseases.

What are organic seeds?

Gardeners or farmers basically rely on the strength of seed in fighting against pests and diseases, especially in organic farming, as they do not use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Indeed seed decides the quality of food and all the nutrients and flavor it produces, and it is essential to realize the potential of the seed and use it properly without compromising on the quality. Organic seeds for gardening are grown in an organic environment, unlike other conventional seeds, they are free from any chemical or spray.

There is a set of rules and guidelines provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), determining if seeds are organic or not. The seeds grown without any alteration or genetic blend under a controlled environment are known as organic seeds. There are very few organic herbicides, and pesticides advised to use along with the method and measurement for organic seeds. Gardening or farming was conducted naturally in earlier times. From the last century, the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides is being used to improve health and protect plants. The use of chemicals has triggered people after the concept of organic food has become common. Therefore, to balance the fact of organic food, organic seeds are being produced by small scale farmers. Because farming is a commercial activity, the methods and requirements of organic seeds are not viable for large-scale farming as they would be more costly than beneficial.

Difference between organic seeds and other seeds

When it comes to gardening, there are several kinds of seeds available in the market, like an heirloom, hybrid, GMO, conventional, and organic. They all are distinctive in nature and serve different purposes and are attained differently.

Heirloom seeds are considered as family seeds which have been producing plants for the last 50 years. These are heritage seeds with similar characteristics and traits from parent plants passing on to the following plants. It is impossible to conclude that farmers use the same seed line, and most importantly, it is not considered organic seeds. People tend to confuse themselves between heirloom and organic because of their historical background.

GMOs are genetically modified seeds that are created in a lab by using the genetic material of a seed. These are seeds altered in a way to combat pests and diseases. With modern biotechnology, a seed's DNA is modified to produce an artificial nutritional plant. Corn, soybeans, canola, papaya, etc. are some of the varieties of GMO seeds.

A technique used in modern farming to produce more yield is through hybrid seed. It is a cross among two or more plants resulting in a new plant with more flavors and characteristics of any one of the plants. The cross can be between related plants or unrelated ones depending on the demand. By no means, hybrid seeds can be used as organic seeds for gardening because the natural nutrients are compromised.

Conventional seeds or regular seeds go through many fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals. However, they are safe and being used in our food system for centuries, and yet there have been no harmful effects. Organic seeds are produced in an environment without using modern farming techniques.

Why choose organic seeds?

A shift towards organic seeds for gardening is duly because of health benefits. The use of pesticides and fertilizers may alter the natural nutrients (a point to discuss), but there is no conclusive evidence. Anyhow, a seed is obtained from a crop after it gets to maturity, meaning once a plant is fully grown, it is not harvested until its seed gets viable maturity and stays longer in the field. In conventional gardening, crops being in the field for more time means more pesticides to provide protection, whereas, in organic gardening, plants are protected organically.

The selection process of seeds determines the health and strength for future plants as those genetics will pass on. The gardeners depend on the health of soil and water while growing organic plants. Even the lives of natural determinants need to be taken care of by organic gardeners. There is an argument over the health benefits of organic seed, but yet to be scientifically proven.

How to buy organic seeds?

The trend and demand for organic seeds for gardening are increasing regularly and pushing farmers and gardeners to produce more organic seeds to meet the demand. It is conveniently available at local stores that sell organic items, or one can find them online easily.

It is essential to ensure the seeds you are buying must comply with the organic techniques. To check the authenticity, always check the USDA certification, avoid those which say treated or non-GMO seeds. Seeds that are only non-GMO seeds are not necessarily organic.

Benefits of organic seeds

The use of organic seed for gardening produces resilient plants. It is because, in an organic environment, plants go through the whole season without contacting any chemical in order to be protected. Organic seeds build immunity and encounter harsh weather, pests, and diseases on their own. This process benefits the agricultural and food systems of our society in achieving resilience. The benefits of using organic seeds are as follows:

·       Foremost, it is nurtured without any use of pesticides or chemicals.

·       The organic technique improves soil fertility.

·       It builds a robust resistance system against pests.

·       The wear and tear of weathers make these plants' immune systems much stronger than conventional plants.

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Credit to Walter