via Growing Your Greens
Posted on 03/26/2015 1:14:25 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
via Growing Your Greens
The sharing of seed is an ancient practice, ensuring the survival of the human species, the local biodiversity of life, as well as local food security. If one gets philosophical about it, one could even say that the seed embodies a traditional, holistic knowledge of life that is as unbroken as the existence of the seed itself, and that is certainly a beautiful thing to think about.
But informal seed sharing -- a favourite pastime of gardeners everywhere -- may be considered illegal by some American states. According to a recent report by Mother Earth News, a number of states have laws in the books that require getting permits to sell seeds, and requires that they are properly labelled and tested, which makes sense if it's for commercial purposes. But some states actually including "giving away" in their definition of "selling," and that's where problems are arising. For small-time gardeners, informal seed swaps and seed libraries are a way to share in the spirit of cooperation, and as a way to preserve the legacy of local plant biodiversity. To apply rules to hobbyists that are designed to regulate commercial operations is a bit mind-boggling, to say in the least.
To get some insight into this issue, John Kohler of online gardening show Growing Your Greens speaks to Neil Thapar, staff attorney at the Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC), and Rebecca Newburn from the Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library:
You may wonder what is the big deal, but the SELC explains the history and legality of seed libraries and seed sharing on Shareable, in the aftermath of a Pennsylvania seed library being told by authorities that it was in violation of the Seed Act:
Ironically, this is in the name of “protecting and maintaining the food sources of America.” In this news article that went viral, regulators said that “agri-terrorism is a very, very real scenario.” In reality, seed libraries have emerged to protect our food sources and ensure access to locally adapted and heirloom varieties. The public’s access to seeds has been decreasing since a 1980 Supreme Court ruling that a life-form could be patented. Since then, big seed companies have shifted away from open-pollinated seeds to patented hybridized and genetically engineered varieties. The companies prohibit farmers from saving and replanting such seeds, requiring that they buy new seeds each year. Counter to this trend, seed libraries give members free seeds and request that members later harvest seed and give back to the library thereby growing the pool of seeds available to everyone.
It's clear that the recent spread of seed libraries and interest in growing one's own food is coming head to head against big agri-business. Seed sharing is a simple act that ensures food security, nurtures a culture of cooperation, shares traditional knowledge and grows a direct connection to nature -- but it is something that should be protected from corporate agendas, and should be the right of every small-time gardener and farmer out there. So how can we ensure the survival of this ancient practice that still has relevance today? First, get informed. Secondly, act by participating in local seed libraries, seed swaps, or by starting a local seed library. Sign the Save Seed Sharing petition. And of course, try growing your own food!
Read more over at Shareable.
Legal to spill your “seed” in the road, but not to share plant seeds???
GARDEN PING!...............
Kudzu was intentionally brought here by THE GOVERNMENT...........FDR, IIRC.........
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Most laws are deliberately written to be broken.
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Marin is the land of the Fruits and Nuts!
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How about swat teams busting up lemon aid stands (Pleasanton, Ca)
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You know, one day, SWAT teams may even toss stun grenades into baby cribs.
What’s wrong with me? That couldn’t happen here.
You photo-shopped this didn’t you.
That scene took place in the old East Germany didn’t it.
Looks like they’re sending some poor little kid to a Worker’s Paradise like Cuba.
Thought you could fool us?
I believe Mr. Kohler found himself on the wrong end of a swat raid once for growing microgreens in his own damn house. He’s lucky he wasn’t killed.
Oops...didn’t see post #5. Sorry.
From my cold dead garden bed!
Funny though ... none of the articles named a single state by name except for Minnesota. You know, all of those MANY states that make seeds illegal.
Say, what DID become of the whole Jos. Kony thing anyway? Just a flash in the pan, I suppose...
“Patenting seeds and prohibiting reuse should be outlawed.”
Without patent protection, there would be little incentive to produce new, better crops. Ergo, the choices are: No new plants, or new plants that are patented for 20 years.
That said, should the pollen of patented seed make its way into non-protected plants by no fault of the farmer growing the non-protected plants, then the farmer should have the right to sell the crops without paying a licensing fee.
Watched “Food, Inc.” several times, and according to them, Monsanto is the precipitator and biggest villain in suing people for sharing their patented seeds. I know it’s a propaganda movie, but there’s some ground truth in it as well.
Our parents’ generation (Great Depression) saw Monsanto as a savior. Apparently, it went to M’s head.
“Kudzu was intentionally brought here by THE GOVERNMENT...........FDR, IIRC.........”
Funny story. I have some acreage but have a county road in front. I wanted to grow something that would screen the car lights from shining in our house at night (at least during the summer).
So, I purchased a bunch of kudzu seeds. The package said, “be careful! Kudzu will grow on cement, and it will get away from you very quickly!”
Perfect. So, I planted it with rich topsoil and fertilizer and watered frequently.
Nothing. So, I gave them away. The person I gave them to planted by sprinkling on top of hard, crusty ground. He has a problem now that I wiash I had.
Moral: kudzu doesn’t like it when you pamper it.
Here in CO, you have to register with the state and (Surprise!) pay a fee to register to sell / exchange seeds.
PFL. :)
Some seeds won't germinate without air - such as tobacco. Bury it and it'll go no where. Spread on top and you got sprouts.
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