[UrbanCropCircle] Fwd: Seeds

Sat Apr 10 10:58:34 PDT 2010

How about each of us saving one kind of seed this year and then sharing 
them with the group for next year's planting?
(See Tom's recommendation below)
Perhaps we could have Bill Thorness (local author of 'Edible 
Heirlooms') come give us a lecture on how to do it?
~Ingela

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Susan Helf <shelf30 at gmail.com>
> Date: April 9, 2010 1:15:28 AM PDT
> To: Thomas Allen <thallen at nwlink.com>
> Subject: Re: Seeds
>
> Tom,
> Thanks for the information. I was horrified to learn that Territorial 
> gets its seeds indirectly from Monsanto. Our Urban Crop Circles garden 
> club just ordered a shitload of seeds from Territorial. I don't know 
> if any of our members are aware of the connection. It sounds like we 
> may have bought a bunch of GMO seeds. 
>  
> Fortunately, I'm way behind in starting plants from seeds indoors. I 
> only spent $14 on my share of hte bulk order. I will throw them all 
> away if I can find   heirloom or OP seeds.
>  
> Can you tell me where to buy FedSSE, Peace Seeds and SOC? Can I get 
> them locally or from the Internet?
>  
> Thanks,
>  
> Susan
>  
> I'm glad I got your information before I planted any of my Monsanto 
> Monster seeds.
>  
> Susan
>  
>  
>  Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 9:24 PM, Thomas Allen <thallen at nwlink.com> wrote:
>> Many of you know about Monsanto/Seminis issue already but it never 
>> hurts to pass it on to your networks.
>>
>> Mansanto now owns 80% or some similar number of the vegetable seed 
>> production in the US. Consolidation has been gong on for a very long 
>> time. Compared to 1900, we've lost nearly 95% of the cultivars that 
>> were then commercially available. This is why I have been emphasizing 
>> seed saving and planting only OP seeds on our garden tours. I've also 
>> done a couple of radio pieces on the subject; archived at 
>> (http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/contributor/2968). The first one 
>> in 1980. The most recent in 2006. Given Monsanto's international 
>> activities it's impossible to be too suspicious. They aren't the only 
>> ones either. So support Fedco, SSE, Peace Seeds (Alan Kapular), SOC, 
>> set up seed exchange networks, and of course grow your own. Arrange 
>> for different gardeners to grow varieties that might cross pollenate, 
>> then swap.
>>
>> --Tom
>>
>>
>>
>> On Apr 7, 2010, at 12:03 PM, Adele Eustis wrote:
>>
>>> Thought you might find this of interest
>>>
>>>> Today's Topics:
>>>>
>>>>   1. Territorial Seed Co. and Monsanto (Ramona Lee)
>>>>
>>>> Please pass this on to everyone you know.
>>>>
>>>>> Last night at the Fruit Club meeting, we listened to a lecture on
>>>>> seed saving.
>>>>>
>>>>> The lecturer from Olympia told us that Territorial Seed Co. buys
>>>>>  seed from Seminis which is owned by Monsanto. She also told us 
>>>>> that
>>>>> Territorial does not identify which seeds are genetically modified
>>>>> Monsanto seed. She told us to call Territorial and tell them we now
>>>>> know they buy seed from Seminis and that you want to know which if
>>>>>  any of the seed you have purchased is Monsanto seed. She said THEY
>>>>> HAVE TO TELL YOU. Each of us needs to call or email Territorial and
>>>>> tell them we ARE NOT HAPPY with this policy and that we will not be
>>>>> buying from them if they continue to sell Monsanto seed.
>>>>>
>>>> This morning I called Territorial Seed Co. and they informed me they
>>>> are working hard to get rid of all of their Seminis line of seeds. 
>>>> The
>>>> rumor that they have been purchased by Monsanto is false. They also
>>>>  told me that none of the seeds they buy from Seminis have been
>>>> genetically modified. I told her since Monsanto now owns Seminis 
>>>> that
>>>> I can not trust any seed that is associated with Monsanto. She said
>>>> that is ALSO HOW Territorial Seed Co. feels and they are working 
>>>> hard
>>>>  to find replacements for the varieties they have been purchasing 
>>>> from
>>>> Seminis.
>>>>
>>>> She told me that Seminis was a very small seed company and didn't
>>>> understand why Monsanto would bother buying them out but she then 
>>>> went
>>>>  on to say that Monsanto now owns the varieties that Seminis 
>>>> developed
>>>> and she said they own the rights to the parent plants as well, which
>>>> Monsanto will not divulge. Below is more information and a list of 
>>>> the
>>>> companies that Monsanto now owns.
>>>>
>>>>> I also searched for some information on this subject and this is
>>>>> what I found. It's very important information.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://myfolia.com/journals/70906-companies-selling-monsanto-seeds
>>>>>
>>>>> Companies selling Monsanto seeds
>>>>> Wednesday, 18 Nov 09
>>>>>  copied from Facebook board:
>>>>>
>>>>> "Rudy Arredondo (Washington, DC) wroteon August 22, 2008 at 9:56am
>>>>> Seed Companies & their Relationships w/Monsanto
>>>>>
>>>>> 2008/8/14 Diane Dodge
>>>>>
>>>>> FYI from Nick DeMarsh:
>>>>>
>>>>> Here is an interesting post on Seed companies supplied by monsanto.
>>>>> If you think it is relevant please pass it on to the growing food
>>>>> and justice listserve.
>>>>>
>>>>> Recently on a gardening forum in which I participate, a list of
>>>>>  various seed companies now owned by Monsanto was posted. I was so
>>>>> shocked to discover Territorial Seeds on the list that I 
>>>>> immediately
>>>>> wrote to them to ask if it was true? As it turns out, while
>>>>> Territorial continues to be owned
>>>>>  privately, by Tom & Julie Johns, one of their seed suppliers,
>>>>> Seminis, is in fact owned by Monsanto. Over the course of my
>>>>> correspondence with staff from Territorial, they provided me with a
>>>>> list of the seeds currently purchased by Seminis, which I have
>>>>>  attached. And I was told that the owners are `considering' whether
>>>>> or not to continue using Seminis as a vendor.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm sending this information out in the hopes that you'll consider
>>>>> writing to Territorial Seeds to request they terminate their
>>>>>  relationship with Seminis, as well as expressing support for them 
>>>>> as
>>>>> a company you'd continue to buy seeds from in the future. I can't
>>>>> express enough how important it is for those of us who are 
>>>>> dedicated
>>>>>  to food security, and the ongoing availability of good, local,
>>>>> organic produce, to do whatever we can to prevent Monsanto from
>>>>> colonizing our primary sources of seed. Toward that end, I'm also
>>>>> posting the list of companies owned by Monsanto for your
>>>>>  review, in case you find others whose seeds you've bought.
>>>>>
>>>>> Territorial Seeds
>>>>> Totally Tomato
>>>>> Vermont Bean Seed Co.
>>>>> Burpee
>>>>> Cook's Garden
>>>>> Johnny's Seeds
>>>>> Earl May Seed
>>>>> Gardens Alive
>>>>>  Lindenberg Seeds
>>>>> Mountain Valley Seed
>>>>> Park Seed
>>>>> T&T Seeds
>>>>> Tomato Growers Supply
>>>>> Willhite Seed Co.
>>>>> Nichol's
>>>>> Rupp
>>>>> Osborne
>>>>> Snow
>>>>> Stokes
>>>>> Jungs
>>>>> R.H. Shumway
>>>>> The Vermont Bean Seed Company
>>>>>  Seeds for the World
>>>>> Seymour's Selected Seeds
>>>>> HPS
>>>>> Roots and Rhizomes
>>>>> McClure and Zimmerman Quality Bulb Brokers
>>>>> Spring Hill Nurseries
>>>>> Breck's Bulbs
>>>>> Audubon Workshop
>>>>> Flower of the Month Club
>>>>>  Wayside Gardens
>>>>> Park Bulbs
>>>>> Park's Countryside Garden
>>>>> And one final thing: here's a link to another seed company, Fedco,
>>>>> who posted information on their website about their own decision to
>>>>> forgo using Seminis any longer once they had been purchased by
>>>>>  Monsanto: http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/monsanto.htm
>>>>> Fedco Seeds ? The Monsanto Debate/Monsanto Buys Seminis
>>>>>
>>>>> Here's the info for contacting Territorial Seeds:
>>>>>
>>>>> Territorial Seed Company
>>>>> Attn: Tom & Julie Johns
>>>>> PO Box 158
>>>>> Cottage Grove, OR 97424
>>>>>
>>>>> Phone Orders: 800-626-0866
>>>>> Fax Orders: 888-657-3131
>>>>> Customer Service/Gardening Questions: 541-942-9547
>>>>>
>>>>>  Territorial Seed Company Store
>>>>> 20 Palmer Ave
>>>>> Cottage Grove, OR 97424
>>>>> Phone: 541-942-0510
>>>>>
>>>>> Customer Service Email
>>>>> info at territorialseed.com "
>>>>>
>>>>> Adding to the list od Seminis (daughter company of Monsanto)
>>>>> purchasers direct from Seminis website:
>>>>>
>>>>> Burpee
>>>>> Dege Garden Center
>>>>> E & R Seed Co
>>>>> Earl May Seed
>>>>> Garden Trends
>>>>> Gardens Alive
>>>>> Germania Seed Co
>>>>>  Johnnys Selected Seeds
>>>>> J.W. Jung Seed Co.
>>>>> Lindenberg Seeds
>>>>> Mountain Valley Seed
>>>>> Nichols Garden Nursery
>>>>> Park Seed
>>>>> Rocky Mountain Seed Co.
>>>>> T & T Seeds, Ltd.
>>>>> Tomato Growers Supply
>>>>> Willhite Seed Co.
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