[UrbanCropCircle] Fwd: where is the UCC group meeting on Dec. 6?

Tue Nov 23 17:46:10 PST 2010

Susan: At the last meeting, everyone in attendance agreed to still buy some (perhaps most) of our seeds from Territorial, in the effort to support a small local (in our region) company which is trying its best to remove any seeds from Monsanto and provide a good product. We also agreed to supplement our order from other  seed companies which have been highly recommended. I think most people felt that the decision has been made; no further discussion needed. 
Sooz
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Susan Helf 
  To: Sustainable Ballard Urban Crop Circle 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 5:38 PM
  Subject: Re: [UrbanCropCircle] Fwd: where is the UCC group meeting on Dec. 6?

  Ellie, 
  I realize that I caused some consternation when I mistakenly stated last winter that Territorial had been 
  acquired by Montsanto, I regret that I spoke out before I researched the issue. Members of the group rightly 
  corrected me. However, it is true that Territorial has a connection to Monsanto through selling seeds from 
  Seminis, a subsidiary of Monsanto. 

  Since I have no desire to create further conflict, I will  withdraw my objection to Territorial based on the Monsanto 
  connection. 

  However, I think it is essential for the group to consider which seed company best meets the needs and
  interests of our members.  It could be Territorial, or perhaps one of the excellent companies you mentioned.  
  I wasn't aware until today how many choices we had. Thanks for educating me. 

  Many members of our group seem to be enthusiastic about planting heirloom and open-pollinated
  seeds as opposed to patented seeds. I'm excited that we are moving in that direction.  

  I agree that the December meeting isn't the best time to deal with this issue.  Therefore, I propose that we discuss
  at the January meeting which seed company we'd like to patronize. Since we are the organic gardening guild 
  of Sustainable Ballard, I think we have an obligation to consider which seed companies' products most closely fit
  Sustainable Ballard's mission.  

  Susan 

  On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 11:19 AM, Mewmere <mewmere at aol.com> wrote:

    Susan: Territorial does not get all of its seeds from a company that is now owned 
    by Monsanto. That company supplies some of Territorial's seeds, but not nearly all.
    One is not supporting Monsanto by buying Territorial's other seeds. 
    This is business 101--and should be intuitively obvious. Many people
    in this group still wish to support Territorial. If you don't want to buy those seeds, you
    don't have to. But please, don't push your will on the rest of us. The last time this
    group debated this topic, many people were so angry they didn't want to be part of
    this group anymore. I strongly suggest this is not a topic for the Christmas gathering, 
    and should be delayed until January. 

    I have no problem supplementing our order with seeds from other companies, especially
    where there are varieties not available through Territorial.  However,
    we have learned about other great companies in your absence. One is a very small
    seed company in Bellingham, which specializes in seeds that do well in our environment
    (I can track down name, but not now.) This is way more exciting than Seeds of Change. 

    Another is Johnny's Seeds (can't remember precise name right now)
     out of Maine, which I discussed at the last meeting. When
    I asked a farmer at the Farmers market from whom I had bought some starts that did
    so well that Ingela wanted to know what the seeds were, we discovered they come 
    from this soon-to-be 100% employee owned company in Maine. The farmer told me these
    seeds performed better than any others she encountered--and that they were her 
    favorites, even if they were not organic. In other words, organic is her first choice. But
    her second choice was some non-organic seeds from this company rather than organic
    seeds from others. (This company also sells Eliot Coleman's tools, specially designed
    for small farmers.) This company has way, way more offerings than Territorial. You can
    see the catalog on-line and/or order it. However, these seeds go so fast that they 
    really should be ordered by January at the latest. 

    A third company we learned about was one that through our winter gardening guru, 
    Laurette Chasse. Again, I have the name somewhere (I subscribed to their email
    list). In effect, it is Italian, which she thinks has a similar climate to our own.

    --Ellie 

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Susan Helf <shelf30 at gmail.com>
    To: Sustainable Ballard Urban Crop Circle <urbancropcircle at lists.sustainableballard.org>
    Sent: Tue, Nov 23, 2010 10:24 am
    Subject: [UrbanCropCircle] Fwd: where is the UCC group meeting on Dec. 6?

    Dear fellow gardeners,
    The next UCC meeting is at 6 p.m.  Monday, Dec. 6,  at the home of Sooz Appel
    Her address is 2533 Westlake Ave. N. Park across the street from Sooz' house.
    Bring a potluck dish to share as well as one exchange gift. 

    The gift can be homemade, used, "regifted" or newly purchased. Each person 
    will leave with a different gift than the one she brought.  

    Our January meeting with focus on garden planning. At the February meeting,
    we will put together our bulk seed order.

    I'd like to add a discussion item to the agenda for December. Should
    we continue to order seeds from Territorial? That company distributes some
    seeds from Semanis, which is owned by Montsanto. Should we do continue
    to do business with Territorial, which indirectly helps enrich Montsanto? Or should
    we give our business to a company with no ties to Monsanto?

    I ordered seed catelogs from Baker Creek, Seeds of Change and one other
    company. If the catelogs arrive in time, I will bring them to the December meeting.
    All three of these companies focus on open-pollinated heirloom seeds and none has any 
    dealings with Monsanto. 

    Depending on the group sentiment, we could either switch to another company, or
    perhaps send in two separate orders - one to Territorial and one to a different company. 
    I'm looking forward to discussing this issue in December 

    Susan Helf 

    Thanks,

    Susan 

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