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More on Heirlooms/Warning rather long

Hello to all.I was anxious to add that many Heirlooms were handed down
from one generation (sometimes within a single family)to the next
primarly because they were outstanding in some way (or many).Here in the
U.S. immigrants often brought their cherished seed from the"old
country".You might be surprized to know how many of these are still
grown with great pleasure and success.These seeds also of course allowed
people to feed themselves (try that with Seed saved from F1 hybrids
sometime) .I wont address flowers although those were of course brought
as well.

Once you determine what those qualities were/are it is easy to decide if
its something you wish to obtain.And there are many of excellence.Once
obtained one saves the seed of those with the "creme de la creme"traits
so as to protect the characteristic traits of quality season to
season.With isolation and careful practices one can go beyond
open-pollinated to secured certainty of seed strain.Its a matter of
personal preference/choice.

The one thing that comes to mind regarding open pollinated seed and the
resultant plants  verses Hybrids professionally bred for (vegetables)
farming ,meaning all fruits I.E. tomatos ripen at same time to allow a
one time mechanical harvest.Nature in her wisdom does not work that
way.She is planning for "Survival"not the feeding of human beings or
otherwise.Shipping,cosmetics and shelf life are all considerations a
farmer must meet to market his crop.(This is how the super market
(familiar to us all)cardboard tomato was born).As Home gardeners this
enables us to enjoy many selections that could never meet these
marketing requirements. 
 
Diversity is another way Mother Nature assures survival of her
creations.So it concerns me that so many of these offerings are being
lost to time and modern F1 hybrids.Many carry disease resistant genes
which has "saved"modern crops more than once in recent history, if these
gene pools were not available it could be catastophic.Seed banks exist
but grow outs must be done periodically and it appears that has fallen
dangerously behind as some are no longer viable.


Modern seed breeding has allowed us to feed more ,and perhaps better,
peoples than any time in history and I dont fault them but there is a
place for all and hope more folks will see the value of preserving some
of natures best.There are organizations dedicated to this cause.If your
interested in knowing more ,please contact me privately .

                          I will step down from my soap box now,thanks
for listening.
                              Growing to Know in Idaho,Connie Hoy
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