Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - Re: [Homestead] Was Localism, now Seed Varieties

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Jerry W. Shepperd" <shepperd AT austincc.edu>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Was Localism, now Seed Varieties
  • Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:56:40 -0600

At 08:46 PM 2/24/2008, Don Bowen KI6DIU wrote:
The problem with the Irish Potato was that it was a single genetic
variety. A pathogen would then attack and take most of the crop until a
new variety came along. There were several Potato Famines over the course
of the century.

Over reliance on a single variety of food plant is something that should concern everyone, for, as Don points out, a single virus or pathogen can wipe out an entire crop. It is not simply a problem associated with hybrid plants, but hybridization accelerates the possibility. And, it is easy to get caught up in the hype of a new high-yield hybrid, which almost certainly will need expensive fertilizers and insecticides. Remember that the same companies that produce hybrid seeds also produce the fertilizers and insecticides that they need.

I was listening to a report on NPR and the speaker reminded the listeners that there are over a thousand varieties of rice, but we depend on only a few varieties in the U.S. Seed catalogs listed over a hundred varieties of peas a century ago, whereas today, it is difficult to find more than a handful of varieties. There were over a hundred varieties of corn; much less than that are commonly available today. Likewise, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, okra, cucumbers, squash, and other common garden vegetables. And, most of what are readily available are hybrids. One can still find obscure and heirloom varieties, but it takes a bit of effort, although the internet makes the hunt a bit easier. While most of our concerns are likely with dependable food supplies, there are a number of purely natural and biological reasons for all of us to be concerned about maintaining a wide variety of plants.

This is a topic that James, as well as others on the list have brought up a number of times, but one that should not be forgotten.

Jerry S.





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page