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  • From: paxamicus AT earthlink.net
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Was Localism, now Seed Varieties
  • Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 18:13:18 -0500

Did y'all cover Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" when it came out?


On Mar 1, 2008, at 5:56 PM, Jerry W. Shepperd wrote:

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.

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