permaculture

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

http://bretigne.typepad.com/on_the_banks/2013/05/how-long-before-this-is-illegal-too.html

These are organic, heirloom carrot plants, gone to seed. Once the seeds are
dry enough, we're going to harvest them, save them and plant some of them.
If what's happening in Europe is any indication, it may not be long before
doing this is against the
law<http://www.nationofchange.org/all-about-new-eu-seed-law-1368022078>
:

"Under the new law, it will immediately be illegal to grow, reproduce or
trade any vegetable seed or tree that has not been tested and approved by a
new “EU Plant Variety Agency, who will make a list of approved plants.
Moreover, an annual fee must also be paid to the Agency to keep them on the
list, and if not paid, they cannot be grown."

Yes, I know. There is now an exemption allowing home gardeners to "...save
and swap unapproved seed." "Save and swap"? How about "sell"?

Is there anyone my age who ever thought they would live in a world where
governments controlled what kind of food people could eat, grow, sell? I
sincerely hope that younger generations don't just think this is normal or
acceptable. But given everything else the state exercises control over, who
knows?