Heirloom vrs. Hybrid Part 1

   In the next few post I am gonna do my best to answer a question that is always asked. What is the difference between "heirloom seeds and hybrid seeds?" I am no scientist, all I know is what I was taught growing up and the investigation that I am about to undertake! Part 1 will deal directly with heirloom seeds!

   It has been said that for generations when a young couple would get married that their parents would give them a house warming package of many different essentials to start the journey in life together and to be able to sustain and grow a large beautiful family. Within that package was two of the most important things that they would need to start their family, one was a family Bible to continue their walk with Jesus and one of the others was a package of all the seeds that their family had grown for generations, showing where the word "heirloom" comes from. Both the seeds and the Bible have been strong and true, never changing and tested for ever!

  The term heirloom seeds refers to any of a variety of seeds that come from plants that were grown historically but have not been used in modern agriculture on a large scale. Any 

plant, whether potato or tomato can have heirloom varieties, which vary in appearance and taste from the commonly known, mass-produced versions sold in most stores. Heirloom seeds also preserve traditional and different strains of various plants. People grow heirlooms for a number of reasons, ranging from their often-unique flavors to their historical and genetic significance. Unlike modern hybrids, heirloom seeds are open-pollinated, which means they will breed true and can be saved by the gardener from year to year — an important consideration for food security and self-sufficiency. There is differences in opinion with this, I read a good article about the co-founder of Wild Garden Seeds, Frank Morton. He says that this is "impossible", read more about "Better Heirloom Vegetables" and see what Frank is saying!  Heirloom vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs have remained popular with home gardeners because they grow well and taste great. Heirloom food plants are varieties that have been selected for their flavor, resistance to pests and diseases, and other traits important to home gardeners.

   Check your local market or area farm stands for heirloom fruits and vegetables, or look online or at a nursery and try growing some heirloom varieties in your own garden. I get a West Virginia Market Bulletin in the mail, people are always listing and trading heirloom seeds in the classified section. Also, heirloom varieties are not limited to plants. Just as thousands of varieties of plants have gone extinct from industry efforts at uniformity, so have hundreds of heritage livestock breeds ceased to exist. Keep an eye open for heirloom and heritage crops and breeds, as they are a great way to preserve regional life while experiencing new and exciting foods.

   So why choose Heirlooms? Well from my experience they just taste better (that id their fruit), they have been scientifically proven to have more vitamins and minerals, they don't all ripen at once and you have more of a selection of seeds to choose from. In simple terms heirlooms have been raised through the years to withstand the diseases, pest, blights, etc. that can hit plants. Kind of like our walk with Christ, never being perfect but being able to with stand the bad stuff around us better! I would be excited from any of your comments and wisdom on this subject!

Well I hope that helps here are some links to help find these heirlooms:

Free Heirloom Seed Swap

http://www.non-hybrid-seeds.com/

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/

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Psalm 12:3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward."

Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."