As you can see, I've already ordered more heirloom tomato seeds than I (and my reclaimed 5 gallon buckets) can handle, but if you are thinking about growing your first tomatoes this year or just want to add some new varieties to your existing garden, WinterSown seems like a great way to do it. They are a non-profit seed sharing group that I read about on Rachel's Tiny Farm. All you have to do is send them a self addressed stamped envelope and a slip with your choices from their list of varieties. If you've never eaten a homegrown heirloom tomato, you are definitely missing out and need to get some seeds ASAP. It looks like they are able to operate mainly on donations from growers, so if you don't need any seed, maybe you have some to share. That's most likely what I'll be doing at the end of the season. We need to get as many varieties into the hands of as many growers as possible to encourage diversity and food independence. Victory gardens, community gardens, CSAs and the like are the key to the survival of so many foods that Monsanto would prefer you never knew existed.
Not to get all serious on you, but since I've already invoked the name of evil...
I've just watched a French documentary by Marie-Monique Robin called The World According to Monsanto that should be fascinating/horrifying to any of you interested in the politics of food and why we should all be growing as much of our own as possible. Much of the information was previously examined in The Future of Food, but this doc expands upon several elements, most importantly the obscenely codependent relationship of Monsanto and the US government. You can buy it here or watch it for free in 10 parts here.
So please watch this documentary and get depressed and angry, but then go to Wintersown and feel grateful that there are a lot of people out there trying to change our food system for the better.
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