Monday, May 23, 2011

Monsanto is the Devil

Hello, friends! I'm back! I just participated in an eight-day-72-hour-plus permaculture seminar and I even got certified! That means I have successfully completed 72 hours of permaculture design education. And I am here to tell you that it was intensely good. I learned so much and made so many great friends. I delved deeply into the concepts, into our property, and into myself.

Briefly, I would like to say that any time I refer to "our property" I mean the land Mother Earth is so graciously allowing us to use. Every time I mention "our" or "my" land, it doesn't feel right. What I really mean is the land entrusted to us, the land we are using.

Now, to the title of my post...

How does this:


Turn into this?


Here's how... Let me tell you a story about my friend. My friend is a very clever and conscientious person, committed to the local foods movement. She has made it her personal business to do everything she can to find out what seeds have been contaminated by Monsanto's "biotech" engineering. You see, Monsanto provides seeds to many, many popular seed catalog companies. And it's not obvious to the consumer. So, there is a good possibility that any of us purchasing and planting seeds could have stumbled onto a genetically modified seed without knowing it. Evil, pure evil, especially when you know the truth about Monsanto.

Now, back to my friend. She has maintained a list of the names of seeds and seed companies who are using Monsanto GMO seeds, simply by calling a lot of companies and talking to management. She's always wanted to know about summer squash, but has never been able to find out. Summer squashes as in yellow crooknecks and zucchini. So, she called up Monsanto and asked for the biotechnology department. She enthusiastically asked for the names of these summer squashes, saying she really wanted to grow them and sell them to her customers. Well, she lucked out. They happened to forward her a brochure intended for seed catalogs and greenhouses... any company in the business of selling seeds.

She shared that brochure with me, and I'm here to share it with you. Now... you might want to make sure you are sitting down reading this, and kind of brace yourselves before I give you the names. The names, in and of themselves, are disturbing. Positive, powerful names typically associated with freedom, strength, and strong values. And yet... the seeds are GMO.

Here are the green zucchini names:

Declaration II
Independence II

Judgement III

Justice III

Here are the yellow crookneck names:

Destiny III
Prelude II


And the yellow straightneck names:

Conqueror III
Liberator III

Patriot II
XPT 1832 III

And a winter squash, namely acorn:

XPT 1791 (B)


The person at Monsanto went on to say that any summer squash with a Roman numeral behind the name is a GMO seed. Let me repeat that, and please remember it when you are buying your seeds. In fact, please share the information with everyone you know:

Any summer squash with a Roman numeral behind the name is a GMO seed.

The pamphlet states the restrictions of using the seeds:

Restrictions Apply: Seeds, plants and produce improved through biotechnology are subject to government regulations. Approvals for import of transgenic virus-resistant squash fruit have not been pursued to countries other than Canada. It is a violation of national and international laws to move biotech seeds, plants and produce into nations where import is not permitted.

Grow only in the United States. Exporting seeds or plants to any other country may violate laws of these countries.

Fresh market only. Produce can only be used for fresh consumption and cannot be sold for processing. Processing operations typically mix large quantities of produce, and could create the risk of exporting the food product to a nation where it is not approved.

Sell fresh produce only in the United Sates and Canada. Produce can be sold only in the United States and Canada as fresh produce; it cannot be exported to Mexico or other nations.

Don't repackage seeds. Each package of seeds includes important legal requirements on the label. Seeds must remain in their original packaging until they are planted in the United States.


The pamphlet goes on to state the legal requirements of using the seed. These statements speak for themselves:

Legal Requirements: The rules for transgenic virus-resistant squash are shown on the label of every package. When you purchase and open the seed package, you are accepting your legal obligation to follow the rules. Living up to this commitment helps ensure the benefits continue to be available to every grower.

This is straight from the company, dear readers. Straight. From. The. Company.

And that is why

is the equivalent of this:


So, please. Arm yourselves and your friends with this information. Read your seed pouches. Don't plant GMO seeds. And even better, learn a bit about saving your own. There's been a run on seeds this planting season. What better seed to rely on than your own?








9 comments:

  1. I first heard about Monsanto when I saw the documentary 'The Corporation' a few years ago. Seeds are so important to our survival it amazes (and saddens) me that there isn't more care for them. We use heritage variety vegetable seeds when we can find them. (One year we'll be more organised and instead of buying our seeds at the last minute from a local plant shop we'll buy our seeds online from one of the heritage seed specialists).

    If you haven't seen 'The Corporation' you may be interested in it (but be ready to get a bit grumpy and angry at the various corporations...).

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  2. Sassafrass,
    fedco seeds won't sell any seeds owned by monsanto or it's subsidiaries, bakers creek seeds, and the seed savers exchange (SSE) add to that promise the allure of old fashioned REAL veggies handed down through the generations. Join SSE, you'll find it 100% worth it!

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  3. There are 2 GM sweet corns out there too, Triple PRO, and Atribute :-(

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  4. great article!! knowing there are peoplke like you out there restores some of my faith in humanity

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  5. Hi!
    Amanda had mentioned your blog so I decided to poke around a bit before my class today and I came across this post! I watched a movie on Hulu a little bit ago about Monsanto seeds called "The Future of Food" http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food. very interesting film!

    It's amazing to me that we can splice a few genes and then call a living thing our "own", additionally sell it for profit! It's incredible how much profit the Monsanto company makes from "owning" seeds and distributing them! Having taken many biology classes as well as having worked quite a bit in the research field I understand why researchers patent their genetically engineered organisms in order to further benefit their field and their research in general; however, what Monsanto is doing just seems wrong! I believe it is one thing to genetically engineer foods for the benefit of society (as was attempted in 3rd world countries, incorporating vitamins into the naturally occurring grains to fight vitamin deficiency), but modifiying grains in order to "own" them and then make a profit just seems so evil and wrong! Capitalism at its finest!

    Good for you for commenting about this on your blog. I feel the issue does not get enough attention due to the affiliation of many members of Congress with the company.

    Just my 2c

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  6. There is a new global campaign against Monsanto to make it sign the collective contract given out by consumers. http://t.co/1NLdWjA9

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  7. Are you guys really serious? Please take some time and objectively learn about transgenic plants. They are not the devil, but sometimes the devil is in the details. You sound like a hillbilly redneck from the swamps. These varieties use the same mechanism plants normally use to fight off viral diseases. They just made it more effective and put it into a plant that they didn't have to start breeding from scratch. Yes, there are restrictions for contracts, but the patents will end after a couple decades. Here's a question for you all. Rutgers tomato is considered an heirloom and was hybridized in the 1920's (released in the 30's). It was the state of technology then, but now is a heirloom. I can't wait until these transgenic plants of today become tomorrow's heirlooms.

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  8. Yes, Anonymous, we are REALLY serious. Whereas you may suggest we are hillbilly rednecks from the swamp, I find myself wondering who puts money in your pockets. Have fun sleeping with the devil!

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  9. Please read and share my blog relating to Corporate Greed and Monsanto! Thanks
    http://rubydagger.wordpress.com

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