Comments

Emergency Seed Banks and Open Pollinated vs Hybrid vs GMO — 17 Comments

  1. Good video. Even better information. Glad you posted this on your site. I sell produce for a living, and as you expressed, it’s surprising how many people are confused about GMOs and hybrids. Thank you for educating your listeners about the difference.

    You are invited to visit The Survivalist Underground Network on Facebook anytime. I routinely post links to your podcasts. Keep up the good work!

    Sincerely yours,

    Matthew J. Stephens

  2. I appreciate all that you do and have been a subscriber for years, but your YouTube stuff is all kinda empty-headed shilling. I love you, but I have better things to do with my time that constantly deleting posts that are nothing but empty-headed drivel.

    I have unsubscribed to your YouTube.

    Will continue to listen, but be forewarned – my family is evolving rapidly and I fear we may have to leave you behind.

    Sorry Jack, but you need to know.

    • @Hippiesteader you are entitled to your opinion but don’t expect it to change what I am doing, how I think or my daily efforts. If I had a dime for everyone that told me what I was wrong about I would be a very wealthy man by now.

    • @Hippiesteader it also amazes me that you call this video shilling when 90% of it was about the confusion between hybrid and GMOs.

  3. Hey Jack,

    I really don’t see the point in these emergency seed banks. The are extremely overpriced, and you can put together your own hybrid seed collection for $20 – $30. That will ensure that you are getting seeds that grow in your area, as well as stuff you will actually eat. Also, with proper storage you will get the same shelf life as these “emergency” seed banks. I can’t believe people are actually buying these when you can get the same thing for 1/10th of the price from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds or one of the other heirloom seed sellers. Is there something I’m missing here?

    – TP

    • @The Prepper,

      Don’t take this the wrong way but you sound like a guy saying I don’t see why you paid 19.00 for a case of beer when a 6-pack is only 7.99. Seriously go price the total variety and quantity and see what you come up with.

  4. Jack — have you actually tried planting any of the seeds in the tin? I’m curious if they will actually grow after being packed in mylar w/ O2 removed.

    • I have planted seeds from several different “banks” with excellent germination rates. By the way the seeds in this video are NOT packed with o2 absorbers and do have some air in the packaging, did you watch the video?

  5. Good stuff, Jack. I was aware of the difference between GMO and hybrid seeds, but did pick up some new/good info about heirlooms. I’m in my 2nd year of attempting to start plants from seeds (onions, tomatoes, peppers, etc.). In my research I read that onion seeds are really only good for one year, maybe two (for good germination). However, seeds of other plants may keep longer than that, even w/o special packaging. You mentioned the seed bank in question is recommended for about 4 years…I’m assuming that’s for the “lowest common denominator” (i.e., onions or other fragile seeds included). Or does the packaging take out the plant to plant variability?

  6. Good video. I was just having this conversation a couple days ago at work and you did a far better job explaining the differences than I did. I didn’t know the stuff regarding hybrids sometimes throwing viable seeds and that’s worth knowing.

    While I do have four different varieties of seed banks, I don’t think I’ll buy anymore. I just like selecting my own varieties that will do the best where I live. Buying a seed bank that has things like peppers and winter squash is pointless for me since I’m lucky to get 100 frost free days a year. I’d rather go through Victory Seeds and get short harvesting varieties like Orchard Baby and Yukon Chief corn, along with De Giorgi Acme and Danko Tomatoes.

    Of course I owe the fact that I even know the difference to you. Three years ago I had two seed banks and hadn’t planted a seed since I was a teenager (a LONG time ago). After two seasons of gardens inspired by your show, I’m having to start over again since moving onto the new three acre ‘stead last summer.

  7. An excellent, informative, video. It’s about as simple and “average-everyday-Joe Schmoe-speak” that you can get.

  8. There was a GMO tomato developed for commercial use called the Flavor Saver but I don’t think it’s been sold since the late 90’s. The company that developed it got bought out by guess who…Monsanto.

    Thanks for explaining that heirlooms start out as hybrids. I told someone that the Mortgage Lifter tomato originally was a hybrid and they didn’t believe me. 🙂

  9. Jack,

    That was a great educational piece. There’s a lot of hype and fear out there, and yes, many people have misinformation.

    My husband is a hobby farmer so he explained about the open-pollinate seeds to me. I understand that but many people do not. When we bought yellow watermelon last summer for a picnic, people thought they were GMO.

    I really like your podcast, especially the music. They are wonderful. Enjoy many of your shows.

  10. As usual good show. BTW the capcha code thing times out pretty fast not sure if you can set or change the timer on that.