Organic gardening is all the rage, and for good reason -- it is better for us and the environment. If you are just starting or have been organic gardening for years, it is imperative to begin with organic seeds.
Certified Organic
To be certified organic, seeds cannot be genetically modified, and must come from an organic parent plant that was grown in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic farm. The parent plant also must be grown in organic soil using only approved fertilizers and pest controls.
Benefits
Organically grown seeds are developed for organic systems, therefore they are better suited to organic growing conditions. Additionally, organically grown seeds do not use agricultural chemicals, which can change the genetic makeup of the seeds.
Purchasing
There are seed companies that specialize and sell organic seeds only, and others that have added organic seeds to their merchandise. The prices of organic seeds are higher, which covers the costs associated with increased oversight and compliance, and the fact that there are fewer organic seeds available.
