Selling Melon Seeds too! From Thailand, Former USSR, Latin America, Japan, U.S.

'Ashkahabad' - NEW - 80 days. Honeydew type that holds well after picking. Smooth skin is golden, the crisp flesh is green and has a rich, sweet flavor. A heavy producer of 8-10 lb fruits. Named for a city in Turkmenistan, in Central Asia, which is noted for its incredible diversity of indigenous melon types.

'Banana' -- 90 days. Banana-shaped fruit; smooth, yellow skin; and sweet, spicy, salmon-colored flesh. 16"-24" long, 5-8 lbs. It was listed in 1885 by J. H. Gregory's Catalogue, which said, "When ripe it reminds one of a large, overgrown banana... It smells like one, having a remarkably powerful and delicious fragrance." This is one of my all-time favorites, being very sweet and great for specialty markets. According to The Vegetables of New York (1937), this variety has been listed as a novelty almost as long as American seed catalogs have been popular. Long banana-shaped fruits are tapered at both ends and grow up to 24" long. Smooth yellow skin occasionally develops sparse netting. Salmon pink flesh with a sweet spicy flavor and pineapple aroma. 80-100 days.

'Burrell's Jumbo' - Very delicious old variety from the D.V. Burrell Seed Co.. An improved selection of Hale's Best, these melons have salmon orange flesh that is very sweet; perfect for home or market. 2011 seed from Seed Saver's Exchange. 5+ seeds for fifty cents.

'Coban Orange Flesh' -- NEW for 2012! From the beautiful Guatemalan mountain town of Coban in December 2005. It has medium-sized fruits with sweet, fragrant flesh that is juicy and flavorful. Muskmelon type. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1

'Golden Midget' -- Watermelon - 70 days. A beautiful, miniature watermelon that weighs around 3 lbs. It's easy to tell when they are ripe, as the rind turns a lovely golden yellow when ready for harvest, a very beautiful contrast with the salmon-pink colored flesh. The taste is sweet and refreshing. Very early, matures in just 70 days. Developed by the late Dr. Elwyn Meader, UNH in 1959. Unique. 5+ seeds for $1. 2012 seed from Baker Creek.

'Indian Cream Cobra' - NEW - Here's a really unusual variety from Australia, with a distinctive flavor and aroma. The elongated fruits are smooth-skinned; the skin splits and peels back when the fruits are fully ripe. Some say this resembles a Cobra's hood! The flesh is pinkish and unusually dry, and is often used to flavor homemade ice cream Down Under. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1.

'Jubilee' - One of the most popular watermelon varieties grown in the United States. Introduced in '63 by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. This variety was originally created by crossing together the varieties Africa 8, Iowa Belle, Garrison (Georgia Rattlesnake), Hawkesbury and Leesburg. Jubilees are extremely similar to Garrison or Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelons which is a variety developed in Georgia during the 1880's. This variety has also stablized and will breed true to form. Just like Georgia Rattlesnake or Garrison, Jubilee produces a large light green watermelon with very distinct dark green stripes somewhat reminescent of a rattlesnake's markings. The watermelons have a very tough rind that is nearly an inch thick. It is an excellent commercial watermelon as it holds up amazingly well during shipping The flesh is a lovely bright red in color, has a very fine texture and a very palatable sweet flavor that is superior to most other varieties of watermelons. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for fifty cents.

'Kazakh' - Hard-to-find mini-melon that has a high sugar content and is finely flavored. The one- to two-pound green fruits turn golden when ripe. This variety is early, resistant to drought, and a good climber, making it a great choice for many. An ancient type of melon from central Asia, collected in Kazakhstan, and once offered by by the Gurney Seed Company, of Yankton, South Dakota. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1. (couldn't find a photo)

'Moon and Stars -- Long Milky Way' -- Watermelon - 95 days. Brilliant red, sweet and crisp, this elongated variety of the famous "Moon and Stars" is among the best of its type. The 30-lb. fruit are more narrow in shape, and the rind is dark green with golden-yellow moons and small, yellow stars. This fun variety was developed by our friend, Glenn Drowns, of the Sand Hill Preservation Center. 2012 Seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1.

'Old Time Tennessee' -- Muskmelon - 100 days. A very old variety. It has been dropped from commercial catalogs, is rare and seems to be near extinction. The fruits weigh an average of 12lbs, are 12 to 16 inches in length, and are elliptical or football-shaped. Must be picked at the peak of ripeness, when the fruit has turned a golden-yellow and they easily slip from vine. They should be dead ripe for the best taste. They do not keep very long. Sweet aroma that will carry over a long distance. Too delicate to withstand commercial shipping/harvest, you'll never see this melon in a supermarket. That's why it's nearly extinct. This is a garden-to-table melon. Orange flesh is superior, being loaded with unique fruity undertones and a sweetness not often found in modern melons: High sugar content. Fragile melons are not good keepers but are winners with gourmet foodies. This old Tennessee heirloom was almost lost to modern gardens. 2011 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for fifty cents.

'Orangelo' -- Watermelon -- Does particularly well in the Santa Clara Valley (per SCC Master Gardener website) 85 days. Beautiful, deep orange flesh; very sweet, excellent, almost tropical flavor! Favorite of many. High yields. Very resistant to wilt and insects; strong healthy vines. These will sell at roadside stands & markets. 2011 Seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for fifty cents.

'Plum Granny' aka 'Queen Anne's Pocket' - 75 days. Beautiful ornamental fruit are yellow with deep orange stripes and only 2-3 inches long! They are grown for their wonderful fragrance! These melons were very popular in Victorian gardens and have been our most requested melon. Bland flavor. Makes a beautiful & fragrant arrangement. Good melon to grow on a trellis. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1.

'Rich Sweetness 132' -- "Incredible little melons from the former Soviet Union. The fruit are a beautiful red, striped with golden yellow and weigh only about ¼ lb! The flesh is pure white and quite sweet. These have a very refreshing taste and are very fragrant. They are perfect for single servings. These little melons are so much fun and great for children's gardens. The vines are very productive all season long. One of the best new varieties we've discovered in the last few years. Try a few of these delicious little melons in your home or market garden." Mine were tiny, 2" melons, too small to eat, but fun to grow. 2011 seeds from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for fifty cents.

'Royal Golden' -- Watermelon - 85 days. The perfect melon for those who want to be sure to know how to pick a ripe melon. Melons turn bright yellow to light orange (skin) when they are ripe. Flesh is red, tender and sweet. Fruits weigh 10 to 15 pounds. "The most beautiful watermelon we carry. The tasty pinkish-red flesh is sweet, crisp, & refreshing. Much larger than Golden Midget." 2012 seeds from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1 (couldn't find a photo)

'Sakata's Sweet' -- VERY RARE JAPANESE HEIRLOOM -- These small 3-4" round melons are very sweet with a high sugar content. Asian varieties open a whole new dimension to melons as they are amazingly different. Crisp and crunchy. Edible skin. Small size & brilliant golden rind make them very attractive & easy to store in the fridge or a lunchbox. 2011 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for fifty cents.

'Takii Gem' -- VERY RARE JAPANESE HEIRLOOM - Extinct commercially until Baker Creek reintroduced it, this variety was given to the USDA in 1955 by Takii and Company of Kyoto, Japan. This small icebox melon has sweet red flesh and a grayish-green rind. It produces very early, great for areas with short growing seasons. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1

'Texas Golden' - New! A beautiful melon that is filled with delicious golden flesh, sweet and flavorful. The rind is thin and light green, similar to the "Charleston Grey" variety. Fruit is oblong in shape and weigh 15-25 lbs. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for $1.

'Tigger' - 90 days.The most amazing looking melon. The fruit are vibrant yellow with brilliant fire-red, zigzag stripes (a few fruit may be solid yellow), simply beautiful! They are also the most fragrant melons we have tried, with a rich, sweet, intoxicating aroma that will fill a room. The white flesh gets sweeter in dry climates, mild tasting. Small in size, the fruits weigh up to 1 lb. The vigorous plants yield heavily, even in dry conditions. This heirloom came from an Armenian market located in a mountain valley. 2011 seed from Baker Creek. 5+ seeds for fifty cents.

The Very Real Danger of Genetically Modified Foods

New research shows that when we eat we're consuming more than just vitamins and protein. Our bodies are absorbing information, or microRNA.

By Ari LeVaux

Jan 9 2012, 7:57 AM ET 457

Update 1/12: Thanks to science and biology bloggers, Christie Wilcox and Emily Willingham at the Scientific American blog network and The Biology Files, respectively, we've learned of the scientific inconsistencies made in Ari LeVaux's most recent Flash in the Pan column, which is syndicated by a number of newspapers and magazine websites. This column has been expanded and updated for AlterNet, with LeVaux discussing specific improvements in the comments.

Chinese researchers have found small pieces of rice ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the blood and organs of humans who eat rice. The Nanjing University-based team showed that this genetic material will bind to receptors in human liver cells and influence the uptake of cholesterol from the blood.

The type of RNA in question is called microRNA (abbreviated to miRNA) due to its small size. MiRNAs have been studied extensively since their discovery ten years ago, and have been implicated as players in several human diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. They usually function by turning down or shutting down certain genes. The Chinese research provides the first in vivo example of ingested plant miRNA surviving digestion and influencing human cell function in this way.

Should the research survive scientific scrutiny -- a serious hurdle -- it could prove a game changer in many fields. It would mean that we're eating not just vitamins, protein, and fuel, but gene regulators as well.
That knowledge could deepen our understanding of many fields, including cross-species communication, co-evolution, and predator-prey relationships. It could illuminate new mechanisms for some metabolic disorders and perhaps explain how some herbal and modern medicines function.

This study had nothing to do with genetically modified (GM) food, but it could have implications on that front. The work shows a pathway by which new food products, such as GM foods, could influence human health in previously unanticipated ways.

Monsanto's website states, "There is no need for, or value in testing the safety of GM foods in humans." This viewpoint, while good for business, is built on an understanding of genetics circa 1960. It follows what's called the "Central Dogma" of genetics, which postulates a one-way chain of command between DNA and the cells DNA governs.

The Central Dogma resembles the process of ordering a pizza. The DNA codes for the kind of pizza it wants, and orders it. The RNA is the order slip, which communicates the specifics of that pizza to the cook. The finished and delivered pizza is analogous to the protein that DNA codes for.

We've known for decades that the Central Dogma, though basically correct, is overly simplistic. For example: MiRNAs that don't code for anything, pizza or otherwise, travel within cells silencing genes that are being expressed. So while one piece of DNA is ordering a pizza, it could also be bombarding the pizzeria with RNA signals that can cancel the delivery of other pizzas ordered by other bits of DNA.

Researchers have been using this phenomena to their advantage in the form of small, engineered RNA strands that are virtually identical to miRNA. In a technique called RNA interference, or RNA knockdown, these small bits of RNA are used to turn off, or "knock down," certain genes.

RNA knockdown was first used commercially in 1994 to create the Flavor Savr, a tomato with increased shelf life. In 2007, several research teams began reporting success at engineering plant RNA to kill insect predators, by knocking down certain genes. As reported in MIT's Technology Review on November 5, 2007, researchers in China used RNA knockdown to make:

...cotton plants that silence a gene that allows cotton bollworms to process the toxin gossypol, which occurs naturally in cotton. Bollworms that eat the genetically engineered cotton can't make their toxin-processing proteins, and they die.

And:

Researchers at Monsanto and Devgen, a Belgian company, made corn plants that silence a gene essential for energy production in corn rootworms; ingestion wipes out the worms within 12 days.

Humans and insects have a lot in common, genetically. If miRNA can in fact survive the gut then it's entirely possible that miRNA intended to influence insect gene regulation could also affect humans.

Monsanto's claim that human toxicology tests are unwarranted is based on the doctrine of "substantial equivalence." According to substantial equivalence, comparisons between GM and non-GM crops need only investigate the end products of DNA expression. New DNA is not considered a threat in any other way.
"So long as the introduced protein is determined to be safe, food from GM crops determined to be substantially equivalent is not expected to pose any health risks," reads Monsanto's website.

In other words, as long as the final product -- the pizza, as it were -- is non-toxic, the introduced DNA isn't any different and doesn't pose a problem. For what it's worth, if that principle were applied to intellectual property law, many of Monsanto's patents would probably be null and void.

Chen-Yu Zhang, the lead researcher on the Chinese RNA study, has made no comment regarding the implications of his work for the debate over the safety of GM food. Nonetheless, these discoveries help give shape to concerns about substantial equivalence that have been raised for years from within the scientific community.

In 1999, a group of scientists wrote a letter titled "Beyond Substantial Equivalence" to the prestigious journal Nature. In the letter, Erik Millstone et. al. called substantial equivalence "a pseudo-scientific concept" that is "inherently anti-scientific because it was created primarily to provide an excuse for not requiring biochemical or toxicological tests."

To these charges, Monsanto responded: "The concept of substantial equivalence was elaborated by international scientific and regulatory experts convened by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1991, well before any biotechnology products were ready for market."

This response is less a rebuttal than a testimonial to Monsanto's prowess at handling regulatory affairs. Of course the term was established before any products were ready for the market. Doing so was a prerequisite to the global commercialization of GM crops. It created a legal framework for selling GM foods anywhere in the world that substantial equivalence was accepted. By the time substantial equivalence was adopted, Monsanto had already developed numerous GM crops and was actively grooming them for market.

The OECD's 34 member nations could be described as largely rich, white, developed, and sympathetic to big business. The group's current mission is to spread economic development to the rest of the world. And while the mission has yet to be accomplished, OECD has helped Monsanto spread substantial equivalence globally.
Many GM fans will point out that if we do toxicity tests on GM foods, we should also have to do toxicity testing on every other kind of food in the world.

But we've already done the testing on the existing plants. We tested them the hard way, by eating strange things and dying, or almost dying, over thousands of years. That's how we've figured out which plants are poisonous. And over the course of each of our lifetimes we've learned which foods we're allergic to.

All of the non-GM breeds and hybrid species that we eat have been shaped by the genetic variability offered by parents whose genes were similar enough that they could mate, graft, or test tube baby their way to an offspring that resembled them.

A tomato with fish genes? Not so much. That, to me, is a new plant and it should be tested. We shouldn't have to figure out if it's poisonous or allergenic the old fashioned way, especially in light of how new-fangled the science is.

It's time to re-write the rules to acknowledge how much more complicated genetic systems are than the legal regulations -- and the corporations that have written them -- give credit.

Monsanto isn't doing itself any PR favors by claiming "no need for, or value in testing the safety of GM foods in humans." Admittedly, such testing can be difficult to construct -- who really wants to volunteer to eat a bunch of GM corn just to see what happens? At the same time, if companies like Monsanto want to use processes like RNA interference to make plants that can kill insects via genetic pathways that might resemble our own, some kind of testing has to happen.

A good place to start would be the testing of introduced DNA for other effects -- miRNA-mediated or otherwise -- beyond the specific proteins they code for. But the status quo, according to Monsanto's website, is:

There is no need to test the safety of DNA introduced into GM crops. DNA (and resulting RNA) is present in almost all foods. DNA is non-toxic and the presence of DNA, in and of itself, presents no hazard.

Given what we know, that stance is arrogant. Time will tell if it's reckless.

There are computational methods of investigating whether unintended RNAs are likely to be knocking down any human genes. But thanks to this position, the best we can do is hope they're using them. Given it's opposition to the labeling of GM foods as well, it seems clear that Monsanto wants you to close your eyes, open your mouth, and swallow.

It's time for Monsanto to acknowledge that there's more to DNA than the proteins it codes for -- even if it's for no other reason than the fact that RNA alone is a lot more complicated that Watson and Crick could ever have imagined.

---

The current version of this article originally appeared on AlterNet.

For sale today... HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

Many other seeds available too. FREE SEEDS available on funky wood hutch (first come first serve. Please only take 1 & leave some for others).  Also for sale: local honey, my own organic tea blends (ginger/lemongrass or mint), fresh lemons & herbs, organic heirloom SEEDLINGS, books, art... today at 4515 Student Ln., San Jose 95130 (by Westgate Mall)

But back to the tomatoes....

'Abu Rawan' -- Endangered Iraqi variety that is sweeter than most Iraqi tomatoes (they tend to prefer tart tomatoes). Red.  I have two packs of 5+ seeds each for $1 a pack. 2012 seed from Baker Creek.

'Al-Kuffa' -- Produces 3-4oz red fruit on compact, dwarf vines that yielded til frost.   Rescued from Iraq. Mild flavor.  1 unopened pack from Baker Creek. 2012 seed. 25 seeds for $2.50. (I grew this last year & it was the earliest to bear fruit & had the highest yields)

'Bali' -- Description from packet: Flat, ribbed, 2-3", delicious, sweet, spicy, fruit are fantastic raspberry-pink.  Pronounced fragrance that makes them a delight to eat. Large plants produce loads of fruit. Good for home or market. 'New' heirloom from the island of Bali, Indonesia (though all tomatoes originated in Mexico/Central America).  2012 seed from Baker Creek.  I have five packets of 5+ seeds each for .50 cents a pack.

'Beauty Queen' -- Description from packet:  A good producer of very striped red and yellow fruit that have clearly defined markings much like Green Zebra. Small to medium size fruit have excellent flavor. large yellow beefsteak has deep red stripes that bleed into the meaty, juicy tomato-flesh, making her just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. But she's not just a looker. The flavor of Beauty Queen is amazing and, with fruits that are consistently a pound or more, there's lots to enjoy. Developed by Brad Gates at Wild Boar Farms. Very popular at farmer's markets. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. I have four packets of 5+ seeds each for .50 cents a packet.

(couldn't find a photo of the tomato, so...)

'Black Elephant' -- I call this one 'The Thing'. Big, lumpy, bumpy dark red tomato will split & look generally ugly, but has FANTASTIC flavor. Never judge a tomato by it's prettiness! You won't see this one at the store. Its delicate skin is what keeps this taste treat out of commercial production, since it is too fragile to withstand picking/packing/shipping. 2011 seed from Baker Creek. I have only one packet left of 7+ seeds for .25 cents. Dark red/purple.

'Bread and Salt' -- Named for the long held tradition in Russia to give special guests a loaf of bread and salt as they arrive. In Russian culture bread is associated with hospitality and salt has an association with long friendship. Forget the bread and just give your guests this tomato! Big, sweet fruit are round to slightly wedge/oxheart shaped. Pink in color. 2012 seed from Baker Creek. I have 3 packets of 5+ seeds each for $1 a packet.

'Carbon' -- This variety has won taste test awards from coast to coast. Fruit are smooth, large, and beautiful, being one of the darkest and prettiest of the purple types. Big, regular-leaf tomato plants yielding prolific amounts of 10-14 oz., beautiful purple-brown, open-pollinated tomatoes. Color of tomatoes are most often darker than the photo here indicates, making this among of the darkest of the black tomatoes with delicious, rich, complex flavors. This tomato variety won taste test of 10 heirloom tomato varieties at Cornell Research Farm. Because of it's productivity and flavor, Carbon is becoming popular to grow for commercial produce markets that are seeking more black tomatoes in their tomato mix.  2012 seed from Baker Creek. I have 3 packs of 5+ seeds for .50 cents each

'Hillbilly Potato Leaf' -- Yellow/Orange/Red fruit are sweet and BIG. Large vines produce gorgeous 1lb fruits that have a tendency to crack, but cut them open and see the colors of a sunset! 2009 seed from Seed Savers Exchange. Only 1 packet of 5+ seeds left for .25 cents.

'Isis Candy- Cherry tomato with translucent pink/yellow stripes. Very pretty & very tasty! 60 days. These precious little 1½" morsels of red and gold garden candy have a dazzling starburst pattern on the blossom end when ripe. Sweet and fruity, Isis Candy has become a top 10 winner at tomato tastings, rivaling Sun Gold's flavor as a best-of-show cherry. Crack-resistant, a spectacular top seller.   2012 Seed from Baker Creek. I have 3 packets of 5+ seeds each for $1 a packet.

'White Queen' -- Imagine making the kids WHITE spaghetti sauce!  Plant produces good yields of 12 oz white beefsteak tomatoes. This is the whitest of the white tomatoes. Very crack resistant. Excellent for sandwiches, salads, sauces, and gourmet dishes. A heirloom variety from the USA. Indeterminate.  2012 seed from Baker Creek. I have 3 packets of 5+ seeds for $1 each

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ORGANIC HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDLINGS/STARTS AVAILABLE SOON! PRE-ORDER (& pre-pay) TO RESERVE YOURS NOW! Many varieties that are not on this list.
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What did America do to Iraq's agriculture?
IRAQ: America's Order 81 Is Even Worse Than Originally Reported

What a break for U.S. corporations, such as Monsanto. The important information about Iraqi Order 81 is that it was designed to have a major impact on the way farming is done in Iraq. This order prohibits Iraqi farmers from using saving seeds from one year to the next.

by Rosemarie Jackowski, Media Monitors Network
August 12th, 2005
On August 8, 2005 Reuters reported that the Iraqi seed supply is at risk. Below is an excerpt from the Reuters report.

"... The war in Iraq destroyed the country's seed industry, putting the country's domestic food supply at risk, the United Nations food agency said on Monday as it appealed for aid to rebuild farming.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation said it needed $5.4 million to help the agriculture ministry rebuild a seed industry destroyed by the fighting and looting.

"Iraq had a relatively stable and functioning public-sector-controlled seed industry before the war in 2003. After the war, research and seed production facilities have greatly deteriorated," FAO said in a statement.

Iraq can now cover only 4 percent of its demand for quality seeds from its own resources....
If no immediate action is taken, serious seed shortages can be expected in the near future, threatening the country's food security...."
How convenient...perfect timing. What a break for U.S. corporations, such as Monsanto. First outlaw the seeds and then destroy them, or did it happen the other way around. Were the seeds destroyed first and then outlawed? This news story has thus far received very little attention.

The news story about the Iraqi Orders has been virtually ignored by the U.S. press. Order 81 is just one of 100 Orders that have been imposed on the people of Iraq by the U.S. government. These orders are sometimes referred to as the Bremmer Orders. No one in the U.S. or Iraq was ever allowed to cast a vote in the ballot box for any of these Orders. This says a lot about the kind of democracy that the U.S. is imposing on the people of Iraq.

The important information about Iraqi Order 81 is that it was designed to have a major impact on the way farming is done in Iraq. This order prohibits Iraqi farmers from using the methods of agriculture that they have used for centuries. The practice of saving seeds from one year to the next is now illegal in Iraq. Order 81 wages war on Iraqi farmers. They have lost the freedom to choose their own methods of agriculture. The legalese in which the orders are written creates confusion about their exact meaning, but the desired result is obvious. Order 81 prohibits the farmers from using their own seeds, on their own farms, to grow their own crops.

Prior to the U.S. invasion, agriculture in Iraq was flourishing. The Fertile Crescent had developed a system of farming that was the envy of the world. Now, under Occupation, centuries of progress have been destroyed, almost overnight.

The food chain has been under worldwide assault by U.S. corporations for some time now. The Master Race of corporations has seized control of the very essence of life itself. We are now in the age of Genetically Modified Doomsday Seeds. The USDA was complicit in the development of these bastard seeds.

This is not a new phenomenon. It has been a gradual takeover. Remember Percy Schmeiser, the Canadian farmer, who was sued by Monsanto? Not enough people stood up for Percey, so then they came for other farmers. In fact, Monsanto has sued so many farmers that a national hotline (1-888-FARMHLP) has now been set up to assist them.

Is it possible that Iraqi farmers think back fondly to the good old days before the Occupation and before Order 81? Even Saddam Hussein allowed them to save seeds for the next year's crop. Is the Pentagon a worse master than Saddam?

Farmers and consumers around the world need to stand in solidarity with the farmers and consumers in Iraq. There is no one who contributes more to society than the farmer. At the top of that hierarchy is the organic farmer. Doctors, lawyers, plumbers, and factory workers make important contributions to society, but none would survive without the farmer.

Why did the U.S. destroy the seeds? Did the Pentagon mistake the seeds for bombs and WMD's? Think of that as a headline for tomorrow's paper, "CIA confuses pomegranate seeds with WMD's." This sounds like a comedy "headline" from the Leno show. If the survival of thousands of people was not an issue, we could all laugh at the absurdity of this saga. The propagandists will try to convince the world that the destruction of the Iraqi seeds was just a mistake, an accident of war...collateral damage. Iraqi Order 81 proves otherwise. Iraqi Order 81 is proof that the U.S. had a strategic plan which would insure that U.S. corporations would not have to compete with the Iraqi farmers. U.S. corporations don't like competition. The idea of free markets is just a myth. The Predatory Capitalism of the U.S. could not survive without the threat of the military behind it.

Can it be denied that U.S. corporations are seeking total control of the food supply of the planet? After all of the seeds that are owned by farmers are destroyed, it will be necessary for the farmers to purchase them. Those most likely to profiteer are U.S. seed companies. General Smedley Butler was right. War is still a racket.

Imagine what would happen if there was a successful worldwide movement of resistance, an international Save the Seed Campaign. A source in Australia reports that a seed bank has been set up there. Every other nation must heed this warning and set up secure seed banks. It is not known what the U.S. government will do to eliminate this competition to U.S. seed corporations. Will the countries that institute seed banks be on a Pentagon hit list? Another possibility will be a covert CIA operation.

The U.S. policy of using food as a weapon of war shows a depraved, mind numbing level of cruelty. This has been referred to as the Ultimate War Crime. It is one of the most serious Crimes Against Humanity of our generation.

There is a hidden tragedy in this seed destruction policy of the U.S. The U.S. has not only endangered the entire population of Iraq but it has also shot each of its own citizens in the foot. Maybe it has rendered a fatal shot to our children and future generations. No one will ever know if any of the seeds, that have been destroyed during our war and occupation, would have produced plants that could have been used to prevent or cure disease. The seeds that have been lost can never be replaced.

Someday, in the distant future, maybe we will become more civilized. Then we will have monuments to honor farmers. We will have parades in celebration of farm workers. The era of glorification of war will just be a fading memory.

Whistle Blower's Conference

I left after 2 hrs. The audio was terrible & then they tried a satellite uplink to a woman in Iceland who spoke very broken English. Couldn't understand a word anyone was saying. I did meet Rev. Billy (Church of Stop Shopping), Cindy Sheehan, Col Ann Wright, Daniel Ellsberg (Pentagon Papers), Dr. Frank Lucido (medical marijuana Dr. I've known for years), Scarlot Harlot (sex worker activist & unapologetic hooker), Annie Sprinkle (another sex worker activist & porn 'educator'), and got to wander around International House & look at the great photos. My dad was living there as NROTC when he met my mom during World War II.

When I got home, I was so tired I forgot to lock the car & it got rifled through. They stole my makeup bag with all my Rx, including the pain meds (non-narcotic) that make it possible for me to work. I've been in a lot of pain, but HAVE to get the plants in the ground, so I've been downing reg aspirin & ibuprofen.

Yesterday, I planted 'Romanesco' broccoli (the kind that forms a lime green spiral/fractal head that's similar to cauliflower), alpine strawberry, lettuces, blueberry cuttings (gift from one of the Vlads that gardens across the street), black hollyhock, tithonia (aka Mexican Sunflower), bachelor buttons, poppies, & other showy flowers by the street to lure customers in. 

Despite my pain, I stopped doing the honor system, since people SUCK & steal from me. In between planting broccoli I sold quite a few plants & jars of honey yesterday.  Made a whopping $15! To me that's a lot. That's enough to fix a nice dinner for mom. More importantly, people are asking questions about pollinators, bees, sustainable agricuture, etc... and to me, that's the WHOLE POINT of doing this.  Teaching my neighborhood about the crop diversity & pollinator crisis, etc... And even though I'm in a lot of pain, it makes it all worth it. 

They also get to meet an "OUT" Occupy Wall Street protester & ask questions about what we're doing. I think it's important that people know why we do what we do & can talk one on one with a protester in a non-protest atmosphere.  I also like the idea that people see not all OWS activists are young kids with no life experience.  And not all of us are anti-police & military. I am careful to speak for myself & not for OWS as a whole, but I do try to point people to the OWS general philosophy of ending corporate rule over our food, health, etc...