Persephone Has Left My Garden But She Left Behind Some Jewels

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Persephone Has Left My Garden But She Left Behind Some Jewels | Photo 02

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uploaded by Barbara McPherson

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  uploaded by Barbara McPherson | add comment

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  uploaded by Barbara McPherson | add comment

Persephone has left my garden but she left behind some magical jewels.  These jewels promise health and food for generations to come, but only if each generation takes care and treats this wealth with respect.

These magical jewels are worth far more than shiny, coloured rocks.  They contain life itself.  What am I talking about?  It's the seeds contained in the beautiful, coloured vegetables of autumn.  The blazing red peppers called King of the North contain seeds, that if taken care of over the winter will produce another abundance of emerald green and ruby red peppers.  The dark purple eggplants produce seeds to start a new generation of vegetables.  The yellow squash will provide food over the winter and seeds to start new plants in the spring.

What is so magical about that?  For thousands of years farmers have saved their best seeds from their best plants to start a new generation each spring.  Through careful selection our food supply has increased.  Plants have been developed that suit micro climates and that are resistant to disease.  In the space of a few years much of this has changed.

Plant labs have unlocked the genetic codes for many vegetables and cereals.  They have gained knowledge of how to insert genes into the genetic code of many of our food crops -- corn, soy, canola.  These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are different from natural plants, containing a gene from another species.

Aside from how people feel about eating something that is made from GMOs, farmers who plant GMOs have lost the right to save their best seed for the spring planting.  Control of the seed and the right to plant it have been passed to large agri-businesses.  GMO food crops must be sold back to the agri-business.  Another way that corporations are gaining control of the food supply is to ensure that if farmers "cheat" and save seed anyway, the seed won't germinate.  These dead end seeds are called Terminator seeds.

Some of you will have the opportunity to garden, whether it is in your yard or on a balcony.  Be mindful of Nature's gifts in your hands.  If you must purchase all your fruits and vegetables, be mindful of the hands that produced your food.  Think of the heritage that Persephone and her mother Demeter have left us.  It is our responsibility to take care of that heritage.