Why is Sow True against GMOs?

Why is Sow True Seed against the use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)?

1. GMOs have not been adequately tested for their effects on human health

2. GMOs negatively effect natural ecosystems

3. The flow of these genes into non GE crops is almost unstoppable

4. The control of our food supply by huge multinational corporations is unjust

GMOs are banned outright in much of the world but America is far behind. We do not even require labeling in this country. Sow True Seed believes this poses a grave danger.

As our name says, our job is to provide seeds that grow true. That means keeping them open-pollinated, mostly organic and uncontaminated with GMOs. This is getting harder every year.  The nature of most pollen is to drift on the wind. If a farmer is using GMO seeds and the pollen from his plants blows onto a neighboring farmers’ crops, the GMOs will contaminate the neighbor’s plants. He/she cannot sell produce from that field and call it organic; eating that produce may not be safe; the seed from those crops will not grow true.

Anti GMO Rally in Asheville, NC 

Unless we come together to demand GMO labeling and GMO-free areas, the country’s seed and food supply could become compromised in this way in just a few years.

Because this is so important to us we are engaging in political action to protect seeds. Our petition GMO-FREE WNC was officially launched at the October 16th Rally for the Right to Know.

The GMO-FREE WNC campaign calls for the designation of Western North Carolina, one of the most plant diverse regions in the world, as a GMO-crop free zone.  The petition supports the consumers, farmers and gardeners of Western North Carolina (WNC) by seeking to establish agriculture zones that are free from genetically modified (GM) crops and by asking for regulations to establish food labeling for ingredients containing GMOs.

The Rally for the Right to Know took place on a gorgeous autumn day two weeks ago in downtown Asheville. People came together to celebrate World Food Day and our right to know what is in our food. We debuted our beautiful Harvest Goddess puppet who led the parade from Wall Street to Pritchard Park.  Over 150 people signed the petition, picked up information, and picketed with anti-GMO signs.

Speakers included Sow True Seed owner Carol Koury, co-Founder Peter Waskiewicz, along with Peter Loewer, The Wild Gardener. There was music by the Nomadic Minstrels and Pat Stone of The Weeder’s Digest, who sang and performed inspiring stories about gardening.

Chuck Marsh, of Living Systems Design, gave practical advice on how to combat the proliferation of GMOs. Many of our customers are already engaged in these activities:

1. Start a Victory Garden: Reclaim your food supply and grow your own nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

2. Collaborate: Work with your community to establish goals for sustainability (i.e. a chicken cooperative for eggs, a vegetable garden collective for shared veggies, etc.)

3. Buy Local & Request GMO-free products: What you can’t produce yourself, purchase at tailgate and local farmer’s markets. You’ll be able to talk to the farmer directly, and purchase fresher, safer, and more nutrient-rich foods! Let the farmer and markets where you buy know that you don’t want GMOs in your food.

Please sign the petition and help us spread the word about it. We need thousands of people to get on board. We have an old fashioned paper petition at our retail space too, so if you are in the neighborhood, come on by and sign it there. We invite you to take some blank copies with you or forward the link to your friends. Please help us ensure that we can continue to provide open-pollinated seeds that sow true.

	Article Written by: Angie Lavezzo
	About the Author: Angie Lavezzo is the former general manager of Sow True Seed. Beyond her professional role at Sow True, Angie's passion for gardening extends into personal hands-on experience, fostering plants and reaping bountiful harvests.