genetic manipulation23.5.10

Hi,
A quick reminder to those of you who wish to be charged by credit card -- even if you have already given me the card details, please send me the 3 digits on the back of the card.
Now to the garden: In transition seasons there is much more sowing and planting to do than during the rest of the year. Throughout the year, we are always sowing and planting. However, in the recent weeks, as we finish the winter crops, many of their patches have been evacuated or are ending a short "rest period". These patches have gone through an enrichment treatment and are now back to work growing the summer veggies.
The subject this week is seeds. There are many types of seeds. I like to work with those that are native to the garden, those certain species that I already know work with us well. I also like to use seeds that were born in the garden. However, I cannot produce all of the seeds that we need for all of the vegetables that we grow. For the sprouts, for example, I use so many seeds each week that I would have to focus only on growing for seeds if I wanted to produce all that I need. Broccoli is another example of seeds we cannot produce; First of all we love to eat the plant before it develops seeds. So if we dedicate the plant for seeds, we cannot eat it. The plant would have to be left in the ground to develop, the stack will divide into many individual buds, the buds would bloom into flowers and become yellow, and when the flowers run their course, seeds would be produced. To capture and keep the seeds we would need to place an upside-down cone on every stack. As you can see, it is complicated, time consuming, takes a lot of space, and prevents us from eating the vegetable.
On the other hand, it is relatively easy to produce seeds of pumpkins and beans. To save bean seeds we simply allow some of the pods to ripen fully while still on the plant, which is beyond the state that we like to eat. We must be vigilant in order to pick these pods on time. If we pick them too late, the pods will open on their own and impregnate the world, naturally. With pumpkins it is very easy; we simply wait for the fruit to ripen, which is also the time that I pick them and send them to you.
Of course, these home grown seeds must be handled correctly so they can be used in future years. They must be dried properly so they do not rot and must be protected from being eaten by humans and other animals who like them. I am pleased to tell you that the pumpkin and bean seeds from last year were kept well, and will soon be giving fruit in the garden. I cannot send pictures because my camera is behaving weirdly at the moment. Perhaps next week. Sorry.
Agriculture has been practiced for about 10,000 years and human beings have been domesticating and preserving seeds in order to produce future generations of vegetables and fruits from the inception. Seeds descended from early times are called heirloom seeds; These seeds are legacies that have passed from generation to generation. In the process, they have often adapted to changing conditions. Many seeds were moved from place to place and developed different characteristics that adapted to different climates in different continents. For example, it is known that bean seeds were used as "currency" or as gifts and so were transferred from their original habitats around the world.
Seeds were also deliberately modified in order to achieve desirable attributes. One method is hybridization. For a long time farmers have known how to promote fertilization between different species in the same family in order to produce a crop that is more useful or desirable. The fruit produced is a cross-breed. For example, you can cross-fertilize a cucumber that is very tasty but very small with a large cucumber that tastes less desirable, and thus get a cucumber that is both tasty and large. The seeds of such fruits cannot reproduce. They are infertile like a mule, which is a hybrid between a male donkey and a female horse. These seeds are usually produced and sold by commercial seed companies.
Nowadays there are also many seeds that are modified by direct genetic manipulation, commonly known as genetic engineering; According to Wikipedia: " ... the direct manipulation of an organism's genes. Genetic modification of an organism can be achieved through a number of methods, most notably traditional breeding and recombinant technologies. The goal of both is the same, introduction of DNA (in the form of a gene) which in turn finds expression as favorable physical characteristics. "
In this kind of seed, the DNA has been modified to give the plant different characteristics. Usually, the modifications that scientists seek are insect repulsion, resistance to herbicides, resistance to viruses, delay in ripening, shelf life extension, etc.
You can implant a gene from a cold-water-fish into a tomato and get a tomato with more immunity to cold. Another common example are zucchinis genetically engineered to be resistant to viruses. This is very important for today's commercial agriculture. Viruses can be deadly for an entire crop. Nowadays most commercial agriculture is based on one large field growing the same crop - monoculture -- which is a very unbalanced state of nature. In monoculture, one infected plant may lead to a pandemic situation in which the entire population is lost. We, the organic growers, try to maintain a balance; we absorb small losses all the time but in the long run we do not reach a state of "epidemic" or an infestation that devastates the garden. Viruses are not aware of the borders between fields and can spread very far. In mainstream agriculture, they either spray against viruses and/or develop species that are resistant to viruses. The problem with this approach is that it causes the various viruses to strengthen. Like the flu, it is likely that this new zucchini will be infected in a few years with a more virulent strain of the virus.
Another danger is transferring "engineered" genes to other plants, including wild plants. Pollination occurs naturally in the open by wind and insects. Our newly engineered gene can easily pass to our wild plants, which then become more resistant as well and they can overrun and force the natural zucchini and other wild plants from the world. That's one of the reasons that these engineered seeds spread more rapidly than intended.
We are lucky that we grow here in isolation and not near conventional growers, because it is very difficult to maintain an un-engineered field near a field with engineered crops. In Israel there is no commercial growing of engineered crops. Most Israeli produce is exported to European countries that are very strict about this issue.
Genetic engineering affects the natural balance, which is the basis in my garden. In my garden there are the plants that we plant, there are wild plants, there are pests that eat those plants, and there are those who eat the pests that eat the plants.... a magic circle, not entirely understood, that clearly works!
This issue of the pros and cons of genetic engineering is not an argument between those who oppose modernization and those who accept it. It is still a new issue with not enough concrete information regarding the health implications of eating engineered food. There are those who oppose it - most of Europe; and those who accept it but regard it with extra caution - the U.S. Today engineered foods go through a review similar to that of the pharmaceutical industry. Some say that without genetic engineering there would not be enough food in the world for our growing population.
One senior genetic engineer said "in using these techniques, the genetic modification of an organism is limited only by the scientist's imagination, so that these techniques are a powerful tool that man may use to change the structure and functioning of all living beings on earth, including humans, for benefit or for great harm. Typically, the two are connected together."
Of course, in the long run genetic engineering will destroy our heritage seeds, the ecosystem in general and will harm the existing biodiversity. It damages the natural food chain, breaks the natural balance and damages the process of natural evolution that has been working for millions of years.
In short, it's pretty clear why organic farming, of all known standards, bans the use of genetically engineered organisms.
Below is a Tobacco plant with a glow gene.?????

Meanwhile, I, in my small garden patch, attempt to imitate nature: a balance between plants, insects, microorganisms and all of the other components of the organic food chain which allows nature to work as only it knows how.
The meaning of the word "gene" in the ancient Mayan language means "spiral of life". The intent is that the genes in the heritage seeds that are passed from generation to generation will constitute our future.
I wish us all a well balanced week,
Yours
Maggie
Anyone who wishes additions, and those who will be gone or wish to skip this delivery .... please inform me by Tuesday at 11:00, so I can serve you well.
In our boxes this week:
REGULAR BOXES
onion
Potatoes
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Basil
Celery
Chard
Green onions
Zucchini
IN THE LARGE BOXES ALSO:
Leek
Mint or parsley
Broccoli
FRUIT BASKETS
nectarines (hopefully, fingers crossed)
avocado