Take a look at this article I found on Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/gardening-meets-geekdom-the-open-source-seed-pledge-1564598572

It's a fairly interesting take on the modernization of agriculture and an interesting attempt at preserving plant varieties. I've always been conflicted about GMO crops--on one hand we may be able to produce super varieties that need relatively fewer resources and produce more, but on the other hand, we sacrifice biodiversity and lose not just a plant, but part of our culture in the process. How boring would it be just to have one main variety of fig? 

Anyways, this "open source" idea is just a term on what members here seem to be doing already--sharing, and I think that's great. More figs for everyone!

seed won't work for figs. we need trees to take scion/cutting/air layer. i'm sure there are other trees out that with same issues. and i think USDA/UCD, F4FF and collectors on this forum is doing great job spreading the figs. not too sure about other fruits and things. 

if we don't buy it.. they will go away. keep on growing things in the back yard. grow ducks and chickens and other live stocks. screw uncle sam and freaking tax man. up their nose with rubber hoses!

Natural selection and hybridizing for traits such as drought tolerance, productivity, taste, nutritional value and such, is more successful than Genetic Modification has been. GMOs have been created to create more sales of seed and pesticides, period. The companies that sell the gmo's also sell the seeds and pesticides. Thus, round-up ready corn, soy and cotton. Plants that produce sterile seeds so that a farmer HAS to buy new seeds every year. Google 'Indian Farmer Suicides' sometime. Rodale has conducted studies for 30 years of Organically grown crops, grown next to adjoining fields of "conventionally grown" crops, and the organic out-produces the conventional by 30-35 %. It also preserves topsoil and genetic diversity for future generations. Studies have also shown that organically grown crops are substantially higher in nutritional value. Sorry for the rant, but I took some very informative college courses in Environmental Studies, Horticulture, and Organic Gardening in the 70's, and have been an avid gardener most of my life, and am amazed at the success of the propaganda of the Monsanto and Bayer companies of the world. That's it.

....."if we don't buy it they will go away".....  That strategey may have worked at one time.

This is The United States. "Freedom of choice" is now officially over!   If you don't buy it....they will MANDATE that you MUST buy it!  You/we will have no choice but to comply, or, be fined.  They will do it with seeds too.  Need proof?  OBAMACARE is now a MANDATE.  The Supreme Court says that if you don't buy what the Gov't. tells you to buy, you can and will, be fined.

Next: The cars we drive, and, domestic/mobile energy consumption.  They'll tell you what you MUST drive, how far you can go, and monitor energy consumption in our homes, etc.  The "carbon-footprint" BS will be their "justification".  The EPA is as out of control as the IRS.

Check out:  "Stop the White List" on the J. L. Hudson web-site regarding plants and seeds.... 

Connect the dots.....total compliance is the goal. 

Frank

Agree with Mike & Frank 100%. I've done my research and we are 100% organic and GMO free in this house. I won't buy anything else! Sure makes it awkward when we're invited out and some days I would sell a body part for some Popeye's popcorn shrimp but boy, do we feel better.

Or as free of GMO as one can be with bee's carrying GMO pollen across fields.  It should be noted that many European countries banned GMO right from the start.  Monsanto has sued states that have tried to create a labeling system for GMO products.  They don't want you to know.  If it is so safe then why are they worried. 

I haven't checked the studies but have hear that animals feed GMO feeds have had more heath issues.

with all the ignorants/illiterates and poor the GMO will always win :/

Also a fan of Baker's Creek.  Great catalog and nice people and I agree with the ethics of the company.  Not too worried about organic seed as I will use some pesticides but I like the ability to choose what and when. 

I believe the climate is changing but I believe it is always cycling.  One thing I have learned is that data can always be interpreted in may ways and can lead to very different conclusions.  I am not willing to believe that the scientists today are any smarter than the ones that predicted we were heading to a new ice age in the 1960's.  Almost all science is driven by profits, industry and governments.  In many cases the person who pays for it gets the results they want. 

i agree with scientists from 60s. it sure feels like we are heading toward ice age with spring coming later and later...

Bakerseed Co. and Bountiful Gardens fan. I have gorgeous Red Shallots and Multiplier Onions I regrow each year from the harvest. I grow them in 20 gal smartpots and they do wonderful.

First, many people think they're "gmo free" but do you wear our use cotton? If it's not organic it was probably made with gmo cotton.

Second, whether someone believes humans are causing climate change it not is irrelevant. Regardless of the cause climate change is happening and that's a big problem.

Being GMO free is in reference to EATING it. If I am wearing it, it certainly isn't intentionally and I can guarantee I won't be munching on it.

i like my cotton.. as long as it's made in USA, i won't mind too much. eating it on the other hand is different story. i like my meat, veggie and fruit the way god intended.. not out of someone's petri dish. nice long fiber cotton is a great thing.. 

I know a guy in St Louis who tried to convince a local farmer to go GMO free 3 years ago.  The farmer said 'If you can get me enough non-GMO seed to plant then I will.'  Three years ago they couldn't find that much non-GMO corn seed.  Over the last 3 years my friend has been growing corn on his urban farms (Many acres in small plots) and a few days ago gave that farmer enough free, organic seed to plant his fields.  That farmer will return an equal amount of seed to my friend who will try to convince another farmer to go GMO-free.

WOW Mike, I try to do as much as I can for the planet but sorry to tell you, I can't, like some people apparently can, do it full time to the exclusion of all else which is what you're suggesting it would require. How many man hours to find out if my clothing is GMO free? TONS...ya know why? Company behind the whole thing managed to get a law passed that prohibits the mention of their name publicly in reference to GMO's.

Funny...GMO's are illegal in most european countries if not all but then again they have always been pro healthy population.

Just curious, do you belong to PETA as well?

Bob, that's really really cool.

Hi javajunkie,
In Europe, "Normally" GMO are forbidden for human food ... ... ... You get it? ... They are not prohibited for animal feeding ... Stupid laws !
Because who eats the beasts ... well, we do ...
You know everything is hidden in the small lines that no body reads ...

GregMartin -- well said.

The biggest mistake made was to call global climate change global warming. 

The biggest scam played so far on the public was to shift to a hostile position toward science. Big oil and "Bush" have convinced the ignorant that science is opinion. When 99% of all peer reviewed published climate scientists agree that global climate change is real and man made the ignorant will seek out that 1% and hold on tight as change scares the heck out of the uninformed and uneducated.

Those who refuse to change and act condemn their children and all future children just as if they fed them poison, then learned it was poison, but continued to feed it to their kids because some nut without credentials swore to them it was ok and 5 cents cheaper.

Ok Ok Ok I have to stop as this will turn into an all night blathering contest and I'd rather talk figs. So here's a few pictures of my figs I took in the rain today.

      

that would have worked if scientist didn't fix the data. once they have done that, and they did, they are tainted. their do not have credibility any more. at this point, global climate change is certain, and you are right calling it global warming was a mistake.  but GMO food will become necessity sooner or later. in america and europe and certain modernized nations we can push that off for awhile.. but with modern medication, longer life span, and over population, genetically engineer food will become staple very soon. with global climate change, famine and drought will become more severe.. without GMO, there won't be enough food to go around. of course, we can mow down 3rd world country to solve the problem, but i think that would look bad.. then again, we can keep preach that GMO is bad and stop the "progress" and have millions.. if not billions of people starve to death.. not sure which is worse, quick shot in the head or weeks of starvation leading to slow and painful death which is already happening in africa and asia. there used to be a line in a movie.. something like "people want bread, not land to farm". we can talk about educating the people.. making them understand and teach them to manage their land, but it won't happen. otherwise, peace corp would have gotten nobel peace prize before obama did. by the way.. i have no idea what obama did to deserve nobel prize.. 

solution is some where in between GMO and organic. everything in moderation..