Soil & Seeds

Okay, I know that class is officially over, but I can't help sharing this article that just appeared in The Atlantic:
Healthy Soil Microbes, Healthy People. Though really informative about the serious problems we've created for ourselves by destroying soil microbial life, I'm profoundly uncomfortable that the solution it proposes is "soil drugs" manufactured by agri-chemical companies rather than good on-farm soil management.

Also, in one of our last classes, I promised to find the name of the Oregon CSA that works in collaboration with plant breeder Frank Morton to produce locally adapted, farmer-controlled plant varieties. It is Gathering Together Farm and the seed organization is Wild Garden Seed.

Here are a couple of videos of Frank talking about the relationship between humans and seeds and about the global commercial seed industry:

Frank Morton - The Value of Seeds

Seeds of Life: Consolidation in the Seed Industry

Enjoy!