Spring Planting

Biological diversity, "the variation of genes within a species and the overall diversity of species, communities, and ecosystems," is declining at an increasingly rapid rate, largely due to human activities which convert natural ecosystems to human-modified landscapes. Diversity of species is one of our most important resources and, once lost, cannot be regained. When millions of acres are cultivated for high yields with a single "hybrid" seed, as they are for most commercial agriculture, diversity decreases and the crops become more vulnerable to pests and diseases.

In this era of industrialized agriculture, almost 90% of the fruit and vegetable varieties which were grown a century ago have vanished. But seed companies have begun to reintroduce many "heirloom" (passed down from generation to generation) and "long forgotten" seed varieties--almost 1,800 types of fruits and vegetables in the last three years, alone.

As you plant your garden or window box this spring, you can directly support the effort to maintain biodiversity by sowing non-hybrid, organic, or uncommon seeds. For first-time gardeners, peas, sunflowers, arugula, radishes, spinach and lettuce are good bets because they germinate quickly and can grow almost anywhere. Those looking for rarer seed varieties, such as Lakota squash or purple blush eggplant, can order through the mail.