They had us at 100% USDA Organic & Non-GMO Project Verified, but then we found out the following and we were officially over the moon for High Mowing Seeds!
"At High Mowing Organic Seeds, we believe in re-imagining what our world can be like. We believe in a deeper understanding of how re-built food systems can support health on all levels – healthy environments, healthy economies, healthy communities and healthy bodies. We believe in a hopeful and inspired view of the future based on better stewardship for our planet. Everyday that we are in business, we are growing; working to provide an essential component in the re-building of our healthy food systems: the seeds."-High Mowing Seeds
Mana Foods' High Mowing Seeds selection has recently been fully re-stocked offering customers a plethora of options to choose from!
We carry 254 different seed types from this Vermont based company's line of Organic, Non-GMO seeds. Most of Mana's seed selection is situated in the seed rack, located near the front of the store. Our selection of these wonderful seeds has grown so large that it won't all fit on our rack, so feel free to ask if we carry any seed you don't see and chances are that we'll have it in stock.
And now moving on to the list of the top three reasons why we love High Mowing Seeds so much...
"The Safe Seed Pledge was created in 1999 when High Mowing Organic Seeds guided a coalition of 9 other seed companies in drafting a statement about the signers' stance on genetic engineering. To date the Pledge has been signed by over 370 seed companies worldwide.
In signing the Safe Seed Pledge we affirm our commitment to non-GMO (genetically modified organism) seed. We feel that the regulatory framework for the introduction of genetically modified crop varieties is flawed, and that GMO seeds themselves present a threat to plants' genetic diversity through their ability to pollinate non-GMO plants." -High Mowing Seeds
"As the only seed company in the United States offering a fully organic line of seeds, we think it is important to provide the highest quality seed to growers and to do so without the use of environmentally harmful synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. There are several reasons we think growers should be aware of how the purchase of organic seed can benefit them:" -HMS
"Conventional seed production is one of the most chemically intensive types of agriculture.Because seed crops themselves are not for human consumption, pesticide regulations are less stringent than for vegetable crops and therefore allow higher doses of potentially harmful chemicals. Furthermore, in order to produce seed, a crop must go through its entire life cycle before seeds are mature. This process requires a seed crop to be in the ground longer, resulting in a lengthy window of time during which pests and disease can destroy the seed crop. To combat this, conventional production models apply pesticides liberally and often. Organic seed crops, in contrast, are managed with an eye toward preventing disease; more and more this is done in protected environments that reduce disease pressure, greatly reducing the need for harmful chemicals." -HMS
"Seed produced organically is better suited to organic growing conditions. As a seed company, it’s our job to find or breed the varieties that will perform reliably in a wide variety of conditions, and for us at High Mowing these are all-organic conditions. Conventional varieties are developed and selected in conventional systems where necessary resources like nutrients are readily accessible to plants through the use of synthetic fertilizers. Organic farms are different. Organic farms have nutrients dispersed in the soil, which is kept alive and healthy thanks to the absence of harmful chemicals. Options for pest control are more limited in organic systems, so we often rely on plants to have adequate vigor and disease resistance to defend themselves. Our systems are diverse with respect to weed control, so we want good canopy cover where appropriate, and we want our crops to get ahead of their competitors. These are all inherited traits that organic breeders pay attention to in the breeding process." -HMS
"Organic seed production starts by breeding for flavor. Vegetable farmers who grow organically sell their food to customers who care about flavor more than anything else, and organic vegetable breeders know this. Unlike some conventional breeding programs where flavor is seen as a drag on yield, or a subjective trait that can’t be quantified, we live by a creed that flavor is first. So we taste everything. If we can’t breed an acceptable yield or resistance into a variety without keeping the full flavor palate, then we cross it to another gene pool and try again." -HMS
"High Mowing proudly engages in charitable donations through our Seed Donation Program, amounting to over 100,000 seed packets donated annually. These seeds go to communities all over the country and support organizations such as community gardens, school gardens, church gardens, food bank gardens, summer camps, seed libraries and disaster relief groups. If you are interested in learning more or participating in our Seed Donation Program, please contact us directly at donations@highmowingseeds.com or 866-735-4454." -HMS
