It's time for our annual heirloom Tarheel Green Bean Seed Giveaway!! For those of you who don't know our story my grandparents brought this strain of pole beans with them when they migrated from North Carolina (Avery County area) in 1941. We've been saving it and replanting every year since.
When I think of how many lives have been touched by that first seed my ancestors planted, I'm humbled by what God can do with something so small. It's nothing short of amazing to me how we can put a small hard seed in the ground and with a little care it produces bushels of food for us to eat. Talk about a modern day miracle right there in our backyards.
With the threat of GMO's invading our food source (the FDA just approved an GMO apple) I'm even more excited and dedicated to only planting and growing heirloom seeds. And to help you out, I'm giving away 10 packets to 10 winners of our families strain of heirloom Tarheel green pole bean seed. Enter via the Rafflcopter widget below. Contest is open to the United States of America and you must be 18 years old or older. For full contest rules and regulations go here. ***Contest Closed***
5 Reasons You Need Heirloom Seeds
1.Frugal. Buy once, harvest for life. Heirloom seeds need only be given or purchased once. You can save the seed every year (unlike hybrid or GMO seeds), making heirloom seeds the ultimate in self-sufficiency. How to save heirloom seed. Heirloom seeds are the ultimate preparedness plan and self-sufficiency must.
2. A stronger plant. Because you the gardener are selecting the best producing and strongest plants to save the seed from each year, your saved heirloom seeds will become a stronger plant due to your natural selection. They will also acclimate to your weather and climate, making them the very best choice for where you live.
3. Taste. Heirloom seeds haven't been selected and bred for uniform shape in order to sell better on a grocery store shelf. They have a depth of flavor rarely found in hybrid seeds. Check out our Pioneering Today Podcast on Benefits of Heirloom Seeds.
4. Variety. They're way more varieties and colors in heirloom and open-pollinated plants. From purple potatoes to blue tomatoes. There is beauty in the varieties you'll likely only find in specialty stores and farmers markets. Gardening should be as colorful as a masterpiece painting and just as beautiful as it is delicious.
5. The stories. Heirloom seeds are a living part of our ancestors, a living connection back to those who went before us. They're just as God made them when He created this world and nature. I love to hear the stories you've shared with me on different strains of seed you've come across or your family has saved and passed down.
For further information on heirloom gardening, check out these articles as well!
List of Heirloom Varieties to Grow in Your Garden
10 Unique Heirloom Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden
Natural Weed Control & Heirloom Flowers
