Talking to someone I don't know well and happened to get on the gardening topic. I said I was having a "fun" time trying to save all my plants from the bugs and birds this year. She replied with "Oh, I just use all organic and heirloom seeds and don't mind if some leaves get eaten here or there." I smiled and walked away.

I had always thought that untreated heirloom seeds (which is what I use anyway because I'm trying to collect seeds for next year if I can) were the most vulnerable plants. No? And she has clearly never walked to the garden to find a gooseberry bush with NO leaves before. That's all.

I have discovered the easiest way to get along with some folks when gardening comes up is exactly what you did. Smile and walk away. If that doesn't appeal, then I just agree to disagree and then smile and walk away.

Heirloom seeds are often from varieties that were grown/developed before store-bought concoctions for plants existed. They are the ones sought by organic gardeners, to be grown organically.

"Heirloom" was (and is) a compromised term made up to quantify "old time taste" by a tomato growing group pre-internet. It has no botanic meaning. "Open pollinated" is the term that will bring you home.

Much of what is most coveted by tomato growers in particular. Like colors other than pink-yellow-red simply weren't around before WW-II. And as a result also don't qualify as 'heirloom'.

Gardening can be a passionate pursuit for many people and the method and material they use ,but Just as the goals for gardening are different
Like many things it is not the ONLY way and may not be the best way for everyone.

I agree a smile is probably the only peaceful way to respond.

Folks can get downright unpleasant if you don't see things their way. Sometimes a smile is all you have to avoid conflict.


Thanks Cinda.

lol, thanks for the feedback folks. I think my issue there was just that she was dismissing my issues by saying that if I would only use organic and heirloom seeds like her - I wouldn't have any pest problems. Little did she know, I DO use those seeds, though for a different reason. It wasn't a big deal either way. It would certainly be nice if these seeds meant no bugs or disease!

I'm grateful to anyone/everyone who has ever taken time to explain their opinion/experience/goals/methods/whatever-was-asked by me or others. It's given me tools and ability to continue to tweak things, which I'm constantly doing and always will. The more I realize about plants, the more I realize how very little I will ever know because I will never have a chance to garden in so many other climates or even see most of the plants on earth, let alone capture them for my little personal plant menagerie to actually observe in any kind of detail. It's fun to know I can never run out of discovering/seeing cool new plant-things!

My operating mode is that there are so many plants that would thrive in the tiny patch of ground that is where I can "put" plants, that I'm not willing to coddle any plant by buying any product. Plants may thrive here or be replaced. Obviously, others have different views, circumstances/locations, goals, budgets, schedules, physical abilities, etc... so there will necessarily be many conflicts and widely varying opinions. I appreciate being exposed to others' ideas and experiences even if they don't apply to me or if I don't agree.

One of the bells and whistles your open pollinated plants might provide is seed for your future gardens and barter.

Coppice said:One of the bells and whistles your open pollinated plants might provide is seed for your future gardens and barter.

That's the hope! Though, I've realized my tomatoes are likely to be pollinated by a different type of tomato plant, and same for my peppers. IE, With heat being a dominant gene, I may get some spicy bell peppers! Not exactly what I'm going for.