Imagine nibbling into some of those yummy strawberries that your Grandma grew, or some of the ones that you see in the Spring at a farmer's roadstand in the country.  Remember taking a bite from that yellow striped tomato vine-ripened for weeks in the sunshine or enjoying the striking lettuces of red, white and green, and all in between?  How about savoring a fresh salad or soup made with beans with designs on them that resembled a handful of pebbles, a tiger's or goat's eye, or a rattlesnake's skin?  They may be some of the most awesome beans you may have ever taste!

Heirloom varieties of grains, beans, fruits and vegetables are some of the best tasting, most colorful, incredibly interesting foods you may find anywhere!  These food items have seed varieties that have been passed down over generations, like a piece of jewelry or clothing passed down from generation to generation.  Heirlooms have unique histories behind them, often a story behind their unusual colors; striking designs; and interesting shapes!  Many heirloom varieties may have been grown by generations of families; ethnic groups, tribes or communities; and are usually found isolated and/or mountainous regions.  Frequently, the item took the name of their ethnic origins, named after the family or person who bred them, or named based on their unusual physical attributes.


Heirloom varieties always come from the "mother plant" (known as an F0), or hybridized by natural means via open cross-pollination (known as a natural F1 hybrid.)  If the seeds produced from the plant are properly saved, they will produce the same variety year after year, generation after generation.  Commericially produced hybrid seeds (the ones  that are mass-produced that you see most often in your seed catalogs or at your local nursery) are often hybridized to be disease resistant, often bred for greater productivity and yield, and more uniform color.  However, they are often genetically modified to meet these goals.  Also, simply speaking, these just can't match the heirloom varieties for their uniqueness and old-fashioned taste! 

You may be concerned about the environment, about the realities of genetic modification in agriculture, or just want to enjoy wholesome tasting foods.  Make a difference by growing and purchasing heirloom varieties,  and then try to save the seed and grow it again the next season.  You may be pleasantly surprised by what you will see!  This will help to keep the genetic reservoir stocked and pure for generations to enjoy.

Eating should be FUN!  Without heirloom varieties...oh, what a dull world this would be!

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Thank you for stopping by and reading my guide. Check out more heirloom varieties of beans and grains in the Conscious Cookery eBay store!