Saving Seeds

I let my lettuce go to seed and then saved them. Now I am allowing the okra pods to mature in anticipation of saving seed for next year. Americans used to save seeds all the time. Makes sense to save some seed instead of always buying them. Seeds from hybrids often will not grow the same type produce as the parent plant produced, but many do just fine. I save seeds for another reason than just saving a buck. "When we buy our seeds from the store, or from the vast majority of seed catalogs, we're buying those varieties that some corporate committee has decided are most profitable. We're funding the homogenization of our food supply." I have joined many others in the concern for diversity in vegetable and grain crops. Limiting our food to just a few genetic varieties is not a good practice. I appreciate tomato varieties that have disease resistance, grow fast and produce heavily. These are the typical varieties the seed produces sell. I also appreciate varieties that have unique colors, shapes and flavors. Such varieties can be found among heirloom seed saving banks. Heirlooms have been grown for generations, are open-pollinated [grow true to the form and type of the parent plant], and passed along by fellow gardeners. I don't want to lose the fellowship of gardeners as a source of good food, thus I save seeds for the next growing season.