Unless genetically engineered, the seed will only contain the genes of the mother plant - the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers in the growing of the mother plant will have no impact or influence on the genes of the seeds generated by that plant. That is only a cultural/growing issue and has no permanent effect on the plant's genetics.

If you have concerns about this, only purchase seeds from reputable seed companies that offer 'organic' seeds - Johnny's Select Seeds, Territorial Seeds, Seeds of Change, Baker Creek, etc.

Personally, I would never accept traded seeds for a variety of reasons - first, because you DON'T know how they were grown and perhaps more important, there is no guarantee the seeds are really what they are purported to be. The Name That Plant forum is full of requests for ID's of traded seeds that are not what they were labeled as.

Thank you so much for your reply gardengal48. I am very fortunate to have found such a site as this one because of people like yourself.

The risk is so minor that when certified organic farms cannot find organic seed for a variety they want, they can write up proof of that and buy conventional seed and still be certified organic.

Since about 90 percent of the corn, soybeans, cotton, rape, and other crops have, today, the traits of the Genetically Engineered seeds , and a good part of that was done by the normal pollination process it is difficult for organic growers to be sure trhe seeds they use are not Genetically Engineered..

Perhaps this article will help some.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/sustainable-farming/genetically-modified-foods-zm0z12amzmat.aspx

kimmq is kimmsr

Genetic engineering targets commercial agriculture. It costs millions to create a GE'd seed crop and there is no value in making these seeds available to the home gardener. And with few exceptions, most home gardeners do not grow soybeans, cotton, rape or the other limited crops that have been GE'd so the likelihood you would be growing from GE'd seed is very low.

As previously mentioned, if you have concerns restrict your seed purchasing to those providers that offer organically grown and collected seeds.

GardenGal said, "Unless genetically engineered, the seed will only contain the genes of the mother plant"

Only if that is a self-pollinating species. Other plants will have the genes of the pollen parent and the seed parent in their seed.

The above is perfectly true :-) Just didn't want to muddy the waters (which seem to be already muddy in the OP's eye) by including multiple plants into the mix.

papa,

Your ladies' own ovaries produce far more hormones, every day of their life, than any they would ever consume from organically or conventionally produced vegetables or meats. But, if you desire to avoid phytoestrogens... stay away from beans/peas/cabbage - they contain large amounts.

I don't know which is worse, the labeling legalese or the confusing, obfuscating, and purposefully misleading product packaging which precipitated its enactment.

In one respect I can understand the need to certify that a seed is, or isn't GMO, but unless it is the seed, or even a sprout is the product meant to be consumed, requiring it to be produced organically is almost silly.

Now many people think 'organic' means little-to-nothing, and many times (like with some imported ingredients,) they are correct.

Meh, maybe 'overkill' is better than allowing producers to take advantage of a lack in the public's understanding.

In this current confused atmosphere, reaching out for clarity is a very respectful endeavor.

Currently there are NO ... ZERO ... NADA ... lab-modified genetically mucked with seeds or trees on the market for home gardens and orchards.

You have naturally occurring mutations, radiation-induced mutations (Ruby Red grapefruit and others), chemically induced mutations all sold as "not GMO" by people whose marketing plan is based on exploiting your fears.

You even have naturally occurring horizontal gene transfer (sweet potatoes were altered in nature by agribacter species, the same method declared "evil GMO method" when it's done deliberately to introduce traits.)

By the definition of the word, if the gene transfer did indeed happen with sweet potatoes as some scientists infer, then it is indeed organic. When it is done intentionally by humans, it is not organic.

Scaring people with toxic affects of GMO and non-organic produce is reprehensible and done for commercial and ideological purposes. So far, I have not found any scientific evidence to support the organic and anti-GMO positions.

I do have sympathy for the OP's situation with his wife's and daughter's breast cancer. That is why I have posted. There is cancer history in my family. I have looked for solutions to avoid the inevitable diagnosis of cancer. Dr. Cedric Garland's DINOMIT theory of cancer initiation is the best explanation for cancer initiation that I have found. So I take vitamin D in winter and get sensible sun exposure during the summer.

I am not concerned about low dose exposure to toxins. Dr. Edward Calabrese's explanation of "low dose stimulation, high dose inhibition" effects was very helpful. It's probable that the idea of low dose DDT having beneficial effects will grate on many members of this forum. My intention is not to irritate those people but rather to provide them with an opportunity to understand a different view.

The purpose of avoiding GMO and non-organic produce is to improve health and well being. That is my objective as well but I have found no evidence that eating organic and avoiding GMO is helpful in that regard. So I eat the regular stuff from the supermarket that I can afford.