Bishop's Homegrown Produce/Face Of The Earth Seed: Questions for Tim Peters

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Questions for Tim Peters

Next up in our series of Homegrown Goodness interviews with independent plant breeders and preservationists is Tim Peters of Peters Seed Research. Tim is an expert when it comes to grains and most importantly Perennial Grains, any questions you might have for Tim you can leave in the comments below! Give us a hand in exploring the amazing world that Tim has helped to build!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Wow - anything Tim Peters has to say about his work would be fascinating. I'd especially like to hear about his kales - I have offspring of some of them naturalized in my garden (zone 3-4). Reading his catalog and growing out his seeds was a great inspiration to me.
I do have a question for Tim and any other folks who are trying to make a living breeding OP plants and/or selling seed (such as yourself, Alan). What is your opinion of plant patenting, and do you have any thoughts about how OP plant breeders and stewards can be supported in their efforts? How can we encourage a broader, more diverse base of plant stewardship and breeding activity?; February 10, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Bishops Homegrown said...: Howdy Leigh, somehow I missed out on this reply, good questions though and I will definitely ask them!

Anyhow, to answer for myself, I am strictly against plant patenting and the pillage of genes from traditional farmers and indigiouous peoples as well as seed savers. Patenting only further reinforces the "bottom line" of big-ag and seperates all of humanity from the property that is rightfully theirs, placing the power of plants and animal nutrition into consolidated hands where it can be manipulated by genetic modification and tied up in a "novel" breeding program.

These genes and varieties don't belong to anyone. They were here before we were and they were parlayed into useful sets of genes long ago by our ancestral agrarian societies, we don't own them, we only steward them for our own use and for the future of our civilization and race.

Hope that was clear enough my friend! Thanks for the questions!; February 19, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Things you should be aware of if visiting or touring Bishop's Homegrown.

As with any business property there are certain legal restrictions we must abide by to protect ourselves and you. This is for your information and is very important for you to read before visiting our farm.

1. Under Indiana law, an agritourism provider is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in agritourism activities at this location if the death or injury results from the inherent risks of agritourism activity.
Inherent risks of agritourism activities include risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death, or for other participants to act in a manner that may cause you injury or cause your death.
You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.

2. We love children and understand the excitement children experience when exposed to open spaces and farm animals and we encourage visitors to bring their children. That said, please be a responsible parent and keep a close eye on your children and keep your children at your side at all time. There is to be absolutely no chasing of my animals (regardless of bare hands or baring sticks, stones, or any other instrument of livestock death and despair). Do not enter my enclosures without my express permission and accompanyment. While my animals are mostly calm and tame, go ahead and presume they are the meanest animals on the face of the earth and do not approach them without my consent.

3. Use your brain and dress and prepare appropriately for a farm tour. No open toed shoes

4. I love giving tours and talking and would never charge for information and often times I even give away products for people to try. That said, my time is important, if you feel it is appropriate and warranted I am not opposed to or above the charity of a donation for my time and knowledge, every bit of which you can guarantee will go back into the black hole that is agriculture on this farm. I generally tend to think of my time as being worth $10.00-20.00 an hour. It is not necessary to recompensate me for information gladly shared, but the sentiment is appreciated. This of course does not apply to customers who are purchasing from me or even just checking things out.

The Safe Seed Pledge.

We at Bishop's Homegrown/Face Of The Earth Seed have signed the Safe Seed Pledge which states the following:

"Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe
and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who
want an alternative,
We pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.
The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families
or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political, and cultural threats. We feel that
genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is
necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support
agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy
people and communities."

Alfred Reed Bishop and Doris William Butler

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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Questions for Tim Peters

2 comments: