How can we protect plants from being affected by pollen from GMO's?

Geoff,

They will soon be planting GMO canola in the Willamette valley, where I live.

How can we protect our brassicas from being polluted by pollen from these plants? And other plants from other GMO pollen?

Thank you, and thank you for answering our questions, and for all you do.

Blessings,

Pamela Melcher

if you are downwind from gmo's you are likely going to have to watch your planting dates, so that your plants are not receiving pollen at the same time as the gmo plants near you.

I'd keep a diary of when they plant..and when they harvest..or discuss it with them, maybe they can tell you their plant and harvest dates and number of days to harvest on their seed..then try to pick a seed that has a different number of days and plant them either earlier or later so they do not coincide with the gmo plants.

in most areas the biggest problem is likley corn.

you can see when they are preparing their fields for planting and get yours in before they get theirs in, and get a short season corn..or wait until theirs is in and planted ..and plant a few weeks later..if you have a long enough growing season..my guess is earlier is better if you can get yours in and harvested first.

Thank you very much, Brenda. That sounds realistic and doable.

It is the brassicas I am concerned about.

I also will be putting in tree collards and sea kale.

Corn is a problem. GMO influence was detected in corn in remote areas of Mexico where indigenous people live, many, many miles from any site for GMO production. That is scary.

Does anyone know of sources for tree collards and sea kale?

Thanks.

Pamela Melcher

GMO Canola is very promiscuous. Studies in the major U.S. growing region show that the wild plants growing along highways many miles from the cultivation sites have been heavily contaminated by the GMO version. I have heard that the wild version will soon be extinct in Montana due to this cross contamination.

I know that JL Hudson has Crambe maritima (Sea Kale)

Thank you very much, John.

I am not growing canola itself, but I know from observing them do so in my own gardens that brassicas readily cross with one another.

I live in Portland, so I will be somewhat shielded by distance.

Brassicas are a staple crop of mine. I eat enormous amounts of greens in the form of green juice, as a raw foodist.

Health for all.

Pamela Melcher

Bountiful Gardens has tree collards: http://www.bountifulgardens.org/prodinfo.asp?number=VCO-3250

And seakale: http://www.bountifulgardens.org/prodinfo.asp?number=VSE-5260

Thank you, Tyler.

Wow, folks on this forum are great!

Health for all.

Pamela Melcher

If the GMO stuff they're growing is canola, then surely it won't cross with your brassicas? I know brassicas readily cross with each other, but as far as I'm aware there's not much chance of them cross pollinating with corn. Unless anyone knows differently...

Thanks Burra. You are so sweet, watching out for us all.

Canola is genetically modified rapeseed, which is in the mustard family, which are brassicas.

Here are some facts about Canola oil which are important to know about. Canola oil is GMO and is very bad for us to eat, for a notably long list of reasons:

http://vanessaruns.com/2011/02/08/gmos-and-why-you-should-never-use-canola-oil/

Thanks again, Burra

True health for All.

Pamela Melcher

Doh - and there was me, not being American, and for some reason thinking 'canola' was 'corn oil'. Just ignore me. I'll go stick my head back in the sandpit...

I love you. You have a heart of gold and your intention was the best. It gave me another chance to spread the word about how bad Canola oil is.

Health for All!

Pamela Melcher

And what is the idea of unscrupulous (to say the least) people inventing new foods that are bad for us and making up confusing names?

They did not have our welfare in mind.

Health for All!

Love, Pamela Melcher