I think you nailed the descriptions pretty well. Just a point I'll make is our own Joseph Lofthouse has talked about getting good varieties that originate either from store produce or hybrid varieties. So it's not like they are bad perse, but to plant large areas with them certainly are a heavy yearly cost, which makes it hard to be
profitable with them on a smaller scale.
Scott Foster wrote:With all that said, if I plant a nice variety of heirloom corn or beans, how do I keep those plants from cross-pollinating with the farmers GMO or Hybrid corn down the street?
I could be wrong, but from what I recall there isn't anything you can do with corn except move away -
the pollen travels half a mile. This is assuming you are right next to a field though.
Just my observation around here, but since corn is already an en mass cultivated product, so they usually are not worth the investment - then again I am in canada

. A good heirloom bean is nice to have though.
Scott Foster wrote:I'm not sure what the differences are between heirloom, landrace and open pollination.
LandRaces are seeds that are adjusted to your specific area. I can buy heirloom(or hybrid I guess) beans from B.C or Ontario, but they usually have poor results because the climate is completely different here than what they were grown in. I might get 10% which survive the first year in a S.T.U.N scenario. Then the 2nd year using the
seed from the first year these plants get better adapted and survival rates improve. Eventually 5-10 years down the road you create your version of the bean which thrives in the environment in your area.
Hybrids plants are breed in a controlled way to get predictable traits. Hybrids are bit mono-culturey that way I feel. Open-pollinated is a bit like entropy, as everything is getting mixed together, and you don't know what you'll get. Just save seed from the plants that have the traits you want and things will be good
