This explanation of Landrace Gardening is very refreshing. I loved the bit about hybrid vigor simply meaning they are less inbred. I'm realizing organic/regenerative farming is very resource intensive, to the point many of their farmers either have to import tons of inputs or leave huge portions of land as lawn just to harvest grass clippings for mulch and compost.
Absolutely right! The typical modern "market garden" is the model I started my small veggie operation on...I have been learning tho that plastic, machines, irrigation and other inputs have a heavy price in more ways than just money. Finding out how to "Earth Garden" like our indigenous ancestors makes the most sense to me for a well balanced approach towards our relationship with the land, the creatures, our food, our water, and other humans.
you are taking nutrients off the the farm by selling the food and the plants as cow feed. either we direct the sewage back into compost or u need synth fertiliser, no way around that
@@OsirusHandle No need to synthesize anything artificially. Microorganisms can take nutrients directly from rock dust. And plants create enough biomass to improve the soil if managed in a regenerative way. Eg: Cultivate long stalk maize (worked well for thousands of years) instead of dwarf maize (so called "green revolution", soil mining). Some industrial farmers don't even leave the dwarf stalk, they also take it and sell it.
@@TheUnNamedSeed LOL, you have sparked a debate between the wife and I, she thinks so, though we don't have the data to back it up. She hasn't kept any records of seed saving only planting placement so it's hard to know because I have definitely got better at soil management over the years!
The key to keep your seeds vibrant is to introduce new genetics every year. If you can swap with other people who are also landracing you'll get the maximum benefit.
I did a landrace of corn this year, focusing on the high protein varieties (basically the blue, red, purple). The general trend: Protein 3% gmo/hybrids, 3-4% white heirloom, 9% yellow like Reids dent, 12% reds like bloody butcher/johnny red/jimmy red, 15% Blue Hopi or the dark purple/black. The most successful the first season were Bloody Butcher, Blue Hopi, and the purple/black from Mexico. Last year I grew Reids yellow dent alone and it was quite good but susceptible to smut (common). Hardly any smut on what I grew this year. This year's corn fought drought during germination (set crop back six weeks) and weeds.
Great video. I'm working on landracing pumpkins, corn, and runner beans here in my norther climate in Canada. Hope you will keep updating us on how you project is it going.
Nice video, im landracing: corn, squash, beans, marigolds, dahlias.
Love it! I’m all about Landrace gardening!
This explanation of Landrace Gardening is very refreshing. I loved the bit about hybrid vigor simply meaning they are less inbred.
I'm realizing organic/regenerative farming is very resource intensive, to the point many of their farmers either have to import tons of inputs or leave huge portions of land as lawn just to harvest grass clippings for mulch and compost.
Absolutely right! The typical modern "market garden" is the model I started my small veggie operation on...I have been learning tho that plastic, machines, irrigation and other inputs have a heavy price in more ways than just money. Finding out how to "Earth Garden" like our indigenous ancestors makes the most sense to me for a well balanced approach towards our relationship with the land, the creatures, our food, our water, and other humans.
if you need lots of inputs it's not regenerative
its not totally known what causes heterosis/h vigour
you are taking nutrients off the the farm by selling the food and the plants as cow feed. either we direct the sewage back into compost or u need synth fertiliser, no way around that
@@OsirusHandle No need to synthesize anything artificially. Microorganisms can take nutrients directly from rock dust. And plants create enough biomass to improve the soil if managed in a regenerative way. Eg: Cultivate long stalk maize (worked well for thousands of years) instead of dwarf maize (so called "green revolution", soil mining). Some industrial farmers don't even leave the dwarf stalk, they also take it and sell it.
I am doing a Land race of Amaranth this year in a high elevation desert in Fountain CO. I bought 29 varieties! I am super excited
How did it go? am looking to do the same in the UK but hard to find varieties 😂
This was an epic explanation. Thank you
Fantastic video, really great analogies with the dog too
I had never heard the term before even though we have been kinda sorta doing it for the last ten years when we really got into seed saving.
All my best dogs have been mutts, loved my German shepherd but she had hip problems.
Excellent. Did you find that the plants performed any better over the years?
@@TheUnNamedSeed LOL, you have sparked a debate between the wife and I, she thinks so, though we don't have the data to back it up. She hasn't kept any records of seed saving only planting placement so it's hard to know because I have definitely got better at soil management over the years!
Gottcha, when several variables change it's hard to know which is response for the plants improved growth @@jay90374
The key to keep your seeds vibrant is to introduce new genetics every year. If you can swap with other people who are also landracing you'll get the maximum benefit.
I did a landrace of corn this year, focusing on the high protein varieties (basically the blue, red, purple). The general trend: Protein 3% gmo/hybrids, 3-4% white heirloom, 9% yellow like Reids dent, 12% reds like bloody butcher/johnny red/jimmy red, 15% Blue Hopi or the dark purple/black. The most successful the first season were Bloody Butcher, Blue Hopi, and the purple/black from Mexico. Last year I grew Reids yellow dent alone and it was quite good but susceptible to smut (common). Hardly any smut on what I grew this year. This year's corn fought drought during germination (set crop back six weeks) and weeds.
Great video. I'm working on landracing pumpkins, corn, and runner beans here in my norther climate in Canada. Hope you will keep updating us on how you project is it going.