Urban gardening, experiencing nature, and self-sufficiency are huge trends in 2021. Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, we’ve been spending more time at home, in nature, or in the garden. Many people are discovering the joy and love of gardening right now. Yet very few know the quality of the seeds they’re planting. LEHMANNS Organic Seeds doesn’t follow the conventional path; instead, it is dedicated to the field of organic seeds with transparency and education, true to the motto “Organic from the Start.” Starting in March, the open-pollinated organic seed varieties—most of which meet Demeter standards—will be available in stores.
LEHMANNS Organic Seeds are not only organic and biodynamic, but also open-pollinated. For Christina Marandi, Head of Quality Management at LEHMANNS Organic Seeds, this is particularly important: “Seeds are the foundation of our food, and so far they haven’t received enough attention.” – Christina Marandi continues: “Most consumers don’t know what they’re planting. That’s not because they aren’t interested. On the contrary: the information is hard—if not impossible—to access. That’s why we’re committed to organic seeds and advocate for organic farming from the very beginning.”
Open-pollinated varieties, also known as “open-source varieties,” can produce plants from their own seeds that exhibit characteristics similar to those of the previous generation. This means that these varieties can be propagated naturally. These seeds have many advantages over conventional seeds. For one thing, open-pollinated varieties are often very old, which makes them incredibly hardy. This is because older varieties are often the best adapted to soil conditions and our climate. This allows gardeners to avoid using synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides without sacrificing yield or quality.
Most of the seeds are available in excellent Demeter quality. Demeter is Germany’s oldest organic certification organization, which is committed to the strictest guidelines for biodynamic and sustainable farming. The special Demeter quality promotes the preservation of crop diversity and supports flora and fauna.
By now, 94% of the world’s seed varieties have already been irrevocably lost, because conventional seeds are standardized and bred according to principles of uniformity and sameness. In this process, important factors such as nutrient density, taste, and diversity are not taken into account, because yield is the top priority for the large corporations that dominate the seed market. Marion Hoffmann, Head of Purchasing at LEHMANNS Bio-Saaten, comments on this as well: “For us, it’s not just about yield, but about the holistic nature of the product. Our vision is to make fruit and vegetable cultivation—both in agriculture and in home gardens—ecological and healthy in the long term. There are so many beautiful, healthy, and delicious varieties that are barely represented—if at all—in today’s market. We want to change that, because these varieties, in particular, should no longer be a rarity.”
With easy-to-follow instructions and specially designed symbols on the back of the package, we make it a breeze to use and a fun gardening experience—a project for young and old alike. For an even better experience, we recommend growing and cultivating using permaculture principles. This approach works with nature to mimic your own natural ecosystem.
Sustainable farming is also a priority for our partners Kaufland and dm. Starting in March, the open-pollinated, biodynamic organic seed varieties will be available at our partners’ select stores.
Caption: Front and back of a seed packet for the cherry tomato variety Principe Borghese (Solanum lycopersicum L. ) (Image source: LEHMANNS Organic Seeds)
Caption: A display of open-pollinated organic and mostly Demeter-certified varieties from LEHMANNS Bio-Saaten. (Image source: LEHMANNS Organic Seeds)
Contact person: Lisa Kadagies Lehmann Natur, LLC—A Company for the Production and Distribution of Organic Products 10 Otto-Hahn Street 40670 Meerbusch Email: presse@lehmann-natur.com Website: www.lehmann-natur.com/biosaaten
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