Story Archive

Seeds of Discontent

The Cumberland County, Pa., Library started a new “lending library” — for seeds. The program allows local residents to “borrow” seeds, grow garden vegetables, and then “return” seeds from their own crops at the end of the season. But the library has heard from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, advising they are in violation of the “Pennsylvania Seed Act of 2004” because there could be “growth of invasive plant species, cross-pollination and poisonous plants.” The state ag folks told the library that its staff must “test” every seed packet before letting someone use it. “Agri-terrorism is a very, very real scenario,” claimed Agricultural Commissioner Barbara Cross. “Protecting and maintaining the food sources of America is an overwhelming challenge.” After the news went viral, the two sides announced they had developed a “protocol” to continue the seed library (example: no “lending” of unlabelled seeds, nor distribution of those past their “sell-by date”), thus mollifying the state ag regulators. (RC/Carlisle Sentinel) ...Whew! I was worried that terrorists could replace the library’s tomato seeds with weed seeds and destroy western civilization as we know it.