aquaponic organic

Each country has different legal definitions of the food related term "certified organic seeds". In the U.S., the Department of Agriculture inspects and grants certification to companies which have passed their rigorous requirements. Documentation is then provided to ensure the public that the garden seeds they are purchasing are indeed "certified organic". On the contrary, labels such as "natural" are not as clearly defined.

Terms commonly associated with gardening and their basic meanings are as follows:

• Certified organic seed - This seed would have originated from a company who has passed testing and been granted documentation from the USDA. The certificate should be present on the website itself.
• Heirloom seed - This is a loose term that may be applied to seeds in use prior to the introduction of hybrid seeds in the mid-1900's. The term also may reflect seeds which have been passed down from generation-to-generation for centuries or to those over 100 years old. In general though, this term reflects seeds which are not hybrids or genetically modified, regardless of their source.
• Commercial heirloom seed - Heirloom seed originally sold by a commercial seed company, even if it has gone out of business. This term may include traditional heirloom seed which was sold to a seed company.
• Natural - The term natural is often used in describing garden practices and the associated crops. The FDA has not actually set a definition of the term, however it is used to refer to products which have not added flavor, color or any type of synthetic substances during growth or packaging.
• Cultivar - Cuttings from apples, grape vines and other fruits which are grown and cut again to expand a line from a limited number original plants. This is often practiced due to desirable characteristics of the parent plants.
• Hybrid seed - Hybrids are developed commercially using cross-pollination of two different plant strains, in an attempt to maximize the positive attributes of each. In general the seeds from these plants revert to one of the parents and will not produce as satisfactory of results as the original hybrid if replanted.
• GMO - Genetically modified seed has been used commercially and has infiltrated the food chain through animal feed and grocery produce.
• Sustainable gardening - A sustainable lifestyle is a means of providing not only for this year, but for generations through methods such as saving certified organic heirloom seeds, raising livestock and water conservation.

Home gardens planted with certified organic heirloom seeds continue to grow in popularity as people adopt a sustainable lifestyle. Organic heirloom seeds are open-pollinated or in some cases hand-pollinated. Through years of adaption they have developed natural disease and drought resistance. Learning how to pollinate, harvest and save seed for the following year is a crucial aspect of sustainable lifestyles, saving the replacement price of a new package every spring. Gardeners often share their bounty with friends after a successful harvest and in this way are able to propagate a love for certified organic seed gardens.