Seeds as investment tool.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

We met a couple that had recently become involved with a firm that was dedicated to
preserving and offering for investment lots of seeds. The seeds are stored in an environment
that is best for their long term viability. Many are Heirloom seeds and none are engineered,

Unlike the Doomsday Seed Vault near the North Pole. These are in the US.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/photogalleries/seedvault-pictures/

Has anyone heard of this or the firm doing it?

[Anakin Skywalker]

1. Glenn "Buy Me a Drink" Beck says gold is where it's at!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

2. That would be for those that buy low and sell high,

They see gold merely as an investment. I look at it as a hedge against the dollar,

[jtuck004]

3. Tulips, anyone?

Interesting. Looks more like a marketing idea - doesn't rise to even the level of over-the-counter as far as I can tell.

I have trouble seeing how, if things go that badly, having seeds in a vault at the North Pole is going to help someone on an acreage in Iowa. Would there still be a market to trade in? Could they deliver if they had to? Would transportation become prohibitively expensive? Most commodities are never delivered to investors, but seeds would seem to be one that is destined to wind up like that.

On the other hand it might be worth getting some in your hand. I would pull out the Johnny's catalog though and see if I could beat the price. Anyone considering this ought to begin growing now, get some practice, rather than waiting for the FIRE sector to tank and think you are gonna run out and plant that garden right after everything goes belly up. Might have other things on your mind by then...

Thanks for that.

[northernlights]

4. the best way to invest in heirloom seed

is to plant them, grow them and save seeds from the new plants. That way you have them when and where you need them, plus have the garden space prepared and develop the necessary expertise. And there are plenty of people doing that already. Seedsavers.org has been going on for some time.

[Crazy Dave]

5. Like another Y2K gimmick

Given the right PR you can convince a lot of people into thinking they need something and get rich doing it. Is this seed thing also a MLM gig?

I wish I had enough money to buy some television network time and do some totally bullshit infomercials and commercials on FOX News telling people that whatever crap I'm selling will be worth more than gold and seeds if civilization collapses. Make it a totally outrageous thing but tell them they must have it in order to protect themselves and their loved ones in the future no matter what happens to the world around them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. I have not heard of the firm since you did not provide the name.

Can you provide any more information on it?

Meanwhile, the Doomsday Vault is a venture with Monsanto and Bill Gates, among other goliaths.
So obviously THEY have a profit motive going.

The obvious question being: if it comes down to needing seeds from an emergency bunker, what kind of growing conditions are going to be available?

Those interested in a decent heirloom seed company might want to check out the place we buy our garden seeds:

http://rareseeds.com/

[EmeraldCityGrl]

7. I just received their catalog in the mail.

The couple that started the company bought the buildings of a couple failed banks
and opened retail outlets. One is in Ca. and they call them seed banks.

In the event of a environmental catastrophe our stored seeds could be destroyed.
Seeds must be stored at proper levels humidity along with other considerations. Some seeds
only last a couple years before they are no longer viable.

I'm shocked the Doomsday vault is operated by Monsanto. It has to make you stop and wonder,
If people like Gates and Monsanto are going to such extremes to preserve the worlds common
and rare seeds, the odds that an event of some kind is probable. Given their resources the possible
scenarios for their survival are endless.

Just my 2 cents.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. And the name on the catalog is....................????????

[EmeraldCityGrl]

9. I mean't The Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog.

It's the same company that your link "rare seeds" goes to.
They're a retail and catalog seed company, not the investment
firm I'm trying to track down.

I don't know the name of the firm that's why I posted to ask
if anyone else had heard of it. :-)

[Po_d Mainiac]

10. Personal experience

Hi tech storage units (any used glass or plastic jar) with a solid mechanical/multiple use closing feature (a lid) works quit well.