Is the Government Coming for Our Seeds?
Lately, a lot of gardeners are asking the same question:
Are seed laws changing — and should we be worried?
In this video, I take a calm, grounded look at what’s actually happening with seed laws, GMOs, patents, and why so many people feel uneasy right now — even when the headlines don’t tell the full story.
👉 Garden Defiantly shirts & gear:
Merch
In this episode, we’ll talk about:
– What seed laws really apply to (and who they don’t)
– Why farmers feel pressure from patents and consolidation
– The difference between GMO, hybrid, and open-pollinated seeds
– Why the first GMO tomato sold to home gardeners raised real questions
– How seed saving and supporting smaller seed companies actually matters
– And what gardeners can do — without panic or fear
This isn’t about politics.
It’s about food, resilience, and keeping options alive.
If you’ve ever wondered where your seeds come from — or what the future of home gardening looks like — this conversation matters.
🌱 Grow what you can.
🌱 Save what you can.
🌱 Pay attention — without panic.
Chapters:
00:00 Are they coming for our seeds?
00:50 You’re welcome here (no matter what you believe)
01:40 What gardeners are really worried about
02:36 Are home gardens actually being regulated?
03:19 Where the real pressure in agriculture comes from
05:06 Why small farmers feel squeezed
06:21 Why this fear spills into backyard gardening
06:49 GMO vs hybrid vs open-pollinated seeds
09:40 The GMO tomato — why some gardeners are cautious
11:00 Why gene mixing & irreversibility matter
12:31 Supporting small farms & seed companies
13:30 What “Garden Defiantly” really means
14:18 What you don’t need to do
14:33 A calmer way forward (final thoughts)
41 Comments
A quick clarification since this topic can get heated: this video isn’t about panic or politics — it’s about understanding how seed systems actually work and why gardeners are feeling uneasy right now.
You don’t have to agree with everything to be welcome here. Thoughtful discussion is always encouraged.
🌱 A lot of you ask about the “Garden Defiantly” shirt I wear — if you’re interested, I’ll leave the link here. No pressure. https://shop.nextlevelgardening.tv/collections/merch
Good, measured response. I certainly will remain involved in protecting and preserving as much personal sovereignty and independence from government as possible, but no need to freak out while I do.
Great video as always. We do garden with a little bit of rebellion 🙂. Our HOA wanted to put limits on home garden beds that nothing can grow taller than 36 inches. Some of us in the HOA who garden joined together to quash this update. We have worn our Garden Defiantly shirts while doing so. 🙂
In virginia, home gardens are mildly regulated. Most regulations actually kinda make sense. Usually for disease, or invasive species. Sometimes for commercial purposes. Which is dumb. But yeah they have to buy certain seeds to get permits or subsidies to do their jobs. Also the non-gmo vs gmo thing. You'd be surprised how much is legally considered gmo. Or even legally organic.
Senior country boy, have watched item's disappear over the years. Critter antibiotics have about been wiped out. Ask aye eye if there's seed development to grow in aluminium soils. If this topic is up your alley I'll suggest another channel , yanasa TV. The plight/ struggles of the farmer.
👍👍 Good video brother.
Thank you.
Heirloom open pollinated varieties are safe for the home/very small producer garden for now. They may not have the disease resistance or productivity of a hybrid, but you can save seed and replant. If your plants hybridize by accident, the seed may or may not produce a good plant, so it is best to keep different varieties of the same thing far away from each other. Maybe buddy with some other growers to spread things out. Keep saving the best seed each year and replant until you get a "landrace" variety; plants that are accustomed to your specific growing conditions and soil.
Very informative. Thank you.
Trump: I'm gonna come
Never EVER WORRY about anything, it has never helped humanity but always hurt us
Thank you Brian for clarifying this issue. Just hide them where the sun don't shine. 😂😂
Excellent! Easy to follow & understand what is happening in the ag/gardening world. Thank you.
Thanks for explaining “heirloom” and gardeners’ choices. I also subscribe to a British home gardening magazine. We’re a big world. Thinking about the spring prep, a little snowed-in this week in metro NY, seed catalog “picture book” time.
Great information 🎉🎉🎉🎉 nice job.
Where are those garden defiantly shirts available???
Thank you, Brian, for being the voice of calm and reason. You always explain things so clearly. I like the idea of saving seeds but don't want to take up my limited space letting things fully mature. But I may have to try some this year as a squash I really like last year is no longer available. That's the main reason for me to save seeds.
Hope you may have a segment about pollinator-friendly plantings, native & non-native, ex. Butterfly bushes (my neighbor’s became huge till the new owner cut them out). A gardener friend gave me milkweed seeds with advice on controlling spread.
Who sells the GMO seeds so I know not to buy it
This makes so much sense! Thank you!🌱
Solid information and well said Thanks
Bioinformatist here… You missed a couple things and a court case.
First off All plants that are selectively breed by humans are genetically modified. Every tomato, ever cow, have you seen corn? I get it is a industry term. But… This is like Organic Salt.
Next, you missed something really big.
IF you are a grower that does save seeds, and the people around you are using GMO (sigh) seeds next to you. Those gene alleles can transfer to your stock, and when it does, and you plant them. YOU CAN BE LEGALLY LIABLE. SEE: Bowman v. Monsanto Co. (2013)
I REALLY dislike our patenting of genetic information. The farmer buying the GMO seeds should have it in their contract that they should have to use reasonable labor to make sure the genetic information isn't arbitrary shared. But that would cost money…
Perhaps, the seeds aren't a current problem, but what about well monitoring in Sonoma County CA? This seems like it might be something to keep your eye on. Will CA not allow you to water your garden at some point in the near future?
I bought some hybrid seeds for the first time, that I’m aware of anyway. I’m curious how they’ll do, if I can’t tell any difference I’ll go back to organic & heirlooms solely.
Thank you ….agree to disagree and learn. It still can happen. Great seed info. 😊
👏🏼Your opening statement 👏🏼
In our family we still cherish that we can disagree, strongly, and still treat each other with respect and love.
great information, thanks
Very straightforward presentation, thank you.
The government coming for our seeds isn't far fetched either. Government with the help of the propaganda media machine have already demonized dandelions, purslane, chickweed and on and on with those edible wild plants by saying they are "weeds" and they conveniently had the cure in selling the people their poisons to kill these free wild edible plants, that they deemed as "weeds".
Also, they have in a sense came for our seeds already, seeing that most all seeds you buy are annual seeds, compared to it is better for the home gardener to grow perennial seeds instead.
Your video is informative and good. You did mention the tomato but you forgot about the dent corn is also GMO and can get it in stores. Yes hybrids which are crossbred and heirlooms which are both good, I agree with that, but that's just me.
I buy seeds but not from Canada because of Tariffs
The big problem is getting unwanted hybrid or GMO genes from another garden. Monsanto sued non-GMO farmers whose crops ended up crossing with a neighboring farm's Monsanto crops. That's like being arrested for stealing because your neighbor's lawn furniture blew into your yard. I'm sure companies selling consumer GMOs would love to monetize their GMO gene pollution.
This was great! Thank you!
Excellent topic. Thank you.
If you talking about chinada indeed they are, they do not want canadians to grow their own foods to be healither because that put less money in their pockets.
Great video!
This lot are coming for our fresh air .. vote reform
of course theyre coming for our seeds. wha do you think has been behind all the seedless fruit we have in grocery stores the past 20 years?
Thank you for the valuable information on this matter.
I love that we can agree to disagree – people who cannot are still infantile.
No offense intended.
Good video, we need more facts less heated click bait style arguments in our gardens, our politics, and our lives. Thank-you for making that video.
Chat definitely wrote this script.
Anyone who tells you that you shouldn't save F2 seeds, or that hybrid varieties aren't for seed saving, clearly doesn't think for himself…