"Don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food" is one of author Michael Pollan's rules. He means stay away from processed junk, of course, but it's also possible to follow his advice literally—by planting heirloom herb and vegetable seeds:
Above: Eleven different varieties of New England Heirloom Seeds from Comstock Ferre & Co. are on offer this spring from Kaufmann-Mercantile; $1 per packet.
Above: Notes Kaufmann-Mercantile: "Produced by America’s longest continually operating seed company, these classic vegetables and herbs are open pollinated, meaning you can start saving your own seeds to pass on to future generations."
Above: Seed choices include Thomas Laxton Peas ("reliable, consistent, and sweet"); Paris White Cos Lettuce ("an especially crisp texture and a pleasing mild flavor"); Bonnie Best Tomatoes ("globe shaped fruit that are quite smooth and of a deep red color"), and California Wonder Peppers ("thick-meated variety, unusually solid and heavy").
For more heirloom seeds, see Shopper's Diary: Comstock Ferre & Co.