Heirloom seeds from traditional varieties of plants have advantages for the organic production of food, says Rita Haase.

“Because these are the varieties that have always grown here, they are better adapted to the environment,” says the women’s studies instructor, one of the organizers of the Campus Community Garden Project.

She is joining students from the class “Political Economy of Agriculture and Food” to facilitate a workshop Thursday, March 14, explaining the benefits of heirloom seeds and their use in the garden. Attendees will also discuss the pros and cons of hybrid and genetically modified seeds and learn where to order seeds based on what they want and need to grow.

The workshop begins at 2:30 p.m. in the OPIRG-Windsor house, 372 California Avenue.

It is the first in the “Nurturing Communities through Nurturing Gardens” series of free public workshops offered by the community garden. Still to come in the series are:

• Permaculture, April 6
• Organic Gardening, April 20
• Soil Health, May 4
• Composting, June 22
• Harvesting, July 16
• Food Preservation, September 7
• Vermicomposting, October 26