Our GMO & Neonicotinoid Statement

At High Country Gardens, we believe that sustainability begins in your backyard. Our employees all care deeply about what we do, and gardening’s connection to the environment is a critical element of the passion we bring to our work. We can happily say that all of our perennials and wildflower seeds are neonicotinoid free.

Like many of our customers, we have become more and more aware of and concerned about the potential link between neonicotinoids and the loss of pollinators, especially bees, as well as pollinating birds that rely on insects for food. We have worked with all of our growers and suppliers to better understand if, how, and why neonics are used in the production of any of our products. 

Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides that are chemically related to nicotine. They are systemic, meaning plants absorb them, and insects that consume the plant or elements of the plant such as its leaves or pollen, are susceptible to their effects. Although there are no conclusive studies, there is enough evidence that these insecticides may be adversely affecting pollinators that some countries have banned certain 'neonics' until they can be proven safe. The U.S. currently does not have such restrictions.

High Country Gardens is dedicated to environmentally responsible gardening practices. As such, we want to minimize the use of chemicals and instead work in harmony with nature to produce results. Neonicotinoids were first introduced to be a safer alternative to the previous generation of harsh insect-controlling chemicals, but now, research is driving the horticulture industry to find a better solution. At High Country Gardens, we are committed to being a part of that solution.

Historically in our plant production, neonicotinoids have only been used in reaction to combat specific pests, as opposed to proactive lyor as a standard part of our production process. For instance, mealybugs have proven to be particularly difficult to eradicate. In the past, our cactus growers used spot application of neonicotinoids in their greenhouses (a controlled environment) to eliminate this pest.

For a list of common home pesticides that contain neonicotinoids, check out the Center for Food Safety's Fact Sheet.

For further reading, we recommend some of the excellent articles on the topic available at Scientific Beekeeping.

Genetically modified organisms are the result of breeding between species that normally wouldn’t cross in conventional breeding techniques. Typically used with agricultural crops, GMOs are modified to withstand applications of systemic herbicide, known as glyphosate. Glyphosate is then sprayed onto the crops, which survive, while surrounding plants are killed. The large-scale applications of herbicides have destroyed food and habitat plants for birds, pollinators, and wildlife. Beloved pollinators, such as our Monarch Butterflies, are in grave danger as a result of the use of GMO crops and heavy herbicide and pesticide use.

GMOS are also typically grown in chemical-heavy practices – in in addition to the widespread application of herbicides, heavy chemical fertilizers and pesticides are also used alongside GMO crop production. The cycle of genetically modified crops grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides has harmful effects on the environment, affecting not only Monarch Butterflies, but other insects, songbirds, and every other animal and plant in the surrounding environment. At High Country Gardens, we support habitat restoration through gardening, and we are opposed to the widespread degradation of wildlife habitat as a result of the use of GMO crops.