Lettuce, "Freedom Mix" Genepool
Freedom from disease is the goal here, and this genepool was selected for that trait, leaving in all the variations of color, shape, size and texture from the parent types as they combine and remix. Farmer/breeder Frank Morton has done decades of amazing work with lettuces. Here is his description:
"This is a special gene pool created from lettuces that were identified in the Lettuce Disease Trials of 2002-2004. The three year project, also called the "Hell's Half-Acre lettuce trial," identified the most disease resistant lettuces out of 40 commercial, heirloom, and farm-original varieties. Crossing these disease resistant types with my best tasting varieties created this “Merlox genepool,” a unique opportunity for selection and recombination of some excellent traits.
"It is freely offered here with the stipulation that anything derived from it must also remain freely available for others to use. No whole plants, seeds, or traits derived from this breeder’s mix may be patented or protected from the use of others in any way. They may expressly be used by others for crop production, seed increase, and breeding purposes, though they may not be used in any way that restricts their use by others, now or in the future."
An OSSI-pledged open-source variety.
Frank and Karen Morton have worked selflessly to keep our heritage of seed free for all to grow,use, and adapt. They have fought GMO's and plant patenting for decades, and have helped keep plant genetics free from corporate control by helping to found the Open Source Seed Initiative. In addition, their catalog, Wild Garden Seeds, pioneered the idea of offering genepools instead of just stabilized varieties, giving gardeners and farmers the opportunity to select strains adapted to their own conditions. This anticipated the "Landrace Gardening" movement by many years.