Free Vegetable Seeds For Charity And Self-sufficiency

Back in World War II, when America lived under a form of wartime socialism, people were expected to grow “victory gardens” in order to free up resources for the war effort. With rationing in place, many Americans grew much of their own food. Today, as food prices soar and bank accounts dwindle, self-sufficiency through gardening is making an emphatic comeback. Many people new to gardening are curious to learn where they can find free vegetable seeds.

There are several well-organized efforts to promote gardening through the distribution of free vegetable seeds. Many charitable ministries and civic outreach programs will provide free vegetable seeds to people willing to cultivate at least a small plot to grow food for the homeless and otherwise disadvantaged.

Free vegetable seeds are also available through churches and some ag-promotion groups. It’s also a good idea to look out for seed exchanges, seed swap groups, and similar clubs that will often provide free vegetable seeds to novice gardeners.

When you find where free vegetable seeds are available, get as many varieties as you can – both vegetables and fruits, herbs, and even flowers. Learn about your climate and then try a wide selection of plants, both edible and decorative. Teach yourself how to cultivate any useful plant, and you’ll find that the skills are transferable to other kinds of farming.

Many experienced gardeners believe that organic, heirloom-quality free vegetable seeds are the best choice, both in terms of the quality of the resulting produce and the convenience offered in collecting seeds for future cultivation. Heirlooms are rarely given away for free, but even if they cost a little they’re worth it.

With times growing progressively nastier, it won’t be possible to get free vegetable seeds for long. A day may be coming in which seeds of all kinds will be worth more than the money we would use to buy them. Look at what happened in early-1920s Germany, or in Zimbabwe today, countries in which the currency’s value completely collapsed. Argentina suffered a similar fate roughly a decade ago. In such conditions food is more important than money, and free vegetable seeds would be worth their weight in silver – quite literally.
When you have an opportunity to get something of lasting value, don’t blow it. If you find people willing to give you free vegetable seeds – of the organic, heirloom kind, in particular – seize the chance!