Whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned fresh vegetable veteran, you’ve probably experienced sticker shock over the price of seeds. While an individual packet of vegetable, herb, or flower seeds might not cost more than a few dollars, those dollars can quickly add up to a sizable sum. It can also be difficult — especially for beginner gardeners looking for easy plants to grow – to determine the best varieties of each type of plant that will flourish in your area and make your investment worthwhile.
Fortunately, with a bit of extra effort, it is possible to start a garden from seeds without paying for a single seed out of pocket. From seed libraries to promotional giveaways, the seeds you need to start growing your own food or flowers are out there for free. If you’ve been looking for ways to become more self-sustaining without the need for a big initial investment, utilizing these tips for getting your hands on free seeds is an excellent way to begin.
What is a seed library?
In the same way that they have stepped up to provide non-book supplies like metal detectors, exercise equipment, and movies to their communities, libraries are beginning to offer seed exchange programs. A seed library is an organized collection of seeds available to a community for lending. Anyone who needs seeds may borrow them from the library at no charge, just as though they were checking out a book. Seeds, however, do require a longer period before they can be returned.
Patrons, of course, cannot literally return the same seeds they borrowed to the library. What they can do, though, is save new seeds from the plants they grow and return those to the seed library. This doesn’t just keep a rotating stock of no-cost seeds available for gardeners across the community, however. A seed library provides education on regional growing practices, helps to reinvigorate endangered plant species, and promotes eco-diversity.
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Other ways to get seeds for free
If there isn’t a seed library available at your local public library or community center, don’t be afraid to suggest one. In the meantime, there are alternative methods for getting free seeds. You can score free seeds directly from companies by participating in promotional campaigns and requesting seed catalogs. Start by following your favorite seed companies on social media. Occasionally, they will offer free seeds to a limited number of followers as a promotion. They will also occasionally include free seeds with their catalogs.
If you plan to grow basically the same garden every year, you can easily save your own seeds at the end of each season. Just be sure to spend some time researching the best way to store each type of seed. You can also exchange seeds with your friends, family members, and neighbors, or join an online seed exchange group like Seed Savers Exchange to offer your saved seeds and receive seeds that others have saved from their own harvest.
