Sourcing seeds

I’m finally almost “done” building my natural house in Montana, and I’m really excited about getting to put some more time and effort into creating the food forest and gardens. In the last 20 months I’ve really only focused on building soil, I’ve brought it 100 yards of wood chips and cover cropped with clover and other green mulch. I’ve made a few hugels and have lazily composted chicken manure and spread that out in spots where I’d like future gardens. I’ve planted some tiny bare root trees and sunchokes, some berries and other low-maintenance plants, some of which have not made it out of neglect. But I’m looking forward to spending more time outside next year rather than plastering all summer.

My quest for seeds has begun! Ultimately I would like to save seeds every year and not have to buy them, but I need to buy them once. What I’m hoping to find is a “starter pack” of seeds, organic and heirloom. Is this something that anyone knows of? I know “it depends” on what I’m looking for, but I would think that there is a starter kit somewhere out there to get me going and I can fill in the gaps as I go.

If this doesn’t exist, what are your preferred seed sources and garden rockstars?

Thanks!

While it might not be EXACTLY what you are asking for...

Have you looked at the official Permies Seed Source Review Grid?

https://permies.com/wiki/seed-reviews

It might at least give you a starting point to peruse as well as give some actual living breathing Permie testimonials about their experiences with seed vendors.

I hope this helps, It sounds like you are going to need a bunch of seeds which is exciting!

I currently participate in a landrace seed share with Going To Seed. People send in their home-grown seeds. We combine each species together and send them back out. This lets people try numerous varieties for the cost of shipping, and a donation if they like.

Then, if you find anything that thrives in your ecosystem, you can save seeds and start your own local varieties.

We only accept naturally-grown home-grown seeds, and offer first-choice to those that sent in seeds. Then we open it up to the members of Going To Seed, and people who joined my free video course about landrace growing. Then we open it up to the general permies.

Going To Seed Landrace Seed Share

Accepting seeds until November 24th.
Seeds available in about January.

Back when we were doing prepper stuff, there were companies selling a packet/vault of lots of seed varieties.

After investigating what these packets contained, the packets were mostly lettuce and seeds for things we did not eat.

My suggestion would be to make a list of things that you and your family like to eat. Then buy those seeds locally or online from the official Permies Seed Source Review Grid.

Here is a starter kit I found on Amazon:

Vegetable Starter Kit Seed Vault - 20 Delicious Varieties of Vegetables - Non-GMO Heirloom Non-Hybrid Seeds for Planting

https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Garden-Seeds-Starter-Indoor/dp/B087NCHMCM

Most of my seeds originated with local shops, so they were very generic. Some were straight from the grocery store shelves. Peach trees from pits thrown in the garden that grew, for example.

I have been doing this in my current location over 15 years. The seeds are all mixed up. Corn is a mix of a lot of different varieties I added over the years, beans from many different sources, some so-called heirloom seeds and some from the supermarket. Potatoes same. Etc.

Mostly they grow just fine. There is a lot of mythology about sourcing just exactly the right seeds, but really, try a lot of everything and see what works. If something produces well, or you like the flavor of something, grow more of that. My cantaloupes started with some volunteers from a store-bought fruit that produced a really excellent cantaloupe, so I saved the seeds and replanted. Plus bought seeds and I suppose they mixed genetics over the years with some 'heirloom' seeds I received as a Christmas gift. The result is some odd-looking cantaloupes with pointy ends like a rugby ball.

Even hybrids can produce very well in later generations, though they may not look exactly like the originals. Mainly, expect some failures and remove what doesn't produce from the next generation.

Thanks for the great information!

Joseph, I joined the organization and have started watching videos and plan to order your book. This is the exact stuff I was looking for, thank you!