charles watt

plantsnobin,
sorry, that's my own self-deprecating word choice, poorly chosen and worded!!! I thank you for the offer and as soon as i figure out what I am doing I'll take you up on that.

I did  just relay the info to my child's teacher (I live right across from the school and she is working during vacation) and she was delighted to get the scoop. She may have the kids do some planting for class experiments/science projects this spring (we are in Texas, so the weather gives them a jump on it). So this info actually was helpful immediately as well as being a wonderful piece of news. I don't have any idea what they would grow, but I offered to help in any way I can.

And thanks again to y'all around here. I may not comment much, but I read these forum alot and have learnes so much!!

Yes, I was unclear with my own response.
I understood it wasn't for me, a newbie and non-researcher. I was just excited to see some sort of 'free and shared' kind of seed system happening at all and from the USDA no less.  I only get on here late at night and it makes it hard for my wording/mind to be very clear about my responses!!!
One thing I don't want to do or encourage is any kind of 'taking advantage' of any good thing going on. I'm not that guy. No hate at all and I am sorry for seeming like a low life!!

Oh, heck yes!!! I am still pretty new to all this growing stuff and one of the original reasons to do it was to save money by growing our own (then I heard about permaculture and am now so hooked). Its a tough 'economy' for us right now and some immediate family members too, so if anything can save me even a dollar, it really can make a difference. I have tried sending and asking at some other seed helping places and feel like a bum/beggar for doing it, but I am doing it for my family and have a friend in MI I am starting to share my seeds with, so I guess doing whatever I can is a good thing.
Anyway, thank you for sharing and I hope it works for some people around permies!!!

John Rushton, I'd love to hear your recipes for uses of garlic. If it can help get rid of sinus infections I need to know it, and anything that can clean up a cut is gold for a klutz like me. I just got some aloe plants and spread them around the house for that reason and because I've heard its GREAT for digestion and such.

My wife was just mentioning Parsley is a good diuretic.

I just discovered some growing on the side of my house, O'Henry variety  I believe. I didn't know what it was till I found a three inch sweet potato under some leaf mulch. Too bad I had cleared most of the vine from the side of  my house. Left a little though, hoping it will come back.

I'm newly into all of this and our goal is to get land, do some perm and farming and try to make it viable as far as income too. I have Paul's voice in my head (watched a lot of his youtube) like a running narrative now.......better than the old distractions!!

We have started a couple compost bins, some sheet compost is laid down for next year and a few plants are growing (rosemary, cabbage and jalapenos). I am currently constructing a few dehydrators (solar and other), setting up some worm bins, and trying to learn how to can/pickle/make soap/baskets/etc. I fully subscribe to Paul's idea of 'try 100 things' to see what works, plus I like to try the 'failed' attempts until a new/working way can be found, or at least good knowledge learned in the attempt.

So, the 'Homestead Primer' is just about what I need, right??? Anyway, mad thanks to Paul and Y'all around here. I've been reading and linking like crazy and will probably be very involved/inquisitive/interested/interactive around here soon as I learn/do more and need sooo much help/information.