Growing Together: Open Forum

Hi everyone! I will be teaching gardening and cooking at a local preschool starting in the fall and I am looking to see if there are any resources where I can get free seed packets or supplies for our school garden? 

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Marisa Ratz
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I have had success just reaching out to local nurseries or even places like Home Depot/Lowes and asking for donations. You might try local community growers too.

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Alycia Wright
8043068116
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That's great info! Thank you so much! How do you contact Home Depot/ lowes? Do i Just go directly to those nurseries?

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Marisa Ratz
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2023 04:38:57 PM
From: Alycia Wright
Subject: Free seeds or plants for school garden

I have had success just reaching out to local nurseries or even places like Home Depot/Lowes and asking for donations. You might try local community growers too.

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Alycia Wright
8043068116
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Original Message:
Sent: 3/24/2023 6:16:00 PM
From: Marisa Ratz
Subject: RE: Free seeds or plants for school garden

That's great info! Thank you so much! How do you contact Home Depot/ lowes? Do i Just go directly to those nurseries?

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Marisa Ratz
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Hi Marisa ~ I love "High Mowing Organic Seeds" based near me in Vermont. Here is the updated info taken directly from their website. 

Every year we donate over 100,000 seed packets through our Seed Donation Program. We strongly believe that seeds can be used to teach and empower people about food security. Through our donation program, we support organizations that provide farm and nutrition education with community gardens, school gardens, church gardens, food bank gardens, summer camps, and disaster relief groups.

Thanks to these partnerships, our seeds are now in the hands of the food system leaders of tomorrow. These grassroots programs build self-sufficiency, encourage healthy eating and provide valuable education about nutrition. To learn more about our Donation Program or to request an application, please email us at donations@highmowingseeds.com.

We are also happy to donate seed packets and catalogs to workshops and conferences that reach farmers and gardeners. Please email questions@highmowingseeds.com to request a promotional donation for your event.

Consider reaching out to locals about seed saving exchanges! 

I also have LOTS of ideas about exploring seeds  with preschoolers on my blog:

https://aprilsteachingtree.com/2019/02/27/seeds-seeds-seeds/

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April Zajko
April Zajko, M.Ed.
Saint Johnsbury VT
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Original Message:
Sent: 3/25/2023 11:27:00 AM
From: April Zajko
Subject: RE: Free seeds or plants for school garden

Hi Marisa ~ I love "High Mowing Organic Seeds" based near me in Vermont. Here is the updated info taken directly from their website. 

Every year we donate over 100,000 seed packets through our Seed Donation Program. We strongly believe that seeds can be used to teach and empower people about food security. Through our donation program, we support organizations that provide farm and nutrition education with community gardens, school gardens, church gardens, food bank gardens, summer camps, and disaster relief groups.

Thanks to these partnerships, our seeds are now in the hands of the food system leaders of tomorrow. These grassroots programs build self-sufficiency, encourage healthy eating and provide valuable education about nutrition. To learn more about our Donation Program or to request an application, please email us at donations@highmowingseeds.com.

We are also happy to donate seed packets and catalogs to workshops and conferences that reach farmers and gardeners. Please email questions@highmowingseeds.com to request a promotional donation for your event.

Consider reaching out to locals about seed saving exchanges! 

I also have LOTS of ideas about exploring seeds  with preschoolers on my blog:

https://aprilsteachingtree.com/2019/02/27/seeds-seeds-seeds/

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April Zajko
April Zajko, M.Ed.
Saint Johnsbury VT
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Seed Donation Thoughts!  

 

I feel like most seed companies will have online forms to fill out for donation requests. So begin by checking in with companies that are regional to you. 

 

Some seed companies require a "donation request letter" to be completed. Just review the donation requirements carefully since some may require non-profit status.  

 

Most of the programs that I have done give seeds from the prior growing season free of charge. If I can pick them up nearby then it's free. But if the seeds need to be mailed, then I have had to pay for the shipping. The earlier in the fall you make the request the more selection, and requests made in spring may not be able to be filled because they are out of seed. 

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April Zajko
April Zajko, M.Ed.
Saint Johnsbury VT
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Baker Creek Heirloom seeds does donations for schools.  Last year they gave a $50 credit towards any purchases; previously they sent random seeds.   FANTASIC COMPANY; I use them personally.

Dave

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds <seeds@rareseeds.com>

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David Raymond
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Hi Marisa.

I believe Seed Savers Exchange sends free seeds to educators. All of these other suggestions are great as well. 

I also teach gardening and cooking classes and we try to use as much produce from our garden as possible.

Good luck.

 Betty

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Elizabeth Shideler
Roanoke VA
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If there is a Job Lot near you check with them about their free seed program. Fairfield county CT extension service organizes the yearly distribution in this area. 

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Sandra Nichols
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-26-2023 12:02:56 PM
From: Elizabeth Shideler
Subject: Free seeds or plants for school garden

Hi Marisa.

I believe Seed Savers Exchange sends free seeds to educators. All of these other suggestions are great as well. 

I also teach gardening and cooking classes and we try to use as much produce from our garden as possible.

Good luck.

 Betty

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Elizabeth Shideler
Roanoke VA
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Our garden received a box of free seeds through the Seed Savers Exchange program.  We just had to pay for shipping.  https://www.seedsavers.org/seed-donation-program

Best of luck!

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Rebecca Brodie
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Try Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply. This is the link to their Community page. We received a package containing over 25 different kinds of seeds for our Children's Garden.  Came express mail and we didn't even have to pay for shipping.  They give away their prior years left over seeds, but we have plants sprouting everywhere, the germination rate has been great.  I have to do a lot of thinning because I overplanted.

https://www.groworganic.com/pages/community-support

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Judy Pfister
Delaware Master Gardener
Millsboro, DE
Judy
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I'm not sure if your community has this, but here in southern Az our local libraries have a seed library where families can "check out" seeds. There is also a seed library at our local community food bank. Maybe check into these types of places to see if they have those local resources. Happy seed hunting

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Terra Harper
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 Marisa,

I have received seeds from many companies this year that I won't be using with my students. Would you like me to send you some?

-Lori

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Lori Princiotto
Glenwood School
Short Hills NJ
9733797576
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So many great suggestions here! I'll add that for seeds, plant starts, and supplies (for both gardening and the cooking component) I know some folks have a lot of success just putting out an ask to their community. If you have a local "Buy/Sell Nothing" Facebook group, that can be a great place to make a post asking for specific items. You could also put out an ask to the school parents to see if anyone has anything "extra" they could drop off with their kids. 

And when fall is closer, if you're still lacking in some seeds that you need, some people have put out asks to this community to see if anyone has some they can send. This has been especially great if you're looking for harder to find seeds or seeds for plants that might have a cultural significance to some of your students. 

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Amelia Dupuis
Kids Garden Community Manager
KidsGardening
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Many great ideas for securing free seeds for your school/community gardens.  

I coordinate Arkansas' Soybean Science Challenge, a farmer-funded, statewide, middle and high school education program that seeks to increase student knowledge about the value of Arkansas soybeans to the Arkansas economy, to the labor force, and ultimately to feed and fuel the world.  There are multiple components to this program, including to provide free soybean seeds to school and community gardens in Arkansas and across the country.  There are currently more than 150 gardens in a dozen states growing soybeans provided by this program.  Free seeds are also provided to students, teachers, and parents to support student research projects.  The SSC also has free educational curriculum, virtual field trips, and lesson plans online. For more information about the Soybean Science Challenge, visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/Education_in_Agriculture/soybean-science/

We do have a few seed packets remaining for this year.  If you would like to request a packet of seeds, please visit the School and Community Garden Project website and complete the "Grow Your Own Protein" application and submit it to me @ kharris@uada.edu

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Keith Harris
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I guess nursery can provide you this.

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Christeena Biju
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Check you local library, too. Ours has a seed exchange program. 

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Celia Baczkowski
Surprise Lake Camp
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Original Message:
Sent: 6/19/2024 11:12:00 AM
From: Celia Baczkowski
Subject: RE: Free seeds or plants for school garden

Check you local library, too. Ours has a seed exchange program. 

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Celia Baczkowski
Surprise Lake Camp
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