Demeter USA. How To Get Free Seeds For Your Garden. Starting a garden from seed can be an expensive proposition if you're ordering online and buying from seed catalogs.
A handful of harder-to-find heirloom seeds can cost as much as a frou-frou cup of coffee. Factor in shipping charges and you'll be wondering how starting a garden is supposed to save you money. Fortunately, experienced gardeners can be some of the most generous people — especially where seeds are concerned — and they are often willing to part with seeds to help a new gardener. Below are some tips on places you can go online and in real life to get your green thumbs on free garden seeds. Gardening forums When I started my first real outdoor garden, I was lucky enough to have been part of an online forum filled with gardeners who where as generous with their knowledge as they were with the seeds from their gardens.
Sometimes gardeners unload excess seeds on newbies for what is known as Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes offers. Seed swaps Seed libraries Save your own seeds. 100 Best Permaculture & Homesteading Books: The Ultimate Reading List for Sustainable Living. If you've ever considered getting into Permaculture, or if you're a veteran Permaculturist who's looking for a new skill to master, the following resources are the absolute best places for you to get started.
Each of these books has the potential to introduce you to a whole new skill that you can enjoy for literally the rest of your life! You will find here links to over 60 Free eBook previews and full eBooks! Feel free to post down at the bottom if there are other books you would include on this list. Enjoy and Share with Your friends! Sophia Permaculture - Introductions to the Subject. Cultivating New Farmers. Related Content Sweet Carolinas Robyn finds enthusiasm for and interest in green building during a recent trip to the Carolinas.
Farming is one of the most useful and satisfying occupations people can pursue. It meets our need to feel useful, exercises body and brain, builds communities, and connects us with nature. The more food we produce for ourselves and our neighbors, the healthier our communities will be. Fortunately, there are many young people who dream of becoming farmers, and with the rapidly growing demand for organic and local food, there also are growing business opportunities to meet local needs for fresh, healthy food.
The Academic Route A good place to start looking for academic programs near you is the online directory maintained by the U.S. Many of the colleges listed are land-grant universities — state colleges and universities specializing in agriculture. Another popular choice for those interested in sustainable agriculture is Washington State University. Resources. National Family Farm Coalition. Food Voices: Stories of the Food Sovereignty Movement From Around the World. La Via Campesina : International Peasant Movement.
The Half-Acre Homestead: Tools. In conjunction with a talk I'm doing at the Bay Area Makers Faire in San Mateo, Calif, and at The Mother Earth News Faire in Puyallup, Washington - titled "The Half-Acre Homestead in the 21st Century" - I picked some time-tested tools that we use in our daily lives.
-Lloyd Kahn Listen to Lloyd's Half-Acre Homestead podcast. See Lloyd's two articles in The Mother Earth News related to homesteading: Coping with Critters Protect your home and garden from termites, skunks, gophers, hawks, mice and more The Truth About Septic Systems Vested interests are making on-site wastewater disposal more costly than it needs to be.
Get Smart About Sustainable Agriculture. Let’s face it.
The way the world goes about the business of agriculture is changing. Take corn, for example: A crop that once was grown only for food now triples as fuel and even a component of biodegradable plastics. This increased demand, along with many other factors, is forcing us to consider the sustainability of our current farming practices. If you eat, and chances are you do, you may be curious about better food and better methods of growing food. Or perhaps you’re even drawn to the idea of working the land on a farm, instead of doing paperwork in a cubicle. Sustainable agriculture is defined by the U.S. Apprenticeships, Volunteering and Workshops If you seek hands-on instruction, consider becoming an apprentice or intern at a nearby sustainable farm or ranch. Volunteer opportunities range from part-time work on a local farm or a community garden, to traveling across the globe through organizations such as World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF).
Formal Coursework. Autonopedia: Practical Answers For Sustainable Living. Household Cyclopedia - Agricultural Tips. An Online Companion to the Self-Sufficient Farm or Homestead.