Has anyone given any thought to the idea of purchasing a rather large quantity of vegetable seeds before the end of the year to be used as a barter item if seeds become scarce next spring?

I'm thinking of purchasing a quantity of non-hybrid seeds before year's end with the idea that vegetable seeds could be hard to get next growing season for the DGIs. Would concentrate on maybe 12 of the most popular types of vegetables that folks in the midwest grow, such as green beans, carrots, tomatoes, etc.

I think that should the food supply pipeline break, seeds will become a premium item, and Victory gardens could well become survival gardens. Years ago, many towns had truck gardens that raised vegetables for local markets. Maybe Y2K will bring a rebirth of the locally grown market gardens.

-- j werner (jwerner15@hotmail.com), November 18, 1999

Answers

I found a market that was closing out all their Hybrid seeds for 5 cents per package. I bought $80 worth for bartering. I will give some away for 20% of their harvest.

-- freddie (freddie@thefreeloader.com), November 18, 1999.

http://www.siegers.com/catalog.htm

They have seeds available in bulk, some non-hybrid, mostly hybrid.

I got 20 pounds of bush beans, etc. - more than we could possibly manage ourselves. But the old farm house would get crowded if things are hard next year. We have 120 acres, about half fields /half woods, so with intensive gardening we could raise enough to feed however many people were here doing the work. Got what we need to make two industrial-sized dryers and a greenhouse too, hoping we never need to bother.

Really don't expect that to happen, but we don't expect a fire and spend alot more a year on fire insurance than I did on seeds. $100 buys ALOT of seeds in bulk.

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), November 18, 1999.

Like Fearless Freddie, I have bought all my seeds at the closeouts. They are cheap, and if you vacuum seal them in jars they will be just as good next spring. You might want to store a few bags of fertilizer, but try to find a type that isn't connected to bomb making: We wouldn't want BB to think you are a terrorist, would we?. Take care, Walter.

-- Walter Bright (relief@coastalnet.com), November 19, 1999.

Don't forget that most dry or shell beans are not hybrids and that you can buy a pound of your favorite at the grocery store a lot cheaper than at the seed store. I have a pound of about 12 different varieties stuck away. And it only takes one bush to make all the seed you could possibly need the following year. If you don't have a book on how to save seed, GET ONE! Personaly I recommend SEED TO SEED by Susanne Ashworth.

Taz...who will sit in her bunker parcelling seeds out to the neighbors through the slot in the door!! LOL

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie123@aol.com), November 19, 1999.

Walter,

I've got a vacuum sealer for jars. Is it okay to seal seeds? I read somewhere else that this would "kill" the seeds...

jw

-- j werner (jwerner15@hotmail.com), November 19, 1999.

Always a good idea, we have a huge number, both for ourselves and the community ... and may get more. Fifty bucks of the right kind of seeds can feed a lot of people, especially if they can be saved for following years. Even hybrids, stored decently and in large quantities, can yield suitably for four or five years. You may not want to feed everyone from the food you have carefully stored, but you can certainly help them grow food to feed themselves.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), November 19, 1999.

As far as I know vacuum sealing will not harm them. I had a jar of seed to break in the flood, and threw them in the yard. They sprouted everywhere. I also tried some beans, and had no problem with them. What type of vacuum canner do you have?. I made mine out of an old canning pot. I can seal 9 quarts at a time. I have bought a large vacuum pump, and soon I am going to build a chamber to hold ten cases at a time. If you have any questions about vacuum canning just ask. Sincerely, Walter.

-- Walter Bright (relief@coastalnet.com), November 19, 1999.

Taz, I have the book "Seed to Seed". I consider it a must have.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), November 19, 1999.

"What type of vacuum canner do you have?."

Walter,

It's just one of those with a hand pump and pvc container that will hold a quart or pint jar.

jw

-- j werner (jwerner15@hotmail.com), November 19, 1999.

In response to what type of canner I use?. Well I remover the safty valve from a old pressure cooker, and replaced it with a fitting to use with a 3/8 plastic, or rubber(slide on) hose. Then I replaced the pressure gauge with a vacuum gauge. Then I removed the air filter from my air compressor, and inserted a fitting to match the one on the canning pot, this is my vacuum source. I then filled my jars with DRY food, leaving 1 inch of head space, then I placed the lids on with the rubber seals just making contact with the top of the jar( just like you would in hot canning) I then place the jars in the pot, and replace the top. Then I connect the hose to the pot, and start the compressor. When the gauge reads 22 inches of vacuum I wait For 45 seconds, Then I remove the hose from the canner, thus allowing the air to return into the pot. When the air tries to return into the jar the lid acts like a check valve, and snaps down. I then turn off the compressor, and remove the pot lid and tighten the jar rings. I have sealed over 3,000 cases in this way. If you don't have a vacuum source then you can use the vacuum from an automobile engine. You can also use plastic drink bottles for beans, rice, and other course items. I could tell by your remarks that you doubt what I say, but try it before you try to cut me down. Trying to be helpful, Walter.

-- Walter Bright (relief@coastalnet.com), November 19, 1999.

Walter are you sure you're not Mr. Wizard? Using the pressure canner is certainly thinking outside the box. With people like you around for y2k I am a lot less worried for the future.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), November 19, 1999.

Carol,

Don't get toooo compfy about y2k just yet. There really is not that many "McGu----" I mean "McWalter's" out there.

Walter, I too aplaud....

-- bulldog (sniffin@around.com), November 20, 1999.