Here’s something that’s absolutely terrifying: It’s estimated that one in six Americans goes hungry each day, even in what has been historically the land of plenty. But there are people willing to give food away – in exchange for a little help in feeding the hungry. Free seeds are available for people willing to grow a garden and give back to their local neighborhoods.

The Dinner Garden is one of several national organizations and movements willing to provide free seeds to people interested in starting gardens of their own. Other charitable organizations and civic groups offer free seeds to those willing to “grow a row” of produce to donate to food pantries and similar outreach programs. Seed exchanges and seed swap groups will likewise provide free seeds to people on request.

If you can’t find a civic or charitable group offering free seeds, why not offer to exchange labor for seeds? Chances are that local farmers would go for an arrangement of that kind. Helping out during harvest time is a good way to collect seeds from non-hybrid, non-GMO crops for use the subsequent spring.

When you find where free seeds are available, get as many varieties as possible: Vegetables, legumes, melons – find what grows best in your climate and get started. Many people who plant and tend small gardens prefer “heirloom” varieties for quality and purity.

What are “heirloom” bulk seeds, and why should you choose them over other kinds? Simply put, “heirloom” bulk seeds are varieties that have been preserved in their purity for many years – sometimes for centuries. They are strains that come from a time before herbicides and pesticides, before Big Agriculture turned food from a delicious source of sustenance into a profitable corporate commodity. They yield produce that retains the full nutritional potency we need, and the taste at least some of us can dimly remember from our childhood.

Just as importantly, bulk seeds of the heirloom type avoid the potential pitfalls found in hybrid and GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) seeds, which are widely in use today.

Furthermore, non-hybrid, non-GMO organic bulk seeds can be recovered and re-planted. The chief advantage here is the ability to preserve a pure strain – and to enhance the self-sufficiency of the farmer and consumer.

With times growing leaner and household grocery bills getting heavier, people are increasingly looking to grow more of their own food. Now is the time to get free seeds and get started on a garden, if only to take some of the strain off the grocery budget.