Short answer: seed libraries, local nurseries, farmers markets, and online seed catalogs that carry organic or heirloom seeds are the places I start. When I began buying seeds for our home garden, I did the same thing I do at the grocery store: turned the packets over, read the fine print, and tried to make sense of the labels. A few seasons in, I have a system that works.
Read the seed packet before you buy
In the United States, home garden seeds are almost always non-GMO. The GMO crops that dominate commercial agriculture are sold to farmers under contract, not through backyard seed racks. The more useful question is what kind of seed this is and how it was produced.
Non-GMO means the seed does not contain genetically engineered traits. Organic means the seed was produced under USDA organic rules, which also prohibit GMOs. A seed can be non-GMO without being organic. If you want the strongest label, look for the USDA organic seal, because that covers both the GMO question and how the parent plants were raised.
Heirloom and open-pollinated seeds are old varieties that reproduce true from saved seed. They are non-GMO because they predate genetic engineering. Hybrid seeds are crosses between two varieties. Hybrid does not mean GMO. A hybrid tomato can be non-GMO and organic.
Check your public library first
Many public libraries now keep a seed library, a small cabinet or drawer of donated seeds you can take for free. You borrow seeds in spring, grow them, and save a few seeds to return in fall. This is the cheapest way to start, and the varieties tend to be regionally adapted because local gardeners donated them. If your branch does not have one, ask at the front desk or search your library system's website for seed library.
Community seed swaps and garden clubs
Garden clubs, community gardens, and master gardener groups often host seed swaps in late winter or early spring. These are usually free or a few dollars to attend. You bring seeds if you have them, but many swaps welcome beginners who arrive without any. Your county extension office and local farmers market bulletin board are good places to find dates.
Local nurseries and farm stores
Independent garden centers and farm supply stores carry seed racks that change with the season. Staff at these stores often know what grows well in your zip code, which saves you from buying a tomato variety that sulks through your summers. Ask for organic seed or untreated seed, and read the company's non-GMO policy if it is printed on the display.
Farmers markets
Vendors who sell vegetable seedlings at farmers markets sometimes sell seeds they have saved or sourced. Because these growers are local, you can ask how the seed was produced and whether the parent plants were grown organically. You also get to taste the variety before you commit, which you cannot do from a catalog photo.
Online seed catalogs with clear non-GMO policies
When I cannot find a variety locally, I order from online seed companies that print their non-GMO policy on every packet or product page. I look for three things:
- A written statement that they do not knowingly sell GMO seed
- A USDA organic option or organic section
- An untreated seed option
Many small family-owned seed companies are built on heirloom and open-pollinated catalogs, which means the varieties are old and stable enough that GMO seed is not part of the lineup for home gardeners. Search terms like certified organic seeds, heirloom vegetable seeds, and open-pollinated seeds will get you there. Read the company's about page and their seed sourcing statement before you order.
The order I follow now
- Start at the seed library
- Ask at a local nursery
- Fill gaps online
Starting local saves money and gives you varieties that handle your soil and weather. Starting with the library also means you do not end up with a drawer full of seed packets and nowhere to plant them.
A note on saving seeds from grocery store produce
You can save seeds from a squash or tomato from the grocery store, but the plant may not come true from seed. Many grocery varieties are hybrids, so the seedlings can be unpredictable. If you want to save seed that grows the same crop next year, start with open-pollinated or heirloom varieties.
Gardening has made me a better label reader in the kitchen. I now look for the same things in a seed packet that I look for on a jar in my pantry: a short ingredient list, a clear source, and no surprises. That same standard is what we use at Clean Monday Meals, where every product is gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free, and the ingredient list is short enough to pronounce. If you are filling your pantry while your seeds are sprouting, you can find our pantry staples at cleanmondaymeals.com.