Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Garden on a Budget: Join the Gardening Together Beginner Gardener Education Series for Almost Free (Part two)

Gardening can be a rewarding and fulfilling hobby, but it can also be expensive. One of the most significant costs of gardening is buying seeds. Fortunately, there are several ways to get seeds for free, and one of the best options is any online or local seed library for example Frome has the amazing Frome Seed Library at Frome Library.

The Seed Library is a non-profit initiative that aims to promote local food growing and biodiversity in the Frome area. It allows people to borrow seeds for free, grow them in their gardens, and then return a portion of the harvested seeds to the library for others to use.

Here are some other ways to get free seeds for your garden:

1. Seed Swaps: Check out local gardening groups and communities (Frome has a very active Facebook group, Frome plant and seed swap) to see if they have seed swaps. Seed swaps are events where gardeners can bring their extra seeds and exchange them with other gardeners. This is a great way to get new varieties of seeds that you might not have tried before.
2. Spice Seeds: Many herbs and spices come from plants that you can grow in your garden, such as coriander, cumin, and mustard seeds. You can purchase these spices at your local grocery store, and the seeds can be used to grow plants in your garden. Just make sure that the spices are not irradiated or treated with chemicals that may prevent them from germinating.
3. Save Your Seeds: One of the best ways to get free seeds is to save the seeds from the plants you grow. It’s easy to do and ensures that you always have a supply of seeds for next year’s garden. Make sure to save seeds from open-pollinated plants, as hybrid plants called F1 won’t grow true to the parent plant or grow at all.
4. Food Seeds: Some foods you buy at the grocery store, such as chili peppers, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes that grow “eyes” and strawberries, have seeds or replant that you can use to grow new plants. Simply collect the seeds and plant them in your garden. Just be sure to properly clean and dry the seeds before planting them.
5. Ask Your Gardening Friends: Finally, don’t forget to ask your gardening friends if they have any extra seeds. Gardeners are usually happy to share their surplus, and you might get some great tips and advice along the way.

In conclusion, there are several ways to get free seeds for your garden. The Seed Library at Frome Library is an excellent resource for local gardeners, but you can also try seed swaps, spice seeds from local shops, seed saving, food seeds from groceries, and your gardening friends. Happy gardening!