“Urban homesteading” has become a popular trend in recent years. It used to be that people couldn’t wait to leave the farm for the city. Now an increasing number of urban sophisticates are trying to recreate the farm. Vegetable and herb gardens are springing up in many metropolises. Chicken farms are becoming increasingly common. Some city dwellers are even starting worm farms – which help prepare the soil for planting – and diligently feeding them table leftovers, thereby creating a neat little cycle of self-sufficiency.

All farms start with seeds, and the best way to build a self-supporting farm is to buy organic vegetable seeds of non-hybrid, non-GMO organic heirloom varieties. Preserved in their purity from a time prior to widespread use of pesticides and herbicides, heirloom bulk seeds aren’t the product of genetic tinkering by some well-meaning corporate scientist. They can be collected and re-used for generations without diminished yield or nutritional benefit. And, most importantly, they grow into food that actually tastes like food, with full-bodied flavor, delectable texture, and full-spectrum nutritional benefits.

All varieties of Bulk Seeds– from pintos to navy beans, from green beans to the much-underappreciated lima — can be prepared in delicious, colorful meals. Planting beans next to other garden staples such as squash and corn – which are also good choices for your bulk seeds collection — will get an urban homestead off on a good start. But remember, it’s best to buy organic vegetable seeds of every available kind, both in terms of crop rotation and optimal nutritional benefit.

Much of the urban homesteading trend is an outgrowth of the “locovore” movement, which emphasizes the health benefits of eating locally grown food. But a lot more of it is inspired by the horrors contained in the typical household’s grocery bill. Whether dictated by fad or necessity, urban homesteading is a trend that is likely to grow – and for those interested in starting a homestead, it’s important to buy organic vegetable seeds and get started right away on producing your own healthy, economical food.