Posted on 04/19/2020 5:06:23 AM PDT by blam
Americans are panic hoarding plant seeds as the coronavirus outbreak confines millions to their homes, crashes the economy, and disrupts food supply chains. This has resulted in people questioning their food security. A Google search of “buy seeds” has rocketed to an all-time high across the US in March to early April, the same time as supermarket shelves went bare.
We’ve done a pretty good job of documenting the evolution of panic hoarding over the last several months. Americans started buying 3M N95 masks in mid-January, then non-perishables in February, followed by toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and guns.
Now apparently, plant seeds are the next big thing… Seed companies who spoke with CBS News said they have stopped taking new orders after unprecedented demand. George Ball, chairman of Pennsylvania-based Burpee Seeds, said the recent increase in new orders is “just unbelievable.” The company will start accepting orders again on Wednesday after it stopped taking new ones for several days to catch up on the backlog.
Americans in quarantine are becoming increasingly concerned about their food security. What has shocked many is that food on supermarket shelves that existed one day, could be completely wiped out in minutes via panic hoarding. Some people are now trying to restore the comfort of food security by planting “Pandemic Gardens.” “If I had to put my thumb on it, I would say people are worried about their food security right now,” said Emily Rose Haga, the executive director of the Seed Savers Exchange, an Iowa-based nonprofit devoted to heirloom seeds.
“A lot of folks even in our region are putting orders into their grocery stores and having to wait a week to get their groceries. Our society has never experienced a disruption like this in our lifetime.”
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at altnews.org ...
Great info! Thank you
Square foot garden boxes almost ready for soil.
Prefect timing
I grow tomatoes, peppers, onions, carrots, melons and celery all in containers. Uses a lot less soil. Now my grown kids do the same at their homes.
For the record...... what kind of containers?
We have used 2.5 gallon buckets free from grocery store bakeries. They worked well but over the years became brittle from UV exposure.
I’ve got to get new ones pretty soon
jmcenanly wrote:
“I wonder if people are going to start attempting to propagating vegetables from cuttings? It seems like something that you could teach a child to do in grade school. You don’t have to be the greatest botanist on the planet to do this.”
Thanks for the link!
Pretty sure the majority of increased seed sales has a lot more to do with a ton of folks having a bunch of time on their hands than it does with any “panic buying”.
One of my two daughters is growing her first garden ever this spring, and making a pretty good showing of it (except for putting the tomatoes out too soon, ya can't tell 'em nothin').
Mostly 5 gallon buckets. I poke holes in the bottom and fill the bottom 1/4 with rocks for drainage and use good soil from a soil yard. Tomato cages to support the plants.
Meanwhile in FLA, farmers are disposing their crops.
"We’ve done a pretty good job of documenting the evolution of panic hoarding over the last several months.
Americans started buying 3M N95 masks in mid-January, then non-perishables in February,
followed by toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and guns.
Now apparently, plant seeds are the next big thing… Seed companies who spoke with CBS News said they have stopped taking new orders after unprecedented demand. ,
George Ball, chairman of Pennsylvania-based Burpee Seeds, said the recent increase in new orders is “just unbelievable.”
The company will start accepting orders again on Wednesday after it stopped taking new ones for several days to catch up on the backlog.
Americans in quarantine are becoming increasingly concerned about their food security.
What has shocked many is that food on supermarket shelves that existed one day, could be completely wiped out in minutes via panic hoarding."
My Comment :
Every gardener and Prepper should invest in plant seed, especially in 'heirloom seeds', which contrary to hybrids, remain true to generations of genetics.
If you invest in heirloom seeds, you should learn how to grow and harvest your own seed seed in order to keep the genetic line 'pure' and consistent.
A friend of mine in New Hampshire is growing a crop of shell beans that his great-great-great grandfather grew in the 1790's;
both he and his brothers have kept the line 'pure' for approximately 6 generations.
Hybrids,which are cross-pollinated crops, are designed for high productivity, and/or disease resistance; taste is often not given significant importance.
Many hybrids are designed for shelf life, storage and transport based upon commercial and retail needs, rather than flavor.
There are exceptions to hybrid production and flavor, but they are few and far between.
H/T to Blam ! Good Find !
Well, that’s what I do except I use the half size buckets that frosting and glaze come in. The grocery bakery gives them away just to get rid of them
I’v had pretty good success but need to be sure my auto watering system works effectively.
True that - many are plowing under their crops back into the fields, now that there has been a disruption in the commercial supply chain.
Due to large vast fields of monoculture crops, and lack of commercial demand, and large scale distribution, many crops are being 'plowed under'.
Some farmers are now exploring local and village farm markets to recoup some of their expenses.
Some farms have opened a retail farm cart for retail sales right from the street; the problem is you have to know where they are, and what crops they grow.
Long ago, an immigrant farmer vendor would have a horse-cart going up and down village streets hawking their various crops, all varieties.
Be wise and support your local farmers. Your future diet may depend on it.
No seed shortage here in Pratt, Ks. Tractor Supply, Ace Hardware have good stock. I have planted peas and onions, will do cukes soon . Tulips are blooming and iris on the way.
Yeah, and the MI governor Whitless said that seeds are a non-essential commodity. I guess she listened to Bloomie on farmers.
“Coronavirus has become quite the catalyst for self-sufficiency.”
It certainly has, and I’m pretty surprised. But it takes what it takes, and I’m glad people are thinking this way. March was also the biggest month ever for gun sales. Even bigger then when Obama was in office and we had the threat of Hillary.
“Serious market gardners and vegetable farmers order their seeds sometime in February.”
I don’t buy seeds at all. Well I did once obviously. But I got non-hybrid seeds and I have been harvesting them yearly. Unless I add to the list of plants I want to raise, I won’t need any seeds. I’m excited because the kale I planted last year has wintered over and I will get seeds this year! It’s the second year seeds that are a little more difficult to get. But I have gotten carrot and onion seeds also so it’s possible. It’s just not something I can count on like the ones that produce seeds annually.
Having been in the ‘Seed Biz’ for over 18 years, while it’s hectic right now, these folks are smiling...all the way to the bank! :)
That said, I WELCOME anyone that wants to start a garden, or get better at food production, to join our Weekly Garden Thread! Lots of expertise there to share on a WIDE variety of subjects - we have lots of ‘specialists’ and a few Master Gardeners (like me!) We also talk small livestock for meat and fiber, chickens, fruit trees and small fruits, recipes, canning and preserving, how to make your own, ‘adult beverages’ and self-sufficiency.
Come Join Us!
*Cross-Ping to the Weekly Garden Thread Ping List*
I’m good with seeds and toilet paper.
But there seems to be a run on vital wheat gluten point the typical prepper places online are sold out. Most of my local grocery stores are sold out. I have tons of wheat berries but I’m going to have some dense bread if I can’t find a source. I didn’t realize that all the stuff I had was nearing its expiration date. Doesn’t do much good if it doesn’t work.
Does anyone know how to tell when vital wheat gluten has lost its potency? Other than making bricks instead of bread. I’d like to know beforehand.
I stocked up on food, TP and seeds when I saw empty store shelves in Italy.
Baker Creek aka rareseeds.com does nothing but heirloom seeds. (which is why they only have a small collection of corn - Monsantos infected most varieties with GMO)
Re: Yeast
Order the Red SAF Yeast from King Arthur Flour when it’s back in stock. The best I’ve ever used. Never fails. You’ll have enough for years to come; it keeps well in a covered container in the fridge.
https://shop.kingarthurflour.com/items/saf-red-instant-yeast-16-oz
You can also make a bread starter without commercial yeast:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17513/no-commercial-yeast-starter/
I picked up a five pack of Florida sweet corn at the local market yesterday.
Apparently, not all Florida veggies are being plowed under...
Hysteria makes people irrational! Politicians love this!
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