If you’re a “prepper,” you know the value of self-reliance in all spheres of life. This includes food, one of our most basic needs. It’s likely that garden seed catalogs are on your preferred reading list, as they should be.

If you’re not a prepper, maybe you should be! If you’re a hobbyist, garden seed catalogs can be a colorful distraction, or the stuff of wistful reverie. But take a look at the newspapers, blogs, and TV newscasts: Things are getting flat-out terrifying in the economy. Food prices are headed toward the Ionosphere. If you can’t grow it yourself, pretty soon you may not be able to afford buying it. That’s a terrifying prospect, but we have to face reality. “Preppers” in particular know that it’s a good idea to find out where to get free garden seed catalogs and start working on food independence.

Check out your local home and gardening stores; some of them will probably have bins full of free garden seed catalogs. Some major big box stores have garden sections where free garden seed catalogs will be available. Many free garden seed catalogs can be downloaded from the Web, or ordered via e-mail.

And here’s a thought: Some civic groups offer not only free garden seed catalogs, but free seeds to people willing to donate part of what they grow to local food banks. Seed exchanges and seed swap groups will likewise provide free seeds to people on request. If you find one in your town, ask them where you can grab a few free garden seed catalogs.

Companies that offer “heirloom” bulk seeds will probably send a free garden seed catalog on request. 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.

If you’re interested in starting an urban homestead, garden seed catalogs will be a regular part of your print diet. There are many kinds of free garden seed catalogs available – and you should grab as many as you can.

Talk to a few of your neighbors who have been bitten by the gardening bug. Not only will their enthusiasm be contagious, but they’ll probably be willing to share a few free garden seed catalogs with you. They could probably give you advice as to where you can find free garden seed catalogs of your own – local home and garden shops, gardening co-ops, grocery stores, and so on. Many free garden seed catalogs can be downloaded from the Web, or ordered from seed merchants via e-mail.