If you’re among those getting involved in “urban homesteading,” chances are you’re already aware of some of the major seed suppliers. An increasing number of urban sophisticates are contacting seed suppliers for help in recreating the farms many of them had left years ago. . 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.

Heirloom 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.

What heirloom bulk seeds should you select if you decide to do business with seed suppliers? Well, the easiest answer would be, “All of them” – vegetables and fruits of all kinds and colors. In terms of nutritional density – protein and fiber content in particular – beans are hard to beat for someone looking to lay in a store of bulk seeds. Cultivated for millennia in the Western Hemisphere, and even used by some Indian cultures as currency, beans are a low-fuss, high-yield food source. They are inexpensive, easy to grow, simple to store, and hard to mess up even by the least talented cook.

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 rare 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 contact local seed suppliers and get started right away on producing your own healthy, economical food.