For the past five or so years I have participated with the URI Free Seed Program a joint effort of the University of Rhode Island, The Rhode Island Master Gardeners Program and sponsored by Rhode Island Job Lots. https://web.uri.edu/mastergardener/freeseeds/

The program meant that I was able to order and then supply vegetable, herb and flower seeds to groups and individuals in Norwich, CT at no cost. In December of 2020 I did not receive an email asking if I had any free time to help sort the hundreds of thousands of packets of seeds received from the various Rhode Island Job Lot stores. But I waited, today, January 9, 2021 I checked the website to learn the seed packets would only be available to not for profits and schools in Rhode Island due to the pandemic.

“Burpee® seed packets are available for the cost of shipping and handling only to nonprofit organizations and schools in RI through the generosity of the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. The expired but still viable seeds are donated to URI Cooperative Extension annually, and orders are filled by URI Master Gardener volunteers. 

A note about 2020…Like so many other things this year, the URI Free Seed Program has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Because sorting and repacking the seed packets is an intensive effort that requires volunteers to be in close proximity to each other, we are not able to provide individual and small organization orders this year.  We are working with our partner, Ocean State Job Lot, to implement alternative bulk deliveries to large organizations so that seeds are available throughout Rhode Island at farmer’s markets and libraries. We sincerely regret that the Free Seed Program is not available this year — over 2,250 organizations and individuals took part in 2019, accepting over 250,000 seed packets. We hope that by this time next year some degree of normalcy will be restored and we can again provide seeds to our friends and community. Stay tuned to this site for more information about where you can find seeds this winter. In the meantime, please do stay connected to us via Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and LinkedIn.

2020/2021 Free Seed Program Recipients

1) Farm Fresh RI

2) Southside Community Land Trust

3) Aquidneck Community Table

4) Hope’s Harvest RI

5) Narragansett Indian Tribe

I have a limited amount of seed packets remaining from previous years and will be arranging a date in March 2021 for a seed and plant exchange in Norwich. In the meantime, please do not toss your old seeds away. Most seeds remain viable for years if not in a growth medium regardless of what a date on the packet may say.

If you are just looking to donate your seeds I can usually be found at the Sunday Community Meal, served every Sunday, from 1 pm – 2 pm , at St. Mark’s Church, 248 Broadway, Norwich, CT or you can snail mail them to me or drop them off.

Together, we, can make a difference. Things can still be accomplished. Maybe not in the exact same way we are used to; but there is no reason why together, we can not find another way to get the jobs done.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don't hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs