Free Seeds Offered Through Ohio Victory Gardens Program

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio – To promote urban and rural gardening, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University Extension are partnering once again to encourage Ohioans to cultivate their own produce.

The Ohio Victory Gardens program is back for its fifth year and is expanding to include 64 counties. OSU Extension offices will be handing out free seed sample kits to the public to get people planting. Specific days and times for each office, as well as planting resources and information, are available HERE.

“We want all Ohioans to experience the pride of growing their own food,” said Brian Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. “Planting those seeds, watching that produce grow, and being able to provide those nutritious foods for your family is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in agriculture. We encourage all folks to plant their own victory garden.”

This year’s program will benefit up to 19,200 Ohioans. Each of the participating counties will receive 300 sample seed kits that contain carrot, cucumber, lettuce and sunflower seeds.

“Our partnership with ODA on the Ohio Victory Garden program allows Ohioans to learn about agriculture and where their food comes from,” said Cathann A. Kress, vice president of agricultural administration and dean of The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. “It provides a glimpse into the science and dedication involved by those who work in the food system every day to bring fresh produce into grocery stores, farmers markets and restaurants.”

Pictured at top: Plants grow in a victory garden. (Ohio Department of Agriculture)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.