Because apparently, once-in-a-lifetime events are now a subscription service.
Remember when we all went to the grocery store in 2020 and the shelves were empty? Ugh, I do. I took photos because I knew I'd try to block that image out later on in life. The little signs next to a sad small pile of beans "1 per household only".....
And for a lot of us, that was the first time we really stopped to consider just how dependent we are on systems we have absolutely no control over.
I actually was more prepared than most. I am not really a "prepper" but I am a "preparer". So when shit hit the fan (without toilet paper), my life actually didn't change all the much. But I knew in that moment that life was NEVER going to be the same, and things HAVE to change.
A similar experience happened when I was sitting through Hurricane Ian which was a once in a 100 year level storm. I was once again, prepared, and that made all the difference. While my neighbors had no food reserves, drinking water, or power. I was able to share with them.
But here's the thing; I'm tired of living through once-in-a lifetime of historical events. For those of us with limited energy or resources just trying to get through a day, we can't be out here running a whole homestead. But we do have to do things a little differently.
& my goal is to help people take just a litttllleee more control and some personal reasonability of their consumption- hence Pretty Seedy was born.
Between pandemics, economic uncertainty, rising grocery prices, extreme weather, and whatever fresh chaos the world has planned for next Tuesday, it can feel like we're constantly living through some kind of historical event.
Victory Gardens: We've Been Here Before
Believe it or not, growing food as a response to uncertainty isn't a new idea. During World War I and World War II, people across the United States were encouraged to plant what became known as Victory Gardens.
Families turned backyards, vacant lots, and community spaces into vegetable gardens to supplement their food supplies. It wasn't just about feeding themselves. It was also about reducing pressure on the national food supply so more resources could support the war effort.
And people really showed up. By 1944, roughly 20 million Victory Gardens were producing an estimated 40% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the United States.
Forty percent! HOW POWERFUL IS THIS??
From regular people growing food in their own communities. Not giant commercial farms. Ordinary people with ordinary gardens doing something extraordinary together.
And while their motivation was shaped by wartime shortages and patriotism, I think there's something about the idea that feels especially relevant today.
When the world feels uncertain, we look for something we can do with our own two hands.
For some generations, that meant planting a Victory Garden.
For ours?
Well, welcome to the Apocalypse Garden.
Same Dirt. Different Existential Crisis.
Let's be clear. I'm not suggesting you build a bunker (but man there are some cool ones out there), start hoarding canned beans (unless you want to), or quit your job to become a full-time homesteader (unless you can!)
I'm talking about something much simpler. Growing a little bit of your own food. Not enough to survive the actual apocalypse, but at least to have a leg up during some minor disruptions.
A 4-by-4-foot garden probably isn't going to feed your family through a global collapse, but It might give you a handful of fresh greens to add some life to your ramen, give you enough tomatoes to make something delicious, grow some tea to help ease your nerves, and it might just remind you of how powerful you are.
Our Grandparents Had Victory Gardens. We Have Apocalypse Gardens.
I think there's something beautiful about the connection between these two generations of gardeners. The circumstances are different, of course but the underlying desire feels familiar.
To provide.
To contribute.
To feel a little more prepared for an uncertain future.
Because imagine if everyone in your neighborhood grew just one thing? In my neighborhood that would mean 132,000+ garden beds!
Imagine what we could grow together?
Plant Something. Just in Case.
When I started Pretty Seedy Garden, I wasn't trying to create an emergency preparedness company. I just wanted to make growing food easier for people who didn't have the time, space, or energy to figure it all out themselves.
Because gardening doesn't have to be another overwhelming responsibility on an already endless to-do list.
Our seasonal seed subscription delivers two vegetables, one herb, and one edible flower selected for your growing zone and planting season.
Everything is designed to grow together in a small space, without complicated trellises or elaborate garden plans. You get the seeds, the instructions, and guidance along the way.
Our mission is to help 1,000 new gardeners bring food closer to home, not because we're expecting the world to end tomorrow: But because we are building a new one.
Small seeds. Big change.
— Kaylee
The Original Lazy Girl Gardener
Pretty Seedy Garden