Survival Garden Seed Collections Unboxing | Are these worth it? 

Thank you for the detailed unboxing of our products! Yes, we do put a lot of thought into what is included in our Bugout Bag Collection. Our master gardeners carefully select the hardiest, easiest-to-grow varieties that will result in the most nutritious, bountiful crops, whether that be in a survival situation or just regular gardening. The Granny's Garden and Instant Garden do include the same varieties of seed as the Bug Out Bag but with 15 packets instead of 34, and they include the same seed book with detailed planting and seed saving directions. We love your channel and look forward to hearing more!

My boyfriend had bought one of those kits years ago and after I lost my job from covid its what fed us and our front yard community garden this summer

All of this reminds me of that time in my life when I needed to go to the food bank because I was literally a starving college student. The food bank, to my shock and awe, took donations of seeds from stores! They also let people who had garden surplus bring in their fresh vegetables or fruits and, along with the seeds, where the items you could have with no limits. A lot of the free seeds were beans and gourds and melons but I still took one of each variety, netting about 10 packs of seeds. I didn't have space to garden for an additional 3 years. Those seeds were my homestead dream that I could hold in my hands. When I finally got space to garden I planted them. To my amazement, a lot of them actually came up. When the "Kentucky wonder" proved it's name and provided me an overabundance of beans one year I donated them to my local food bank... By that point, I'd completely forgotten where I got the seeds and it wasn't till I was going through old garden journals that I realized I had inadvertently closed the loop.

I received a baker creek catalog and gave my 6 year old a pen and told her to circle the ones she thinks we should grow next season and she spent 3 days with it and circled almost all of them in deep thought.

I was surprised actually: 42 minutes of someone talking about seeds while unpacking them sounds really dry. It wasn't! Really enjoyed every minute! Love your enthusiasm! Thanks for the message!

I also grew seeds out of the spice cabinet! Celery seed. Mustard from a ball canning pickling spice 😂😂😂😂😂 and 5 year old flax seed from my pantry

You should make a Roots and Refuge Farm Essential seed pack.

I spent $100 on seeds during this video. I'll tell my hubby it was peer pressure!

I started my gardening journey about 9 years ago on my small balcony. I was living in Luxemburg where land is extremely expensive and I didn't have much experience growing things. I learned how to compost on that balcony, grew cherry tomatoes, strawberries, turnip greens, garlic and onion greens for salads and even tried potatoes just for fun. I also leaned how to germinate seeds and care for seedlings. Fast forward a few years and what we thought was impossible happened, we were blessed to be able to purchase a house with a small garden. As small as it is this year we grew potatoes to feed our family of 6 for several months, the most delicious tomatoes we have ever had, zuccini, green beans, garlic, cabbages and many other delicious vegetables, fruits and berries. It felt AMAZING to grow and harvest such a substancial amount of food! Now we are planning for a small farm in the future and I am amazed at the way God moved thru it all in that every season has been a stepping stone to the next, where we have been learning and growing far beyond our imagination. Growing food is incredible! Harvesting so much from a single seed seems magical but the most wonderful thing about growing a garden is the feeling that we are not helpless when it comes to such a foundational aspect of life, our own food! So to anyone who is reading this feeling overwhelmed and lost on this journey just know that God has a time and a season for everything under heaven. God bless you all ❤️

Dear Jess, I've had a lot of trouble looking for gardening help that actually taught me the 'dumb questions' of a beginner gardener. Thanks to your videos I feel empowered to start my garden. I love turning my waiting room into a classroom and I'm helping a friend start their own garden. You encouraged me to not be afraid to fail and just left the seeds grown and enjoy the process. Thank you.

My husband is the vegetable gardener and I am more a flower gardener. This past summer I had a crash course in vegetable gardening to help him. Learned about dehydration, fermentation and canning. We both view your show! He maybe 72 yrs old, but is still learning and enjoys your videos as much as I do.

"seeds want to grow" should be a tee shirt thats such an awesome quote :D

Your vids should be played on every t.v screen in Doctors waiting rooms.

I can't wait to get your book. I ordered it. My teens watched your videos, bought seeds from your recommended list and grew a 500 ft garden in our suberbia yard. They even got plastic and clearance wood ,built a green house next to the garden. We have the entire thing filled with tons of cold winter plants for winter. We are really tight, but we have plenty of food. Thanks for helping them learn so .much. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.

I feel like an idiot. I throw my seeds away every year after I plant what I can. I had no idea that they could be used the next year(s) to come. I also had no idea until watching Jess's videos that I can plant more than one time! Where have I been?!?!?! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

I bought a small survival seed pack for $15 about 10 years ago and put it in my freezer, I didn't use it for 5 years and to this day I still plant beans, peas and brocoli from that pack. Its actually been fantastic

Hey everyone, I want to share what I learned from storing my dry seeds in the freezer. When they're brought out into warmer temperatures, condensation begins and they all get damp. I quit that practice after ruining all my seeds. I'm so thankful for all the seeds I still have and my passion for gardening.

Every spring I get my seeds - tons of varieties - from dollar general - family dollar for 2 for $1 been doing this for years 30 varieties for $15

I have just partnered with a nonprofit organization that allows people to shop their facility at no cost. All items are donated. I contacted the amazing woman who runs the facility and asked if I could start a seed bank there. She was so excited to have such a donation! I have packaging seeds for a week! I can't wait to see if people will take this opportunity.

Yes, I grew seed from my 1994 collection of seeds. I tried them on a whim and they germinated and ready to eat.

Your a household name in my house. I play your videos on the TV and my daughter says "oh your watching Jess" it cracks me up.

While I normally order my seeds from Burpee or Johnny’s, I was gifted the Open Vault seed collection for Christmas last year and was pleasantly surprised when I sowed the seeds this year! I grew all sorts of things I normally wouldn’t grow because I figured what the heck, I have the seeds so I’ll just try them. I’d recommend it!

Your comment that the first package you reviewed - Survival Garden 15,000 - was a bit expensive was spot on correct. Before the pandemic you could purchase the exact same package for $18 on Amazon. They more than doubled the price.

I store in glass containers not so much air tight, but rodent proof. Some seeds do lose germination % every year like onions and lettuce but you're very right about how long seeds are good for. Before I started saving my own way back in 2004 I received a packet of Homestead tomatoes that a friend found in her grandparents cottage. Unopened from 1968. I ended up getting about 4 plants out of the 30 or so seeds in the packet. I wish I would have saved seed from them as they were lovely 😍 tomatoes. This year I started tomato seeds from 2008 and out of 10 seeds I ended up with 6 plants. I'm glad you've touched on hybrids and stabilizing them into an open pollinated plant. I'm into year 2 of stabilizing 3 different hybrid tomatoes(cherry tomatoes) these are my favorites and I'm saving for shape and flavor and for the second summer of planting these three tomatoes are breeding very very close to the original. And so far, even the plants I do not choose to carry on their genes, are still all edible. My best tomato is the juliet 😍 we love these and they seem to want to breed true only one of the 5 plants I grew out wasn't true to shape. But it wasn't that it was bad it was just too big. It wasn't the right shape I was aiming to stablelize- but for the flavor it was lovely so I saved it in a different bag labeled as big oblong juliet(probably one if the original parents) meaty and so flavorful. But one plant of the yellow cherry wasn't tasty at all. Not poisonous but not as nice as the rest so those were not saved. We ate them of course as my grandkiddos love any cherry tomato lol but their genes didn't make the cut. But this hobby of seed saving open pollinated plants can and will send you down the rabbit hole lol. And branching out a couple years ago into the playing with stabilizing hybrids we love to eat is an even deeper rabbit hole! 🤣 But if you learn to save your own open pollinated plants you only need to buy that seed once and it will be yours forever. Meet other seed obsessed gardeners and start trading your seeds the next thing you know you've got a whole collection of glass jars filled with seeds to grow your whole garden. Of course I still make seed orders each year tho. The eternal search for the best flavored fruits and veggies never ends and this next garden season im trying a few veggies new to me. Yard long beans and Asian skinny eggplants and more Asian greens. Sigh. I'm obsessed with seeds and have been since about 2008. Right now is the time for new gardeners to learn how simple it is to save seeds and keep them pure. Its all over the internet and you can still find several good books on how to do it. My favorite "seed to seed" by Susan Ashworth ❤ happy gardening.

You and MIgardener have taught me everything I know and I grew my first garden last year with my husband. This was the first project we have ever enjoyed together! We are polar opposites, so that was really something special! I thank you so much!

You guys have made my whole family take a much closer look at relying on our selves more. Thanks for all you do.

My kid got very nervous last summer when they reported shortages. I have a big garden, but she decided to plant her own. She went with seeds scavenged from grocery store produce. The peppers were slow growing but the plant was strong with very prolific durable peppers. We learned chickpeas don't grow well in zone 7b. Black and kidney beans do fine kinda. She even grew carrots tops. Obviously no taproot, but we used tbe greens for pesto and when it went to seed she planted those and we had early winter carrots. To be honest I was shocked it did so well. Shes got an internship this summer but comes every weekend to work in our new joint garden. She helped pick out the seeds and has been a true partner in this.

OMG this is FIRE CONTENT🔥🔥🔥. I had the inkling that these pre-assembled collections were scammy but didn’t have any merit based reason to feel that way. But seriously that bugout collection put all the others to shame. I have a collection bag that was very similar if not identical to the 2nd bag that someone got me as a gift off amazon. I got the impression that they just purchased seeds from all over and manually split quantities between packages so I really really appreciate that that large bag is all grown on that family’s farm💚 That planting guide is such a perk. It really says something when a cheapskate like me thinks they should charge more for their product.....

Produce coming from out of the country sometimes goes through an x-ray and that will greatly reduce the germination. I buy seeds from Baker Creek, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Botanical interests, Peaceful Valley, Walmart, and the dollar stores, and I will say that it's not so much where you get your seeds from, so much as your growing region. Your best deal on beans for growing will be the dry beans in the grocery store and "most" of those can be picked in the green stage. Some of the best pumpkins we've grown have come from seeds from store bought pumpkins and you get way more seeds. I would buy a kit like these for beginning gardeners, but they wouldn't be my first choice for a survival kit. A small plastic bin with a lid stored in a cool, dark, place is great for seed storage.

You can order just the Veggie Planting Guide that is in the Sustainable Seed Company's Bug Out Seed Bag on their site.

I keep seeds in whatever, but generally in plastic bins and cookie/chocolate tins. I have a lot of tins. I have seeds from everywhere: saved, collected, various trips, various walks, seed packets free from farmers markets, from stores, from online orders, from collections, microgreens, from fruits and veggies, from the pantry. Every year, in addition to growing whatever I want, I also grow a bunch from my oldest seeds, some 20+ years old. Sometimes they grow (lettuce seems to last forever); sometimes they don’t (tree seeds seem trickier to germinate). It is all fun and food. Love getting greens, herbs and other veggies right out the door.

Thank you for posting this video Jess! I am a silent watcher of your channel but I hope to one day when I buy a house to have a beautiful garden like yours 🤗 I’m manifesting it!

This information is so valuable. It’s like a public service message. Thank you so much! 🌸

New Tshirt: Seeds want to grow.

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and your channel. I’ve had a garden for decades and I so enjoy watching you and getting so many great ideas. Here’s one for you and your RU-vid family. After your giant sunflowers 🌻 are done hang them in you garage or barn to dry. Then in the winter hang them in your trees. I’m telling you our squirrels and birds just love them!! God bless 🥰

First time wife, homeowner, and gardener (I grew tomatoes and peppers this year) and I was wanting to buy seeds for next year but don't have the money to pay for individual packs of seeds and get all the variety i wanted. This will be PERFECT! Thank you so much for posting this!

I've always been curious about the emergency seed packets. Thank you for scratching that itch.

Love your heart, more all the time. Of course you’re giving away the seeds. I don’t think anyone else could make seed unboxing as interesting and educational as you. Awesome, girl. Can’t wait to meet you when we all get home!

I have learned a tremendous amount from your farm! I had a 30 acre which I grew all my own food, Unfortunately I let it go in a divorce--regret letting the land go! Anyway I have a small plot in my yard and am doing a garden and will be planting at my son's garden.. Thanks for reminding me on how much I love to grow my own food!

I was just looking at survival seeds on-line about 15 minutes ago. Gardening is so great.

Wow, Jess, thanks for the easy-to-understand explanation for new gardeners. I’m sure you brought their hesitation to getting started to a welcome end! I’m a master gardener and this video is great to refer to newbies. What’s most important is getting seeds in the ground and learning new skills, gaining knowledge and food on the plate. ☀️

I'm not a conspiracy theorist but that doesn't mean I don't think there are conspiracies in any situation. The propaganda of "seeds in the store are sterile" and "leave it to the professionals" is an attempt to monopolize the market and force people to buy from the self proclaimed professionals. When I read the title of this video, I was skeptical. On my channel I'm constantly talking about getting varieties developed to grow in your particular climate. To do that, the supplier would have to make packages customized for each zip code. However, I noticed that they choose varieties that grow in the widest range of conditions. So there's that.

I love that VICTORY Gradens came back this year! We always purchase seeds in bulk and then repackage them for the next few years on our homestead.

PLEASE TELL HOW TO GROW and HARVEST CELERY sometime ❤️

The thing that shocked me the most about buying seeds is that Walmart in Texas allows you to buy seeds with your food stamp card.

Oh and I also replied to their (Sustainable Seeds) thank you/order email with a welcome email and how happy I was to have heard about them through your RU-vid video. 👍

I bought the Open Vault Seed Collection in 2017 and paid $16 for it. All of the seeds germinate well and have kept well these past years. It gave me a start and I still have some of them.

I have some old seed banks from the 4 Patriots company before they were 4Patriots. If I remember correctly I paid about the same for them as yours but there were a lot more seeds and varieties in them. The quality and germination were good the year we got them and a few of them had enough seeds for several years of gardens! I had a hard time sourcing seeds this year and was able to pull them out of the deep freeze and use them to grow some food.

Asparagus included for optimism...

Thank you so much for spending the money to review these! I’ve started saving the little oxygen absorbers that come in new shoes and things like that to put with my seed packs.

My main issue with any items sold in sets like these seeds is inability to have/get EXACTLY what you like/want and they're NOT usually sold according to growing zones. I much prefer shopping for and buying separate packages I've chosen based my families likes and the zone I live in Yeah, yeah, they're prepackaged for bugout etc, but if you're a consummate gardener, novice gardener etc you can purchase your favorite varieties place them in a mylar bag, pouch, box, whatever and have them to grab for much cheaper than the prepackaged sets.

I started watching your channel last spring. I stepped up my garden this year. I’ve learned so so much. I’m a part time RN. Gardening has helped me to stay sane this year. I’ve even found your channel, your sharing of your farm activities, loving family stories... has helped me to focus on love. I haven’t gotten snippy with my husband at all....YET! 🤪 Thank you so much for all that you do. Sending you much live from Portland, Oregon. 💕

You crack me up! "...this company is gonna get alot of orders"!!!! lol ...but seriously...you keep inspiring! Love it!

Thank ya for leaving this on the “longer” side. I know it means editing was probably super time consuming, but it was so nice to not have a million jump cuts to try and save it from being “too long” and we just got to enjoy! (Not that you usually have a million jump cuts, just sometimes when watching videos on YT, you can tell someone was getting squirrelly with video length so they went to chopping 😆)

Wow Sustainable Seed Co sold 15 bug out kits in the time it took to type my payment info.

God bless you, precious Jess. I try to watch at least one of your videos everyday, not only because of the great information, but also for a DAILY BLESSING from you. Thanks for the "sell by date" info; it's been a question that I've had for quite a while. I'm 78 and grow in raised beds because of back issues. What a lovely gesture of love it is for you to gift the seeds to your viewers.

Jess, thanks so much for doing this! I'd definitely store the seeds in the freezer, or at least in the coolest, driest, place available. For the best storage conditions, the temperature (F) and % humidity added together should be no higher than 100. i.e. 50 degrees F + 50% humidity = 100. So, the lower the temperature, the longer the seeds will be viable. You can buy little 2"x3" zipper bags in the jewelry craft section of WalMart or other craft stores, and certainly, Amazon - even some 3"x4" foil zipper bags that look like mylar that would be perfect to store the seeds once the packs are opened.

In most cases...seeds *want* to grow. Love that 💚🌱

This was such a great review, I like hearing what varieties are in each, it's good to know since I've grown a lot of those varieties and it's interesting to me that the "standard" varieties that you see everywhere are not necessarily the easiest or most productive to grow. In some cases it feels like these companies are choosing varieties without full knowledge and unknowingly setting first time gardeners up for failure, which is really sad to me. Of course some of those varieties are real workhorses, it's mainly experience that tells you which are which.

I planted pea seeds from last year that had gotten wet and soaked. About 1/2 of them still grew. So definitely, do not throw away seeds because they are old! Always give them a chance!

I would also suggest micro green seeds From "planting to table" 14 days.

That last company seemed like a wonderful one, I actually ordered the survival one, Granny’s and the herbs. Thanks for sharing Jess. ❤️

My sweetie bought me a Patriot Heirloom survival seed kit several years ago. I only broke into it this year to start a garden, and they have been wonderful! So far, almost every seed I've planted has germinated and grown. I'm quite pleased. :)

I purchased from Sustainable Seed Company a few years ago (heard about them on a blog) and their seeds have been excellent! I planted some this year and even at 5-ish years old the germination rates were still great.

Ok, i just got the Sustainable Seeds bug out collection (was going to assemble on my own but this was much easier👍🏼) plus extras to get to free shipping after using the discount code ~ sliding into Black Friday gardening style 🤗🌱

I really appreciated this video. I've learned so much about gardening this year from the RU-vid gardening community (Self Sufficient Me, Epic Gardening and Roots and Refuge). My garden produced the most it ever has. Thank you for the videos you make.

Hi,I was to sick to garden for 5years but I still got seeds each year,and thankfully this year I was much better and planted my garden, for Christmas my daughter's got me bee bombs and heirloom seed collection, never give in and never give up.

My mom works at a big box store part time and I asked her to pick up a pack of pinto bean seeds because we didn’t order enough. She informed me they had always used the dried beans from the grocery store. I was shocked haha. It worked. We did half our bed in the ordered heirloom seeds from mi gardener and then the other half in store bought. Couldn’t tell a difference.

Thank you for this review, Jess! I'm a first time gardener and your videos have been a wealth of knowledge

I like to buy the "Survival Seed" packages to get a variety and figure out what I use more.

I love the fact as you go through each seed you separt them in piles per sowing season ☺️ A gardener's planting mind! 🌱

I bought the last “bugout” package several years ago just as a beginning gardener. They offer a great variety of seeds at an affordable price. I’ve had very good germination and have used the seeds for several years now.

How sweet!!! Sharing the love...the seed...the gift that gives in so many different ways! Bless the Sowards! 🌄🌈😊

This isn't just a product review video--I learned so much about preparing, seed saving, storage and being practical. Great video!!

We aren’t allowed gmo foods in NZ so it might make a difference but I had my best ever harvest of capsicum from store bought capsicum saved seeds! I was really surprised in a great way regards Maria

sustainable seed co. also has some great cover crop options as well - they took the time on the seed descriptions and even note a clover proven to decrease cancerous tumor growth...yep, just placed an order with them! ...love how growing keeps us learning! thank you Jess, great vid!

I mean no offense by not signing up. I have plenty of seeds so I would like these to go to someone who may need them. I also love the idea and may be ordering a few of these as Christmas gifts. This was awsome! Thank you for the reviews!

My hubby and I watch your videos all the time. I've learned alot from your experience. We even expanded our garden to twice the size and hubby built a greenhouse for me as well. Gardening is so fun and I have learned so much. Thank you for you videos and witness of our Lord and Savior.

My cabin fever has officially set in. Time to binge watch and have quality Jess time, getting excited about this year's garden. I've learned SO much over the last couple years, I love applying that knowledge every year!

As you were saying "I'll give these as gifts" I was thinking how I'd love to be on your gift list! Even if it was just hot sauce 😋 Thank you for all the work and love you put into your videos! 🤲

That last kit 😍 I think I might get one just because. How did I not know you had an email list 😳

I started seeds this year that were 2001 and up. I still have roma and cherry tomatoes ripening with nights down to 30°. I love gardening and your videos!

Good advice: "Try to grow them before you'd throw them away!" Practical, but probably necessary advice. It's usually easy to paper towel germinate any seeds. Another nice video.

I was just looking at survival garden seeds on Walmart's site this morning, and since you posted this video the price went up from $17.95 to $49.95! wow hahaha, no thanks :O

Waiting for your book to come out in February. I am getting it for my granddaughter - I think getting a seed pack to go with it would be a great idea. Thanks for the information

I ordered from Sustainable Seed company for Christmas gifts. If you order 3 they are a little less, plus the coupon code and free shipping make it absolutely worth it!

I’m from Canada and just love your videos and farm kids family it’s amazing how homestead you guys are and makes me wana start my own. Bless you ❤️🙌🏼❤️

Loved that you didn’t comment on the limited amount of tomatoes in each package... 😀

Yay! I can’t believe I actually caught your video early! It had only been up for 32 seconds when I first saw it! 🥰

I just started to garden this year. I have fell in love with it so much. I started researching gardening on RU-vid and came across your videos about April 2020. You have such a gentle sweet spirit about you that I admire so much. Anywho, as you were opening the first package of survival seeds I was saw that you would read the seed and place it to the right or left of you. I knew you were seperating fall seeds and summer seeds before you even said it. That brought me a little joy and affirmed that maybe I did learn something about gardening over the last year. So thank you.

I just ordered two Bug-Out bags (BOB) one for me and another for my sister. My sis just got into gardening this summer. I was shocked at the amount of money she spent on plant starts: tomatoes, herbs, squash, corn, etc. I am encouraging her to start her own seeds 4 to 8 weeks before spring planting season begins. As for me, I have gardened for years and already have many stored seeds in plastic baggies in my freezer. I will use the BOB collection to plant a few items for which I lack seeds-celery, radish, eggplant. The other seeds will remain in their existing packaging and then placed inside plastic baggies. I will add a few more desiccant packs to the Mylar bag and store the BOB without refrigeration for the future. Thanks for the tips!!!

Thank you for going through that. I actually broke down and bought the last kit along with the herb package because most the herbs they listed I plant every year. I just know buying it this way was alot cheaper then how I bought them this year.

I bought all of my seed where i could this year. It was difficult for months, with everywhere sold out. I haven't bought survival seed, but for people in the UK and possibly Europe, realseeds.co.uk is a lovely website, and i've had great success with their seeds. I appreciate that they share the origin of their seeds (often nice stories) and they offer reduced shipping cost for low income families. There's no shame in accepting these little gifts when necessary 💚

I know this is an older video but just had to comment. We were given a couple of substantial size gift cards for Sustainable Seed (Trueleaf Market) and just placed our, again, substantial sized order this past weekend. It's encouraging to see someone like Jess comment favorably on one of their products. I'm anxious to get our order in and start planting in the next couple of months.

Jess, I appreciate all your effort put into this video in order to help others make good choices.

Just ordered the Sustainable Seed kit as a gift. Not for prepping but as a garden in a bag.

Daniel's music is so soothing! I am grateful.

The first packet of seed you opened I bought on Nov 23, 2018 and paid $14.95..that shows how much things were marked up. I’ve been a gardener most of my life and I bought them just to see if the seeds were any good. I planted all the corn and some of these others ..zucchini , okra, sugar baby melons, banana squash, Lima beans and all of them grew vey well. I grow mostly heirloom seeds for the fun variety . I’m almost 60 and I’m already planning my garden for this coming year. I’ve been a subscriber of yours for several years and I just love you and your family.😊

I really appreciate this video. I considered if I would be better off buying something like those for a better rounded seed collection when covid hit. I had that nagging feeling that I needed to be patient and slowly build it up each pay day. Now, I can say that I made the right decision. It may have grown larger than I expected, but I'm loving the varieties. I'm getting the opportunity to see what works well for us. We went from one 4' x 20' center block bed to beds every where and the ability to grow different things that we hadn't before. As Scarlett said, "Never again." It brought such joy to have my best friend walk through and see the undergoing transformations. Her reaction to taste the sun with a Midnight Snack tomato was priceless. They say purple heirlooms don't grow well here, but they're my most prolific fall tomatoes this year. Air tight containers from HEB is what I've found to be our best way to store all of them.

It looks like that booklet, along with other literature are available from Sustainable separately from the collections 😁