A few years ago, it was seen as insufferably pretentious for someone to drop a casual mention of “heirloom tomatoes” into a conversation. Now, with food prices continuing to race skyward, more people are getting interested in growing their own food. Suddenly expressing an interest in heirloom tomatoes seeds is seen as an indication of serious, practical thought, rather than as evidence of a snotty hobby.

Getting a few tomatoes seeds – or a handful of other seeds — is a good way to start an urban homestead. An increasing number of urban dwellers are growing at least some of what they eat. Vegetable and herb gardens are springing up in many cities. Chicken farms are becoming increasingly common.

The best way to build a self-supporting farm of any size is to select non-hybrid, non-GMO heirloom bulk seeds. Tomatoes seeds are preserved in their purity from a time prior to widespread use of pesticides and herbicides, heirloom bulk 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 free heirloom seeds should you select? 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 build up a supply of cheap bean 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 beans – 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.

Next time you’re at the local farmer’s market, or chatting with a friend who’s a gardening enthusiast, ask about any heirloom vegetable seeds that might be available for free. The chances are pretty good that you’ll find somebody interested in helping you take the first steps toward food independence.