Recent surveys show that 1 in 5 Vermont children and nearly 1 in 8 Vermont households arefood insecure (experiences hunger or food hardship). In the United States, a country with so much wealth, it is inconceivable that there are people who struggle to meet their basic needs. And yet, hunger is a daily reality for Americans in every state. Lack of affordable housing, low wages, high unemployment, a decrease in the number of local, affordable grocery stores, and lack of public transportation all contribute to hunger and food insecurity in Vermont.One in 3 children in Orleans and Essex Counties are considered food insecure. 65% of grade school children in these counties are eligible for free or reduced school meals. 5815 Orleans County residents and 1343 Essex County residents are eligible for Food Stamps. Growing our own food and/or purchasing locally sourced foods has been proven to help maintain healthier, more adequate foods for families. Surveys have found that the main reason given for increasing or maintaining edible gardening is to supplement household food supply — to help save money on food.There is nothing more local than food grown in your own backyard, your windowsills, or in patio containers.Growing your own fruits and vegetables means that you know exactly what does and does not go into your food and exactly where it comes from.You will get healthier in a number of ways. Not only will you end up eating more fruits and vegetables, but you will be getting added exercise. Did you know that you can burn as many calories in 45 minutes of gardening as you can in 30 minutes of aerobics? And, working in the garden reduces stress.You will get a bigger variety of your favorite fruits and vegetables because you can choose from hundreds of different varieties and you can grow the things you like the best.You can teach your children or grandchildren where their food actually comes from and that it doesn’t come from the supermarket but from the soil, the earth that we all depend on. Orleans County Seed Library’s goals are to provide a way for people to get and share seeds that are non-GMO, organic when possible and also heritage seeds. The group plans to offer a demonstration garden where workshops can help community members learn more about growing their own foods. Produce will go to programs such as senior meals sites, local schools and other programs that help children receive healthy food. OCSL and partners will also offer workshops on seed starting, preparing and storage of garden produce, and well as other related information.