This year, Vlada’s Seeds of Life is celebrating its growing presence in the Chicago area with a major community initiative—donating a large quantity of free fruit, vegetable, and flower seeds to neighborhoods across the city through local libraries and churches.
The donations are part of the organization’s national Little Sprouts initiative, a program designed to promote sustainability, food security, and healthier eating habits across the United States. By providing high-quality heirloom seeds free of charge, the program encourages families and communities to grow their own food and reconnect with natural, homegrown ingredients.
This year marks a significant milestone for the initiative as the Little Sprouts Program expands to all 50 states, bringing rare and heirloom seed varieties to communities nationwide.
Supporting Chicago’s Serbian Community Tradition of Gardening
A large portion of the donated seeds will be distributed through Serbian Orthodox churches in the Chicago area. The city is home to the largest Serbian population in the United States, and gardening has long been an important part of Serbian culture and tradition.
Vlada hopes this tradition will continue to flourish while also inspiring broader community connections.
“I am particularly excited to share these seeds in the Chicago area, where the Serbian population is the highest in the U.S.,” Vlada said. “I would like to invite all my countrymen to roll up their sleeves and help bring our long tradition of gardening to American communities. Grow it, cook it, and make sure you invite your neighbors to share it with.”
The initiative encourages community members not only to grow food for their own families, but also to share the harvest with neighbors, strengthening community bonds while promoting healthier lifestyles.
Connecting Seeds, Food, and Community
The seed distribution also complements Vlada’s family cooking program, Cooking with Vlada, which is currently airing on Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV). The show promotes cooking with fresh ingredients, family traditions, and the joy of preparing meals together.
By pairing the educational message of the television program with free seed access, the initiative encourages viewers to take the next step—growing their own ingredients and bringing them into the kitchen.
Where Seeds are Being Distributed
Seeds have been donated to several churches and libraries throughout Chicago, helping ensure access for a wide range of communities.
Libraries
- Chicago Public Library – Chinatown Branch
- Chicago Public Library – Hall Branch
- Newberry Library
- Chicago Public Library – Wrightwood-Ashburn Branch
- Harold Washington Library Center
Serbian Churches
- Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church
- St. Stephen of Decani Serbian Orthodox Church
- Old Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church
- St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church
Through the Little Sprouts initiative, Vlada’s Seeds of Life hopes to inspire families to rediscover the joy of gardening and cooking with natural ingredients.