diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ddab9ce0fc..d684f61418 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ Before starting make sure to have [MongoDB](http://www.mongodb.org/), [NodeJS an
 1. Install our dependencies: `npm install`
 1. Create a config file from the example one:
 `cp config.json.example config.json`
-1. Ensure that Mongo is running and seed the database with initial settings by running:
-`node src/seed.js`.
+1. Ensure that Mongo is running
 
 ##  Windows Environment Install
 
@@ -63,9 +62,7 @@ Before starting make sure to have [MongoDB](http://www.mongodb.org/), [NodeJS an
 `bower install -f`
 1. Create a config file from the example one:
 `copy config.json.example config.json`
-1. Ensure that Mongo is running and seed the database with initial settings by r
-unning:
-`node src\seed.js`.
+1. Ensure that Mongo is running
 
 # Run HabitRPG
 
diff --git a/src/seed.js b/src/seed.js
index d642409fb3..b1d026122c 100644
--- a/src/seed.js
+++ b/src/seed.js
@@ -1,3 +1,16 @@
+/*
+ * This script is no longer required due to this code in src/models/group.js:
+ *    // initialize tavern if !exists (fresh installs)
+ *    Group.count({_id:'habitrpg'},function(err,ct){
+ *      ...
+ *    })
+ *
+ * However we're keeping this script in case future seed updates are needed.
+ */
+
+
+/*
+
 require('coffee-script') // for habitrpg-shared
 var nconf = require('nconf');
 var utils = require('./utils');
@@ -36,3 +49,5 @@ async.waterfall([
   logging.info("Done initializing database");
   mongoose.disconnect();
 })
+
+*/
diff --git a/vagrant.sh b/vagrant.sh
index 70de6d9225..3e794a8805 100644
--- a/vagrant.sh
+++ b/vagrant.sh
@@ -71,8 +71,13 @@ npm install
 echo Installing Bower packages
 sudo -H -u vagrant bower --config.interactive=false install -f
 
-echo Seeding Mongodb...
-node ./src/seed.js
+## # echo Seeding Mongodb...
+## node ./src/seed.js
+## no longer required due to this code in src/models/group.js:
+##    // initialize tavern if !exists (fresh installs)
+##    Group.count({_id:'habitrpg'},function(err,ct){
+##    ...
+##    })
 
 # Uncomment both lines to autostart the habitrpg server when provisioning
 # echo Starting HabitRPG server...