Once again since it's trading time, this thread should be resurrected. People are using trading lists as inventories
X
I have been noticing for a while in the Trade Lists for seeds and plants that it is turning more into a persons inventory rather than what they have available to trade. It’s getting difficult to search them because there are so many listings that are listed as “not available” or listed as “new, not for trade” etc.
I looked at one gardeners trade list of over 30 plants and not one was available for trade. In another gardeners trade list (and I counted), only 15% of what they have listed is available! I believe the “Garden Journal” is the best place for seed/plant inventory and that seeds/plants that are available or soon (as in a few months) to be available should only be listed in the Trade List.
I’d like to hear others thoughts on this.
X
This message was edited Jan 30, 2012 10:52 AM
Plant & Seed Trade List In Plantfiles
I absolutely agree. Navigating through pages and pages of what is essentially a plant inventory makes it very difficult to find legitimate trade availability. Frankly, now when I access a trade list and it is a 'plant inventory' I just bypass that trader.
I totally agree. I waste so much time skipping over unavailable or new items. It's very frustrating.
Because of this, I make sure to disable anything that I don't have available on my list. It can always be 'enabled' again.
I agree
I do use the trade list like an inventory, but I use the ''disable'' feature for things not available. Then just ''enable'' them again when I have the plant to trade. That way I am the only one to see the whole list. Some things are seasonal like plants in the spring and seeds in the fall.
I never thought of using the disabled. That's a good idea. I'm going to start doing that rather than deleting an entry.
X
OH!!! I didn't even know you could do that! I kept my irises like that for a while...not available...and then when I had to say I couldn't get some things anymore! I just went through my trade list yesterday and deleted all that said unavailable...at least I think I got them all!!
Deb
Thanks Deb .. A lot of people wanting my rare and hard to find plants have lost out because if I see any "not for trade or unavailable" on their list, they get consigned to my "don't bother to look" list.
X
I also got sooo tired of going to someone else's list and having to wade through more unavailables than ones that were!! I try to keep mine pretty up to date but with weather sometimes rotting my irises...yes weather, not bugs... that it is hard for me to keep up with what is still there. Of course, I still need to go out and redo now since I took so many out to move to our new house. I think I have it right but need to check. Just did my hostas so know they are right along with everything else. I also deleted everything that is more difficult to get as I just don't have the time. Some people get $%##& when you tell them that. With all of the traveling I have been doing to go landscape I am tired when I get back home for maybe 3 days. Then digging and potting up the next load to take over.
Besides that, I called my PHP yesterday for an incident Wed and he sent me to the ER. I had a TIA and have to have more tests. I had been outside digging up 3 daylilies I had by the driveway that I wanted to take. They have been patiently waiting for me to come pot them up, so am doing that today after I clean house and fix bedroom for daughter and her family that are coming in tomorrow for a week.
Debbie
I admit, I'm guilty, but only beacuse I didn't know how to disable! Thanks for the info!
It would be cool if the journal & trade lists could be linked... like a way to write a journal on the trade list, or a way to put your journal entries on the trade list...
I use my trade list to keep inventory because I cannot figure out how to use the journal. I do use the disable button, but sometimes it is a real pain to have to disable everything as I add them, so, I write on there 'not available for trade' & that way it is easy for me to see which ones need to be disabled when I get a chance to go back and disable them.
ants
I didn't know there was a way to disable either. Glad you pointed that out. I just didn't want to have to delete items that I would have again at a later date then turn around and have to put back on the list. Thanks for pointing that out.
Peggy
I agree it is frustrating to see a note at the top of a Plant Files page stating "Xnumber members have or want this plant for trade " only to find that the people that have the plant don't have it for trade.
Perhaps if more people knew about the feature that Dave added a few years ago to the DG Journals whereby you can click at the bottom of any Plant Files page in the box "Your Actions" and automatically add the plant to a personal journal, that feature would be used for garden inventory rather than using the Plant Trade option for inventory purposes.
Jeremy
Anne,
Your absolutely right, and I found myself guilty of doing exactly that. I've been trying to go thru and disable alot of things that I can't really trade right now. Sometimes I wish I could do a "disable the whole trade list" for the very circumstance that I'm in right now, where I'm just too busy to do much trading. I'm trying to catch it all up, and if something really special comes along, I'd make the time to do the trade.
mj
I'm starting to notice a difference and thanks to everyone! Now I can continue my searches to see who has what for what they want.
Thanks to everyone.
X
I have often thought that an inventory page would be a useful feature for DG, until I realized I could just disable the items in my list.
I still think a separate inventory page would be nice, and then the item could be moved to the trade list, so it would help avoid this problem. You would start out with a blank tradelist, fill in inventory first, and rather then disable, have to ENABLE from your inventory to your tradelist to have it show up. You have to purposefully move it to make it seen.
Also with an inventory list you could keep track of your available trade quantities, which is something the tradelist does not do, as well as seasonal availability; spring or fall, etc.
herbspirit, Those are some very good ideas. You should ask Dave to consider these. He's pretty good at listening to members ideas for the site. You can post your ideas here.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/dg/all/
Joy
Good point. I posted it as an enhancement.
I tried the journal thing and found it a bit complicated for me (computer challenged)
The real thing I missed is the picture, for me it is easier to scroll through the photos than look for names.
I finally figured out how to use the journal, but I also miss seeing the pictures. Also wish there was a way to move them from my trade list to my journal. I see that you can move them from your journal to your trade list, but I need it the other way around also :)
ants
I'm thinking since it's trading time, this thread should be resurrected.
X
Yes, I'm glad this thread has been resurrected. I'm a newbie, and I'm guilty. I've seen so many NFT entries that I thought it was ok to list an inventory and specify what is and isn't available, instead of limiting it to just what is ready for trade. Sorry, I'll fix it!
Pam
Kim M told me about the disable/enable feature last summer and it's been invaluable to me ever since then. I do use my tradeslist as an inventory so I was glad to find out about it. I get so frustrated seeing so many NFT's on some tradeslists that I just leave and go to another one instead. Glad you brought this to the forefront again, Xera.
Please, please, please use the disable feature for plants that are not available for trade. Thanks for resurrecting the thread.
Glad everyone is on the same page .. when I started looking at lists for a few plants I have and started seeing practically nothing available I thought it would be a good idea to bring this up again since we have so many new members.
Thanks for bringing this back to the top. there is a lot of useful info here. this thread should be "resurrected" at least three or four times a year. it's these kinda threads that brings us newbies up to speed.
Michael
there i'm totally updated :)
Me too...I used the disable feature....seems simple enough. Thanks X for the heads up...
Pam
Thanks, Xeramtheum - this thread just reminded me to update! Now my list is done :)
Ants,
I keep an inventory spreadsheet on my puter and print it out on
a yearly basis so I keep track of what is thriving in my garden and
what seeds I want to keep for replanting (annuals).
I too have a hard time doing the journal & blog tried to have my
spreadsheet there as I also listed things like germination days,
moisture needs, etc. However I couldn't share it with anyone I
directed it to for trades that I made so I just let it lapse.
I too found pages of "not for trade" frustrating & use the disable.
Think I'm current on all my "haves".
I've quit using the Trade List here. It's so time consuming to add and delete stuff. I keep my trade list on my computer and just update it quickly and copy and paste it into my posts on the trade forums. It's much easier than trying to maintain the Trade List on DG, which I've never liked. I probably still have stuff listed there that I should disable and may some day. A much simpler trade list would be nice.
I agree with you ButterflyChaser. I also find using the Trade list here very time consuming.
Time to bump this up.
I totally agree. It also time to go over your trade lists and update them as much as possible. I realize those of us in the northern tier of the country lose some plants every year to winter weather but do the best you can and in the spring UPDATE. And don't forget to use that DISABLE button to remove plants that you probably won't be trading in the 2012 season. Happy Trading!
bumping to the top.