Thoughts On Extras

I'm wondering how everybody feels about including extra seed packs in a trade.

On one hand, I recognize this for what it is; a gesture on the part of the trader saying, "hey, I appreciate trading with you, and here's a little surprise to show it." And, let's face it, everybody likes getting presents.

But, on the other hand, who needs it? What I mean is this: When I arrange a trade it's because I have plans for that specific plant. Maybe it's different with flower growers, but I have only so much room, and all of it is assigned something. So those surprise packages just languish. If I can't give them away locally (I rarely engage in retrades), then they are wasted.

To my mind, the very fact that somebody has what I need, and is willing to share it with me, is thanks enough.

Anyway, I wanted to know how others felt about this.

No, I luv all the lil extras- rather its seeds or plants!
I even recieved a plant marker from one trader-she brought tears to my eyes with her kindness. Brook I guess you could always say please no surprizes or just pass the unneeded seeds on as a bonus to someone else. If its plants and you have no room email me i will send you my addy and I will take the lil orphans!
I luv surprises!
dori

I also like the 'bonus' packs. As Notmartha says, if you don't want/need the seeds, pass them on. Lots of us do like them. I gotten seed for things as a gift that I didn't know I wanted until I did a bit of research! Bonuses are wonderful!

As a new person who has depended on the kindness and generosity of so many of you beautiful gardeners I have much appreciated the extras folks have sent. There ae several of we new people here who appreciate getting anything we can use to start out from the dirt up and also there are personal care homes girl scouts garden clubs who beautify public property etc who would also benefit from donations of leftover seeds. I thank everyone who has been so generous to me and I hope next year to be able to be generous to others.

When I trade seeds, I am happy to get the specific seed intended in trade, especially when they're properly packaged and, therefore, not damaged. When I receive extras, I usually try to incorporate them into my garden plan. If it's something which won't fit in, ie..a zillion marigold seeds, then I save them and use them for community projects. I personally like receiving the extras, and I have sent out extras myself (I don't resend some else's extras..just my own). I would think it's better to retrade the extras than trash them, since the original sender should be most happy that their seeds are doing good...somewhere :)
Trish
ps..some community papers have spots for listing free items. If you have enough seeds, maybe a short listing should find good homes for the seeds...or, contact a retirement home, school, church, etc. near you..these places are usually thankful to get some seeds to grow.

I think this comes down to gardeners with "established gardens" and/or limited space, vs. gardeners with "newer" gardens.

I have really enjoyed the surprises I've received this year - they are often things that I can incorporate into my beds, or plant for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, as they love flowers, but don't have the time or inclination to plan and plant elaborate beds for themselves. And I really like the idea of sharing surplus with community gardens - I have seen many requests for seeds and plants for after-school projects, etc. and that seems like a good way to put our "extras" to good use.

So, Brook - I think you're within your rights to request "no surprises" if you're looking for only specific plants - I think you've reached a place that most of us will eventually get to - when you've tried and experiemented with plants enough to know exactly what you're looking for.

(On the other hand, as long as there's still grass in my lawn, there's always room for another bed LOL!!!! So, it could be a while before I reach the place you're at!)

Seriously, those with smaller gardens, or who wish to be selective in the plants they grow should be able to say "no surprises" without hurting anyone's feelings. And generous traders who include surprises for the rest of us are among the blessings of life, in my book.

>And generous gardeners who include surprises for the rest of us are among the blessings of life, in my book<

And there's the rub, go-vols. If folks were sending surprises to be nasty, or just to get rid of stuff that was cluttering their space, there would be no problem. I can be as nasty as the next guy.

The point is, of course, that they are doing it precisely because they are generous people who want to share the happiness those seeds have brought them.

Thus, a blanket "no surprises please" would, I think, be perceived incorrectly.

As I said above, I think this is less a problem for those who grow flowers (which I don't) than it is for vegetable growers; especially those of us who are purely heirloom growers.

I have nothing against flowers, BTW. It's just that with more than 50 wildings on the place, I see no reason to compete with God, and I can put my energies elsewhere.

I agree with Brook and Dicentra. If I've chosen seeds from a list, they're ones I want, and that's all I'm looking for in the trade. And to some extent, it does depend on whether you're a new gardener anxious for more flowers, or an older hand who's got to a stage of being more specific in their wants.

Most of the extras I get aren't things I really want, and while I might use some of them, it's the minority, and most of the time, sending me an extra packet or two is wasting good seeds. Whilst I appreciate the gesture, I don't really want the seeds.

As I don't want extras, I find it difficult to know what to do about them myself, because I know that many people do almost expect them.

I love extras! Bless you all who have been so generous! I have recieved many things I didn't know I wanted until I got them! Anything that I can't find a spot for once the growing season starts I will gladly share with my neighbors... there's always someone out there who enjoys gardening but is on a "fixed income" and can't afford to spoil themselves with flowers.

Brook, if I were trading with someone, and they included a footnote that said something along the lines of ....

"Some gardeners include "bonus" seeds in their trades. I have limited gardening space [or ....am protecting heirloom varieties....fill in the blank here], and cannot do justice to any seeds other than those we've agreed to trade. If you are one of these generous gardeners, please save your extras to share with others who may put them to better use..."

....well, I can't speak for all gardeners, but I would not take any offense to that sort of blanket statement, and would appreciate the other person being upfront, so that the seeds could indeed be put to better use.

I agree with go_vols. People send them out of generosity. It's not neccessarily true that the seeds can find a home elsewhere if they don't go to you. Some people just can't stand to see the seeds go to waste on the plant or do not want them to reseed so they collect so many seeds they don't know what to do with. In that case they usually post them for sase and still yet give them out a surprises and to new gardeners to trade off or use. I love the extra surprises for using, trading, passing on to others who ask or whatever the case may be. I have also gotten seeds that people have received in a trade and also extras that people tell me to use for trades if I can't use them. Gardeners are just generous people in general, at least the ones I have run into.

A simple statement like go_vols recommended would be good. I don't think anyone would take offense unless a statement had arrogant overtones and I doubt you would do that anyway. The fact is though that definately the biggest portion of traders velcome surprises and will find a use for the extras even if it is giving it away.

Personally, I also enjoy receiving the extras! I figure it might be something really super that I had never thought of before and will give it a try. But if it's something that I truly have no use for, I save those to send in mixed packages to those who are just starting out and really CAN use just about all of it. Either way, the joy of giving, and the joy of receiving is worth ALL of those "little surprises".

Strange when I first started out trading, I never thought of sending 'bonus' or 'extra' packages of seeds. Then suddenly I was receiving lots of 'bonus' or 'extra' packages in my mail. Some I was delighted to receive, some I hated!

BUT, I then became worried that I was not a 'generous' trader and should include 'bonus' or 'extra' packages of seeds.

I now only do it if I have a lot of seeds I want to 'unload' (which I have come to the conclusion the other 'generous' person did). Have only done it to about 10 people out of 400, mostly I just send what they requested and don't worry if I am not considered 'generous' by sending extras.

Good heavens, Brook! At Christmas if your Auntie offers you yet another piece of her dreadful fruitcake, don't you just say thank you, smile sweetly, and feed it to the dog? People give freebies because it makes them feel good to share. If you don't want them, toss 'em. I feel no obligation to plant every seed that is sent to me, or to send extras with every trade, although I often do when something seems like it would especially please that trader. All those extra bonus seeds? Give them all to the next person begging for "Anything For SASE."

Well, Peter, I actually care for my dog more than that! You wouldn't believe how bad auntie's fruitcake really is. :-)

My Mother is a compulsive seed saver, too bad she has never learned to label those envelopes, every year I suggest it to her & every year she says "But honey it is so much fun to plant them & see what happens" Then every spring in my Easter basket is an unlabeled envelope of seeds. How can I complain, heck I'm still getting an Easter basket and I'm 34!!! I've told her that I trade them and now she gives me more. And my Uncle is getting as bad as she is, only he puts things on them like "My favorite", "Purple, smells good", "Some kinda Columbine", or "6th generation "-these are Marigolds, he has another one called "Mold"-these are tomatoes with the last name of the man that gave him the plants, he has named one for me too it is Cilantro. I love these little gifts, and many of them I pass on.

[ Removed per member request. - Admin]

LOL!!!Michele!!! Your post is hilarious! Mold tomatoes! It sort of conjures up a vision of green, fuzzy tomatoes, with splotches of black! You made me laugh outloud at my computer screen. :D

I also recvd many extra seeds and I thought that the person who sent it was very generous indeed!! I plan on either sending them off as SASE if requested or just tossing them on a median on a road I travel and just let them grow on their own so I have something nice to look at on my way to wherever!! (as long as its native)
I have traveled thru states that have planted wildflowers along the highway and it makes the drive a whole lot nicer!!!
Janice

Brook,

Thanks so much for asking the question!! (I kinda count on folks to ask the hard ones for me). This is one I was really dithering about. (I'm one of those with limited space and too much to put in it already). I don't really want to hurt others feelings but I can't plant all I want to as it is.

I appreciate all the responses you all posted. That helps alot

Chris

I love getting all those seeds and the extras is really nice.. and i am one of those sase people.. since this is my first real flower garden .. but i figure next time i will be able to do lots of trading and i keep up with all the people that gave me seeds , maybe i can repay them if i have any they are intersted in.....
i love going to the mailbox and finding seeds and catalogs.. firef...

I asked for extra seeds on this forum, and believe me!! I love these peoples generosity. It has been better than Christmas to me.I love going to the mail box and getting a pack of seeds.What I don't think I would use(but I haven't found one yet) So I have to give half to my mother.There is always someone that uses them around here. If I don't keep them outta sight my family will have them growing somewhere before I even know it~!! Thankye thankye thankye everyone!!!

I will be the first to say it. I can understand all who say they don't want their extras- but as for me, you can send any and all extras you received and don't want, to me and my six children for our home schooling project! Thank you!

So, here's a suggestion for all of you with extras. Look over this thread, and there are a bunch of people who way they welcome anything you'd like to send. Why not just divide your excess among those folks (and any others like them)?

Again, I am not putting the knock on people who include surprise packages in a trade. What I'm saying is that there are many gardeners who welcome these seeds, so whay not send them to those people, instead of to those like me who can't use them.

But the point is Brook, that those generous folks don't know who does and who does not like surprises. Personally, I'm for it. I love getting surprises, too. But then I have plenty of room to grow. But the only way a person can know who out of the 1000+ people on DG doesn't want the extras, is for you to do what was suggested above. As long as it's stated nicely, no one should be offended. "Limited space--no extras or surprises please." What can be wrong with that? Or follow the other suggestions and give them to others. I'm sure many people or groups would be appreciative and think what a wonderful person you are for sharing with them. To each his own.

Something tells me that you wont have to worry about surprises anymore Brook!

Wish you were right, Janice.

But I'd be willing to bet that my very next trade will have at least one extra seed pack.

Not only that, but it will be something totally foreign to my needs. I'll be trading veggies, and the trader will include seeds for some offbeat flower I never heard of, and could care less about.

Gingerlilly: Did you read my original post on this thread? I don't know where you (and others, I'm not picking on you) got the idea that I don't give some of these away locally. If I know what they are, that is. Some of these extras aren't even marked very clearly.

One of the problems is that a lot of times the seeds used as extras are not the best quality. Maybe they are just old, or haven't been treated properly, or aren't suitable for this zone, or what have you. Whatever the reason, they don't germinate or grow well. Then, when I pass them on, the people who get them are upset because they put inthe work of planting etc., but get nothing in return.

This is the main reason why I do not engage in retrades. I have no control over the quality of seed in an envelope somebody else sent me.

Once again, it is obvious that people who grow flowers are less concerned about all these issues than I am. I only grow heirloom veggies and herbs; and everything I grow is chosen for a particular reason.

Wish I had the space where I could afford a hodge-podge garden where I could just throw it out and see what happens. But such is not the case.

I guess I'm just a horse of a different color, I would never be upset or blame anyone else because seed do not come up. You don't really know what you're getting when you buy seed. We are just trusting that the company is honest with us and even then, who knows. Very few of the English pea seeds we planted came up this year(bought fresh from the farm and garden center). Well, is it bad seed, or something we didn't do right? Who knows? We are not new gardeners, so we certainly believe we did things right.

Yes, I did read it, but read so much after it, that I forgot you had made the comment. I was just basing that support on the later comments made by others. My apologies for not rereading your statements.

Well, I take exception to the idea that people who grow only flowers don't care what they plant, and that only people who grow vegetables know the exact name of the plant they grow or care about the quality of seed.

I grow only flowers, and I like to know exactly what I'm getting. That's one of the reasons I'm not too keen on things sent to me with just the US common name. I like to use correct botanical names, so I can identify the plant.

On the other hand, I'm quite happy to plant something unknown because it's new (not a common plant the sender just doesn't know the botanical name of). I like to expand my knowledge of plants by trying out new ones.

I'd be VERY happy to have the offbeat flower that no-one knows the name of, as an extra or by choice.

Huh, Mary?

You're taking exception to ideas that were not expressed. Certainly not by me. Either you are over-sensitive, or you're trying to create a controversy where none exists.

I never even hinted that people who grow only flowers don't care what they plant. Nor that they don't care about the names of their plants or the quality of seed.

What I said was that flower growers seem to be less concerned about the issues being discussed; said issues being whether to plant a seed just because you got it in a trade. Read the posts in this thread, and that message comes through over and over: "I love to try new things," and varients of it are repeated over and over again.

I, too, like to try new things. But I also want to pick and choose which new things they are.

Your post also seems a bit self-contradictory. On one hand, you insist that you like to know what you are growing. And on the other, you say you'd gladly grow a no-name plant if it was offbeat.

So, tell me this, if it has no name (let alone the scientific name you say you prefer), how do you know if it's offbeat or not until you grow it?

Gingerlilly,

Let me give you an example. I had traded, a few years back, for what was purportedly Conn. Field Pumpkin. The person who sent it to me was kind of sloppy about crossbreeding, and had, as it turns out, grown it next to a fence, on the other side of which his neighbor was also growing squash.

When I grow out the seed, I wound up with three different squashes, none of which resembled Conn. Field Pumpkin.

Now, what if I had, instead of growing it, retraded it with you, and you had gotten the strange crop. You'd have blamed me for it, not some unknown third party.

That's one of the things I mean by having no control.

Another example. One year I was sent Green Nutmeg melon seeds in a trade. None of them germinated. I mentioned this to the person who'd sent them, and she _then_ told me that this was old seed that had been laying in a drawer for some years.

Here, again, I would hate to have retraded that seed and taken the blame for it. I make enough mistakes of my own without passing on others' mistakes as well.

I never blame someone if their seeds don't germinate or if they turn out to be something other than what I was expecting. I figure that's part of the risk (and fun) of trading. In fact, I've often had better germinating results from seeds I've gotten in trades then purchased seeds.
I always include bonus seed with my trades and they are fresh seeds. I just harvest so much seed every year I always have lots and I love to share! So if you trade with me, please let me know if you don't want any extras, otherwise you'll end up with them. Joy

I can see your point with those kind of examples. It was poor etiquette(sp?) to trade those seeds to you without telling you they were old.

I've heard said that if you plant a mixture of zinnias and continue to collect and replant seeds from those plants year after year, that eventually the colors will become muddy brown or at least all become one uninteresting color.
But I like to mix the colors, so I guess every few years I'll just have to start with new seed.

Gingerlilly: I could easily provide several dozen more examples, of different levels.

One thing to keep in mind, which is perhaps why this is such an issue to me, is that my concern is primarily with bio-diversity through the preservation and continuance of heirlooms. I tend to trade with people of like mind.

For us, the specific seed we are looking for, and it's purity and viability, are crucial issues. You wouldn't believe how much emailing goes on, off list, about these topics.

I know next to nothing about flowers. And nothing at all about zinnias. But I'd guess that if what you say is true it's because they become in-bred. With veggies, there are minimum numbers of plants required to avoid this. I presume the same is true about flowers. But couldn't even guess what that number would be with zinnias.

Joy: Same thing applies. There are enough risks involved already, in gardening, without the addition of receiving seeds that are not what they are said to be. When I trial a variety that doesn't grow true to type, this is not fun. It is a total waste of time and garden space that could have been put to a better use.

I love getting the extras. If it is something i don't want or need I put them up for Christmas. I send seeds with my Christmas cards. I have also given seeds to the elementary schools and nursing homes. Then I know they are going to a good use.Christy Zedler