Canadian Co-op

Hi, my name is Ingrid and am a new subscriber. Just wanted to know is there any
Canadian co-op(s) started somewhere in any of the forums ? If not would anyone like to start one ? I'd be a buyer....

Take Care Ingrid

So glad you subscribed Paridise. Welcome and have fun. Now you can read the 'whole thing'. I've never seen anyone do a co-op here, but maybe we should.

echoes

Welcome to the Garden Paridise! :D Wouldn't it be lovely to be part of a co-op....what kind of plants are you thinking of?

Hi Ingrid,
Nice to meet you! I'd definitely be interested in getting a co-op going.

Shannon

Let us asume there is none. So, Shannon that would be great if you'd be interested to start a Canadian co-op. I'am tooooo green to start one for this is relatively new for me just being less than a week as a subscriber. I'd be more than happy to help organize or do research ect if . I'am sure some of others who have or are doing Co-ops would help us get started with the in & outs of how it works. Maybe you already know how and that's great.

Let me know, for I'am positive there would be a large count for one. Who knows where this could all lead too.

Best regards, Ingrid Those who have Welcomed me in- Thank-you.
I'am really excited to get started to having explosive flower beds...........

Let us asume there is none.

So, Shannon that would be great if you'd be interested to start a Canadian co-op. I'am tooooo green to start one for this is relatively new for me just being less than a week as a subscriber. I'd be more than happy to help organize or do research ect if . I'am sure some of others who have or are doing Co-ops would help us get started with the in & outs of how it works. Maybe, you already know how and that's great.

Let me know, for I'am positive there would be a large count for one. Who knows where this could all lead too.

Best Regards, Ingrid

Those who have Welcomed me in- Thank-you.
I'am really excited to get started to having EXPLOSIVE FLOWER beds...........

Welcome Paradise. Your idea sounds interesting. Can't wait to here more about it. But, I'll be honest, I have no idea what a co-op is. :(

Donna

Old Flower Girl,

A Co-Op is where people come together to having buying power. So, initually to achieve a lower cost price for a purchase we need the volume-meaning the buyers.
So, then we will be buying what we would like at a more lower cost price for each individual. Like supply and demand, to drop pricing initually , and buying quanity as we would like.

Best Regards , Ingrid

Ok Ingrid, sounds good. Lower cost is good!

Here is a link to Dave's co-op primer: http://davesgarden.com/coop_primer/

Hi Ingrid,
I didn't know what a co-op was (in the gardeining context, that is) until you mentioned it - so I'm not sure I'm the best person to start it! But I'm willing to investigate. Let's all check out the primer first and take it from there. Thanks for the link, Pam.

Shannon

Shannon, From what I've seen - it is alot of work. I think first ,we should see who all wants in and there interest as far as what they would want to purchase and maybe then we could approach some company like Budds in the east end of Ottawa and see if they would want to deal.
I know for a fact they have quality and good business ethics as well. Then , maybe we could head it for spring so we will have everything covered- I'am more than happy to help you in this.Maybe, today I will ck them out and see what they think or if they have ever done this but it would help if we knew what we were into. Then , again maybe they would just give a bottom line discount over and above the price gage.
Let me know what you think..
Cheers, Ingrid

Not to rain on anyone's parade but we have the same problem as the grain farmers and the railways. There aren't really enough of us in any thing close proximity to make splitting orders economical. By the time we pay for additional shipping - the savings are generally gone. But it looks as though the Ontario/Quebec contingent might be hitting critical mass.

I think that's where we have to find the demand and where it's coming from in order to know how beneficial it could/can be.
I guess we have to see who would all be in and maybe break up some of the zones to make it feesable.
Cheers, Ingrid

I wonder about Chuck Chapman's Irises........if he would be willing to give a discount if we had enough interested and a large enough order?

Going together to order from an American Company like Logee's is also a possibility:
http://www.logees.com/store/ I'd love to go into a group order from there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

Sounds good to me.
Cheers, Ingrid

The Northern Lights Iris Society just did an order from Chuck Chapman. Very reasonable prices. If you like irises and you live in the colder parts of Canada, this is the Iris Society for you. The website is on yahoo. Inanda had a few blurbs on it when it was starting up. I hope she'll be along and check if I got that right.

Just saw Ingrid's suggestion of Budd's.....do they have a website?

Another one to consider is http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/. Recommended by DG and recently ordered a new plant listed in the Plant Database, Cupid's Dart (catananche) and they were so wonderful to deal with.

Found this, and can find Budds in the garden Watchdog. It's a good site to go on and look around.

E-mail orders: orders@buddgraphics.com

Telephone orders: Call (613) 824-9707.

Postal orders: Budd Graphics, Evelyn Budd RGD, 5729 Kemplane Court, Ottawa Canada K1W 1B8

In Person: Budd Gardens Perennials, 2832 Innes Road, Ottawa, Ontario (Blackburn Hamlet) Tel: (613) 830-4328.

Cheques or Money Orders are payable to "Budd Graphics".

Canadian: Shipping and handling $5.All Canadian orders, add 7% GST/HST

USA: Orders paid in U.S. currency (cheque or money order) include shipping and handling.

PDF of order form

Cheers, Ingrid

Can someone tell me- Are we able to trade with the ones from the United States ? From what I'am understanding we can't but even seeds?
Blessings, Ingrid

Some of us manage to get seeds across most of the time, but plants are a no-no.

Purchasing: We can order plants from an American Company if we fill out an import permit first listing the common and latin names of the plants. If it is approved we then can order but will have to pay for a phyto certificate and airfare. A group order is the only way to make ordering plants from the States a little more reasonable.



This message was edited Sep 9, 2004 8:25 AM

TRADES: The only way to bring plants, that you traded for, across the border is by car.....customs will allow some tropical and subtropical plants. Plants that we could plant in the ground ie. perennials, fruit trees, grasses, pine/spruce etc. would be confiscated....they could introduce viruses/diseases into our crops/forests.

Plants that are listed on the CITES list are also not allowed.

This message was edited Sep 9, 2004 8:23 AM

The above post deals especially with trades.......the import permit/phyto would not be needed for what customs considers is a houseplant. This is only applicable when the plants are brought back by a vehicle. All plants by mail have to be accompanied by an approved import permit as well as a phyto. certificate.



This message was edited Sep 9, 2004 8:29 AM

Yikes, I hope we can get seeds from the States. Like I said earlier, I just ordered from Hudson's Seeds in California a couple days ago. I'll let you all know if and when I get them.

Seeds We are allowed up to one pound of small seeds and 5 pounds of large. There are a few restrictions but not many yet. I did have one box that weighed just under the allowable weight and customs first decided to seize it and sent me a letter but a more senior staff person decided to let it through and I received both the official letter and my box of seeds.

However it is illegal for American's to receive seeds from any country outside the U.S.......most get through but not always!

This message was edited Sep 9, 2004 8:58 AM

Any plant brought across the border by car must be very clean/pest free and be planted in commercial potting soil.........garden dirt is highly frowned upon!!

If you do a plant trade and it is sent through the mail and customs does a check you *will* get an official warning letter or a fine. Assuming you have a plant mailed to you from a friend in the U.S. and customs does not check the package.....it will probably be dead when you receive it. Most packages, no matter what they contain, are held at customs for 10 to 14 days.

Thanks for posting this info everyone, I'd been wondering how this works as well.

Packages that contain live fish and/or plants and are accompanied by an import permit and phyto certificate will clear customs within 24 hours......so sayeth the custom officials that I have spoken too.

Anyone, in the Otawa or Gatineau or Hull area -Budds is holding a large discount on all of what they have.
Should call and see when they are holding it, maybe it will be better than a co-op right now for the time we're in.

Blessings, Ingrid

Thanks, Ingrid! I'm going to swing by their stand at the market and see what's going on, before making the drive out there.

Evelyn's also giving a talk on preparing your garden for winter, Tuesday at 7 at the Blackburn Hamlet branch of the OPL.

Shannon

:) Ingrid please let us know what they have to say.

Lilypon, I will let you know definetely.
Cheers, Ingrid

Shannon, if you go to the market check and see if you see one of the brothers there which is the owner. Have a chat and see if they would be interest in the idea. As far as the market I don't know if that's were their prices would be lower ,lot of traffic -I think they'll hold out longer before making a sale there-but who knows you can see and get all the info. Let me know how you faired out with all this.
take care Ingrid

Just as a little note, here's web info regarding "bringing plants into Canada in person from the Continental US and HI.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-01-03e.shtml

Ingrid, have you've gotten my e-mail?
Pam, haven't forgotten you but I've been very busy the last few weeks. I'll be packing up this weekend for you ;).
Sandra, yours also going to be wrapped up this weekend.

Milan



This message was edited Sep 10, 2004 6:24 PM

Hi Milan,

good think i checked this forum!.....I will look for it next week....thanks again

Sandy

Milan, I received it and sent another back to you.
Thanks, Again so Much for your helpfulness .
Blessings, Ingrid

Ingrid, Thanks for doing this legwork. I'm just checking the market location because I won't have time this weekend to drive out to Blackburn Hamlet. I'll let you know what they have to say!

Cheers,
Shannon

Hi all,

Ingrid, I went to the market yesterday but didn't see a stand from Budd's. The next time I'll have time is next Saturday; anything you're in a position to do before then, feel free to go ahead!
Aside from that, it was a great market day - lots of wonderful produce. I'm looking forward to fresh blackberries for dessert tonight!

Shannon