Life Experiences: Seed Trading

I tried trading seeds for 3 years.

9 different traders,

Most were supossed to be heirlooms or potato leaf varities.

What I got, was 2 to 3 ft plants, 2 or 3 small hard fruit that never rippened.

1 trader sent diseased seeds.

Common thread All believed Dr. Males thing on 4 to 6 ft is enough to prevent cross pollination.

Wasted 3 years and places I could have had 3 dz productive plants, per year.

I don't trade anymore.


Byron

I ve only been trading a year now seeds at first, then i discovered plant trades! yahoooo
I havent recieved any bad plants and most of the time i have gotten extras! Thats to bad about all the luck you had-so to speak!
Two traders sent me a box of plants and seeds-just because we had emailed and talked. I was getting them a surprise box ready at the same time they were getting mine. GREAT MINDS~ (i have to invite them here-i forgot)
I cant wait till spring-i want to have a plant trade!
Maybe this is a new place to try trading again- ;]
dori

Byron,

This rhetoric is counter-productive to the open and friendly atmosphere that we currently enjoy here at Dave's Garden.

If it were clear that your intentions were pure and you aren't just griping, sulking, and complaining, then there wouldn't be a problem here; but as it is I've received many complaints in E-mails from other members about your overbearing and bullying tactics when the debates on this site don't go the way you want them.

Dave's Garden is a place for friendly discussion, not for charged debate. I love what DG has become, and I'll fight to prevent the degradation of the same. Please don't ruin this for everyone.

Dave

WELL said Dave ; I believe that you should get to know your trader a bit first and find out if you both have common ground and experience that match . That is why I can be difficult to trade with , BUT regardless I am usually polite ;) ....unless you want to rumble in the jungle ;))
During the 100's of trades I have executed over the last 4 years , maybe 4 were problems . I can live with that margin of undesirables cause to experience life is to take risks :) Rock On !!

new to seed trading here. Only have traded with a good friend. we usually wind up trading seedlings we've raised.She tries some of this,i try some of this...
Every thing is attitude. I have "met" some alike people on this site. Some have grown into friendship(long distance since they come from all over) I look forward to seeing their thoughts on the treads. I get a kick of reading the words,looking a t the pictures. What a world we live in!!
Dave: the other day had a problem with some part of this program, you had to go into the computer (long distance) and you fixed it. I told someone of this and they were alarmed that i would let someone gointo the c. I never even considered the thing. Seed trading is a bit like that. For that matter isn't just planting anything such a gift. Everytinme i put a seed/plant in the ground i can never believe it when it comes up. Small pleasures. I mark the small pleasures down among my garden notes. During the winter i randomly reread.(to refresh my mind, as my memory is like a sieve) I found an entry from 5 yrs ago. I was digging in early spring, i think putting in a rose bush. I found this little group of eggs..with little bitty frogs half in and half out of the shells. They were all dead. What a miracle. I can barely believe it happened except I saw it and wrote it down..but time to get back to my life chores.

Byron,
Everyone has different experiences, especially with seed trading. It is sad that you haven't had any good experiences with trading and I know that we all have something not go right with some trades...I'm the first one to gripe to myself about crushed/lost/wrong/damaged/inaccurate/etc..seeds...BUT..
the good in seed trading has far outshown anything else! Because of seed trading, I have a wonderful garden and more is still to come as I prepare new seeds for their new home here. If your heart is set on a guarantee of a seed to perform within specific guidelines, then perhaps it is best to order from a guaranteed seed supplier. When we trade seeds here, we are putting our faith in the accuracy of another, however, seed trading is more than just getting the seed. It means sharing with like-minded people the joy of gardening and sharing bounty, beautification and personal pride in sending a part of your garden to another. We all can get store-bought seed but the essence of seed trading is more than what comes in a package. Keep your faith up, since goodness manages to grow :)
Trish

Again, well said Dave! If anyone needs an example of what can happen to a forum, go to www.basset.com, members are leaving in droves (including my wife) because of some people's attitudes and messages they post. Please don't let that happen to Dave's Garden, I just found this site and became a member a few days ago and I am amazed and delighted at the friendliness and willingness of members to share their knowledge and to help out others in their gardening efforts.

You have a great site, let's keep it that way! Thanks.

Big Red ...good name .....my favorite gum !!!!:) There are also a couple other garden sites that members are leaving in droves due to attitudes and arrogance . Your posting is honest & well said , Big Red . Rock On Dave's Garden !!

Dave

I guess I didn't come aross the way I wanted.

I did post it as a life experience.

That is an experince that happened to me, Odds are no one else will have those problems. I hope not.


BUT it can happen.

Just a heads up.

thank you Dave for stepping in...it really was getting to be a bit too much (and it seemed there was actuall shouting on one thread). I very seldom trade anymore but this is due to time constraints. I'm willing to trade tho...for a number of yrs I was inundated with too many trades and it was hard to keep up with, my fault entirely! (Then again, it seems I am always trying to do too much too soon and too fast. BURNOUT! In all my trading I've always been happy. As mentioned above it is more than just the seeds/plants. It's the sharing, the friendship, the newness, the history, the stories. Many folks around here come or call me for a bit of history or looking for seeds and such, (or are directed to me at the farmer's market where I sell. It's a standard protocol there to hear someone say to a customer "Oh yeh, you need to go see that guy over there in the big hat." Meaning me. It's a very pleasant feeling). So much of my info came from trading, and friendships that followed. Let's all keep up the friendliness, the discussions, and the ability to trade parts of ourselves, eh? eh?
And Byron, you've got some good useable knowledge there so please continue to post. Those 3 yrs were not really wasted if you learned from them. Like other matters in life it seems the outcome is not what determines whether the path was a positive one or a negative one...the journey itself usually counts much more. Now, let's all get on to some more wonderful journeys (besides, I'm looking for some seeds for plumgrannies! ;>)

Byron : Yeah , I do agree that the written word does get misinterpreted from time to time . Please keep sharing your experiences so we can all continue the life long learning process together :) Rock ON !!

I have done 100's of trades and have been very happy. This winter I traded for enough lupins to start 6 flats. I started them less than 3 weeks ago 2 seeds to each cell. I have a 100% cell success rate. And 7-10 days ago I started a flat of rose of sharon 25% are up already. That said I have also had a few bad trades but I have also purchased bad seeds.
I always start at least 1/3 to 1/2 more plants than I need (I do keep/plant all tree and shrub seedlings). That way should I have ANY kind of problems I should still be OK. Also if I want lupins I don't get them all from one trader, just incase. Every year I end up with lots of extra seedlings and every year they go to the plant swaps with me or to friends and neigbors.
Your "bad" seeds could just have easily been something really cool. Maybe even a plant worth naming. What if the person that raised the first red sunflower had said yuck the stupid thing is red! Variety is the spice of life that includes the good the bad and the ugly...

Byron,

You really oughtta start trading again. There's no way to guarantee that you will not have any difficulties, however I find that if you are expecting a certain standard, communication is key. Don't be afraid to let trading partners know exactly what your expectations are and tell them to do the same for you. Conducting yourself in a courteous and considerate manner always goes a long way to ensuring a good trade and the general well-being of all concerned.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Mike