When a seed trader needs to list number of offers, how many seeds would that have to be? I can't help but assume that one person's offer is different from the next. As an example to maximize the number of potential trades, I'd really only want an offer of 10 tomato or pepper seeds of a given variety. Yet, to make most common columbines worth someone's effort, I'd offer at least 30 seeds. Is an offer considered just a reasonable amount?
What is considered an "offer"
what you feel is fair what you would want.. Hello new?/ welcome.. a minnesotan in okla. for 40 yrs..
Here was the advice given by seasoned traders when we wrote the Trading Primer:
Quoting:
How much seed is considered a "fair trade"?
* That depends on the seed - its size, the typical germination rate, and how rare it is. A general rule of thumb is to put at least a little more than the commercial seed catalogs offer in a package of similar seed. Very tiny seeds are usually measured in fractions of a teaspoon (1/16th, 1/8th, etc.); larger seed that are easily counted should be listed as number of seed.
* If your seed is rare and/or you have a small amount to trade, the general rules of thumb don't necessarily apply. Just be sure to let traders know how many seeds you can send, and they can choose whether it's worth the postage expense.
SSE uses the following guidlines:
- 25 seed minimum for most vegetables
- 200 seed minimum for corn
- 60 seeds of Brassica, Allium, and Apiaceae family seeds
For other plants, their rules are:
- four medium-sized tubers for potatoes and other root crops
- two whole garlic bulbs (not loose cloves);
- two 8" or longer scions each with at least 4 buds for grafts
If you don't want to follow these general rules of thumb, then I think telling people upfront that your offer is for 10 seeds (or whatever) is the fairest way to handle it - that way, the other trader knows what to expect and can decide if that's what he/she is willing to trade for ;o)
Hope43,
Nice to hear from a Minnesotan...especially one that was smart enough to get out of the ice box 40 years ago!
Thanks for the welcome I've actually been around for a little while now, but mainly haunt the tomato forum.
Terry,
The SSE guidelines were very useful. I'll just make the necessary notes on the seeds with lower quantities that I'm trading and then let the other trader decide if they want to do it or not.
Now on to the documenting of the trades...this could be a challenge, but I'm sure it is well worth it.