I posted for people who want to be in the secret swap I would send large box of named plants and leaves ! But they had to sign up for the swap / this was my requierment. Then people were Dmailing me from every where wanting plants ..so I closed offer. I am a small time grower living in a single wide trailer with one bedroom not a Nursery. These babies I am giving away I put leaves down even a year ago. I don't put many new ones down anymore and sent many out and just keep a few for myself.
Last time I posted plants for s/h
Jill posted
Hey, Allison.... I use Trade Tracker & find it really useful! Without it, I'd have a hard time keeping track of the spring wish/trade lists I've been putting together with some of the folks on this forum.
If you're also going to put together a Trade List ( a different thing than using the Tracker), however, I would suggest that you mark your trade list entries "for trade only" so you're not overwhelmed with requests from people (nonpaying members and passers-through as well as subscribers) to send plants for postage. Some folks have stopped putting up trade lists at DG because unfortunately some people are really rude in the way they ask for things... well, they don't always even ask, they act like they're placing an order... So if you do a Trade List, remember that "Sorry, no" is a perfectly good answer. And you might end up having less hassle if you just post your "available" list here... in fact, if you post it as at least the second item as a thread, then I believe only subscribers will be able to read it.
I should add that I've traded with both members and subscribers, and I've posted a Trade List without having much trouble with it... but I figured I'd pass along some of what I'd read in the Trading forums, just so you were aware of potential issues. I hope nobody is offended by that, and I'm certainly not trying to start a fight (some of the threads on these topics have become heated).
Who could fight with Precious's mommy?
I agree with you Allison :)
I did that also..I have for trade or SH and I was bombarded.
:) I dont' mind sharing with my friends on here, even if they dont' have much to trade..but I don't have the time or the resources to send to everyone you hear from when you offer to send them just for shipping
What I've started doing is putting a number limit on my batch trade offers. I'll say something like I have 5 boxes - the first 5 to post here shall have them (and you must post here on this thread). Any dmails get a reply asking that they post on the thread. When there are 5, I post to say so, and also edit the top post to say the offer is closed. It's a bit unfair to the people who don't check the forum all the time, but I have to make the trades manageable or I wouldn't be able to do any of it.
And with each trade I may have different "rules" - I first ask myself, how can I make this happen? Do I have to say that I may not be able to ship promptly? Do I only have time to pack boxes with less than 6 plants? Do I have time to wrap pots, or could I do this if only if I only do cuttings?
Lucky for me, though - I don't have a lot of AVs to trade so I usually don't get bombarded ;-)
Let me clarify by saying that I was posting about a thread where we'd mentioned that maybe we should all post Trade Lists (which is a different section here at DG; I'm not talking about our proposed want/have sticky). I wanted to point out that Trade Lists had their pros & cons... and that trading with established members vs new members vs subscribers could be a hot button topic (that's the only "fight" I wanted to avoid -- certainly I'd never want to fight with Allison, 2zues!).
With the Have/Want sticky we've been discussing... I think we should just keep in mind that these are offers of what people *might* have available to trade, if they're able to put a trade together at that time and if a good agreement can be reached. I've never seen it happen on this forum, but sometimes lists of what might be available for trade get treated like a catalog, with people Dmailing to say, send me these 5 plants for postage by next week.
The vast majority of DGers are both generous and polite... so if you get requests from any who aren't, or if you're just not able to trade at that time for some reason, well, you shouldn't feel guilty about saying no. I think that's the part that Allison was trying to reiterate by repeating my previous post above.
Yes Jill I was ! I was not saying you were fighting with me God no your a sweet heart.
I know you posted this to help me as I've been trying to get a list together . ( but I've shipped out about 200 plants and lost track leaves free to people for s&h) sense mid November 2005 and my list keeps changing so it's been impossible to make a list.
You were helping me and I am happy you did as you post trade or for shipping people come out of the wood work. Why should I have to ship plants out that took me maybe a year to grow and I pay big bucks for the leaves, soil, pots, electricity,all the cost that goes into growing them to everyone. I can't sorry. When I shipped all thses plants above spoken of 99 pwecwnt were for people that had NONE, or NO named African violets plants . I stepped up to the plate to help each and every person that would enjoy a large box of healthy plants and leaves :))
But I am also gratful to you Jill for helping me understand I don't have to feel bad saying NO :))
I don't have the means, money, time, health and million other reasons lol why I can not and prefer not to ship free plants to everyone.
So I narrow it down to paid subscribers to DG gardens and active people in our African violet forum.
Most people I sent out to were new at the moment and posted once but I shipped to them . There has not been one person in this group that wanted a box of healthy plants that did not get them :))
The other 1 percent was trades. Bob and Lorry sent me the most fablous plants and more, and I had a trade with someone when I first joined . I shipped expsive plants Plumerias, Begonias..what the person wanted. And sad to say my Av's I wanted badly were not poackage well and all were mush dead. The box also went out of the Country and I sent Global Prioeity Airmail so it was costly too. And I was left with nothing :((.
And again I am gratful Jill helped me to know I shouldn't feel guilty about saying no :))
Allison...you are such a sweetie and i will glady send things to you and expect absolutely nothing in return.....BUT..of course i get such joy in sharing that ...THAT is more than any anythng could possibly bring..And i am well aware of the many hours of nurturing..caring...and love that goes into your plants....I, too, like many of us i'm sure...have sent things out and not had the other party return their part...i just pass it off and don't worry about it...But I must tell you Allison..the box you sent me last week made me so happy that i was absolutely in tears of joy...and when i "visit" each one you sent i see your smiling face...that is my special joy...thanks again so much and please remember how much you are loved and appreciated....Bob
Bob your a sweetheart. And kind and sharing and I really am over joyed and happy , thrilled and appreciated so :))
So far I have had two wonderful trade here on our Dg Av forum you and Lorry.
Now Laurie has sent me wonderful box for her great contest wow !
And Jan makes me little gifts. A real nice book mark and she making me another gift !
And Zerus she sent me the best box just beacause all the way from Canada !
Oh wow I can never forget my Camera :))
I just can't trade with everyone, so I choose to trade with active Av memebers :))
Oh yes Joseph sent me the most aweseom Sun florwer seeds and were trading in the Spring . And Meyring sent me seeds and I am going to send her a plant of my favorite Chirita :))
allison...i absolutely love the chirita you sent me...and the leaves are so beautiful...i have seen a couple for sale...but i am...at this point..trying to get myself disciplined and not having too many going at same time...he he..good luck on that...i love to garden whether indoors or out....i am going to get you off a nice box this monday...i want to share several leaves of things i have plus some outdoor plants...bob
Allison - and everyone else for that matter - I feel that you should be able to choose who you wish to trade with and why. It is no one else's business as to why. I have never met a more caring and compassionate group as I have found here in the AV forum and in the other's as well. I so look forward to jumping on the computer and seeing what's up with my new friends! You are the first people I think of when I wake up and the last before I go to sleep. If there are people who don't hold up their end of the trade - which for all intent and purpose is a contract - then they have no business trading and shame on them. What comes around goes around, I say. They are missing out on what life should be - shared with friends.
PS - I think that trading should be to subscribers - everyone else has to pay, why not them? That's just me
I feel the same way Anita
I'm a small time hobbie grower for enjoyment. :))
Last year I was able to put a lot of leaves down giving me extra babies I choose to share with paying DG Av active forum people :)) I don't have much room one little bedroom single wide tiny shore trailer. But I enjoy and Blessed by God I was able to grow them :))
Each leaf cup can give you several plants soo much fun !
Your so correct Anita :))
I bought and paid big bucks for mine :))
anita...i think you have some very valid points...and i tend to agree with you about the subscribers...i can honestly say that i would terribly miss all of you..and i haven't been around here that long...by the way...I'm still waiting for THORNLESS blackberry plants from TExas that were traded for 5 years ago...lol....
fore i forget..i did write to jack about my violets i bought...he states that he's been having difficulties in his family and hopes to get them out next monday
Bob- at least he returned your email - I'm still waiting for an answer from violetlab about my question on when they might have more Fruit Fly!
anita....i don't know about violetlab....i better not find out..he he...too much temptation