Why are newbies extra deserving?

"Newbies Only Seed Trade" "SASE for Newbies, only!" "Just for NEWBIES!"

What makes newbies so great? Seriously, though, why would newly registered Davesgarden members be any more appreciative of a seed exchange than a longstanding member?

Perhaps the underlying assumption is that newbies are often fairly new to gardening too (or maybe starting out again in a new location and zone), and this is a way for the authors of these trades/SASEs to give back a little and help someone to get started without needing to compete against all of the rest of us. Not to belittle any of your concerns at all, but my own personal opinion is that it's just a nice thing to do.

If there is something that you see in one of these trade lists that you would really, really like to have, why don't you consider Dmailing the author privately and asking to be considered if there are any left over at the end of the trade? I know I wouldn't mind receiving this type of request. In fact I have received - and followed up on - similar requests.

Respectfully........Ginny

I browse the trading forums about once a week and while there are some of these out there, there are still plenty of opportunities for non-newbies to trade, the vast majority of trades & round robins appear to be open to everyone. And I'm sure if there's a particular plant/seed that you were just dying for and the only person who had it was offering it only to newbies, I'm sure they'd consider your request. My guess would be that people are just trying to be nice and help people get to know DG and what a great place it is, and help new people get started with trading. I think some new people may be reluctant to jump right in with trades, and this would help them get involved, then hopefully once they see how well trading works, then they will participate by contributing seeds/plants, and there will be more overall stock of stuff to trade, which is good for everyone.

Hello,

When I first joined Dave's, I was rejected on trades because I was told by several long time members that they had been "stiffed" by newbies. I was sorry to hear that anyone was "stiffing" other people in DG's (or anywhere else for that matter), but I have to admit that my feelings were hurt. I loved the DG community and wanted to feel like I belonged and was welcome to join in what others were doing here too. So instead, I took a different approach and I started a Newbie Round Robin, where I made friends from both old timers and newbies. It is a nice way to get your feet wet when you are new and trying to establish yourself here. IMHO, that is why you will see Newbie Sponsored posts.

BTW, If you want to join any of the Newbie things, I'm sure you would be more than welcome. I was thrilled to have long time members ask to join my RR, because I didn't think they would be interested, but I found that the majority of DG'ers are good hearted and here for the same reasons.

lafko06,

Sounds like you're a Newbie I'd like to know !

I believe it is a way of welcoming new traders that may not have a lot of seeds to trade.

I agree- it's silly. ; ) I was a member for a year before I really got into the forums and started watching the seed trading forum. By then, I was sure I didn't qualify as a newbie. But I think those seeds are probably more common varieties that we could get anywhere or just really old and I figured it was never a big loss.

I know something equally as silly- why don't we start a trade for the "oldies!" hahaha SOO just kidding!

I think there are various reasons why posted offers are specifically for newbies.

Some probably include:

New to DG and gardening in general.

A way to drag them out of lurking status and get them involved in the forums.

A way to make sure that some body other than a seed hound gets them.


I've always thought it was a nice way to welcome newbies to DG and to give them a chance to try their hand at seeds they may know nothing about.

I know that when I was a newbie I was befriended by a sweet member who I will not name. But his generosity made me feel welcome, and before long, had joined actively, and was not a DG lurker. You never know what a few seeds will do to strengthen a "gardening bond". Just go for it, and don't begrude those "newbie trades".

Thanks everyone for answering my grumpy question so nicely.

luvsgrtdanes: "I believe it is a way of welcoming new traders that may not have a lot of seeds to trade."

JustJen: "A way to drag them out of lurking status and get them involved in the forums."

I'm really good at gardening, when it comes to trees and shrubs. (I'm actually an expert at growing trees from seed), but I'm a total newbie with flower seeds. Most everyone else seems to be an expert at growing flowers, and I'm just behind you, you--flower experts, you!

Can I just say "Hello, I'm a newbie to flowers (perennials/ annuals)?" Because I really am. I do like growing plants from seed, and I have a lot to offer. It's just that people don't tend to want tree/shrub seeds that I can offer, and it's rare that anyone offers any tree/shrub seeds. I tried asking to trade perennial seeds on the seed exchange, which was.....oh, mildly successful. One potential trade in the making, which will be great when it happens.

And yes, defoecat, the personal exchange is the best part! I think it's so nice that people offer personal interchange, or knowledge about the plant, or whatever info they have to offer.

Even people who have done something really silly, such as the lady who gave me no return address for her SASBE, except what was printed on the stationary from a Dentist's office. So, I mailed the seeds to that Dentist's office's address, thinking she worked there, or something. Well, no. A week later she emailed me to ask if I was going to mail her seeds anytime soon. So apparently, the dentist's office received some unexpected seeds. So of course I mailed the lady another set of seeds to her true address.
But, 3 years later, I'm still chuckling about it. So even "bad" seed trades can be good, sometimes. As long as a trade os successful return of a SASBE happened, it's a good trade, in my opinion.

I really enjoy seed trading, and, although you all have given some fairly good reasons, I just don't really understand why newbies should get privilige in seed exchange, that's all.

This message was edited Sep 13, 2006 11:48 PM

This message was edited Sep 13, 2006 11:56 PM

Wow, owl, my west coast twin!

Give me woodies every day; that's my bailiwick as well. I'm happy when perennial native wildflowers do their thing in my fields, but I'm much more interested in growing out certain trees/shrubs (as if you couldn't guess what).

I'd be pretty interested in seeds from perennial permanent-stemmed species; maybe a few dmails are in order to see what we've got.

I would absolutely be a newbie to DG seed trading; dibs on owl's nest.

Send me a dmail, I have a few that I can send you!

Do you know of any fast growing trees that will do good in zone 4/5?

Sometimes newbie offers are fairly ordinary stuff that most seasoned gardeners would already have. It is sort of fun to package up 15-20 packs of seeds and offer them to a new gardener. It looks like Christmas when they receive them! Often they are things you would have a hard time trading, because they are things "everybody" else already has. Don't see the newbie offers as discluding you but try to see them as a way to get someone started. If you need help getting started, definately ask!

You could even start your own post! "Newbie needs flower seeds". Let your opening post tell about your experience with trees from seed and your desire to grow flowers. If people aren't interested in the trees, many will still offer you flower seeds. :)

I think the thought of growing trees from seed is probably daunting for many. I've grown a few over the years and know about the double dormancy and sometimes long waits to see a sprout. Maybe you could offer advice on how to grow them, which are quick, which grow fast and why it's worth the wait for others! Maybe you could interest more people in growing them.

That said, I have fresh Cleome, Canna and Mexican Hats right now. Click my name and Dmail me if interested. :)

Undercover, I have lots you can have for postage, Dmail me and tell me what you like. I would love to share some!

Hi Owl,

I have some basic newbie stuff too which I will send you if you d-mail me your address. I wish I had something fabulous to send but I owe some other DG'ers that stuff this year. I would be glad to send seeds from miniature hollyhocks (three colors, red, yellow and pink), echinacea (purple and white), rudabeckia, and hosta seeds. Lemme know!

Also, I love badseed's recomendation and think others (self included) would loooove to hear how to grow trees from seed. What an accomplishment! I'd love to teach my girls how to do that too. If you open a new post in any of the forums on this, would you please d-mail me so I don't miss out on it?

Thanks!

Megan

I have large Oak and Hickory trees, therefore I'm constantly pulling up seedlings. Seems a shame, but otherwise I would live in a forest.

Megan, I can send you tons of acorns or hickory nuts, some may already be sprouting. I would think that they would need to stratify, so I would put them in a pot and leave it out for the winter. Be sure to label the pot and watch it next spring for sprouts.

I am a semi-newbie.... I guess. There have been folks that have been really great to me here and I like that. I think this is a great place. I am learning a lot, and that was my reason for joining. So I think the seed trades to "Newbies Only" or whatever, the very few that I have seen but have not partaken in, are simply because they are trying to help the new folks out and get them established and learning and such... that way, in turn, they can offer seeds at some point. Teaching others to work with seeds yeilds more seeds!

I know I haven't asked for any seeds, but people have offered them to me... and I have accepted. I will indeed trade with these people first and on priority. But trading to newbies only... that's not an all the time thing. I've been watching so I know. And I truly believe it's with the best of intentions.

Donna

This message was edited Sep 19, 2006 9:30 AM

undercover_owl: I don't know how well they show up on this pix but all the trees on the far left I started from (some) seedlings pulled up from my gardens at home and/or the "helicopter" seeds. One of my trees is approx. 20-25 ft. tall and only 6 years old. I'm pretty proud of these BUT I bought some Japanese maple seeds and have not been able to get them to germinate, ...any suggestions???

To toss in my two cents....

A lot of newbies, like me, probably are starting their first garden entirely from scratch and have nothing. I had no knowledge, no experience, no seeds, moondust soil, and not even a garden rake. And I'm very thankful for the people here at DG who sent me plants, gave me advice, and answered my stupid newbie questions.

The newbie offers, the way I see it, are kind of like "welcome to the neighborhood" packages.

I'm also new, both to Daves and to gardening. I interpret the newbie offers exactly as White_Hydrangea. Although I've not participate in any offers, I feel like I'm being welcomed by someone who knows I have nothing of any interest to experienced gardeners to offer in return. It's a really good feeling to be welcomed in such a way!

Hi, I have a comment to make about seed trades gone bad. I'm a newby and have gained a wealth of information from the awesome people here. I recently had a request for seeds and I was so excited to start trading that I literally went right out and collected the seeds and mailed them off a few days later along with a couple bonus packs of others I had. This person offered up postage but it was only a bit over a buck so I declined, it seemed petty to ask for money on such a small amount so he offered a trade. Well that was two months ago, no seeds came in return, and now this person won't even respond to my D-mail. It was my first experence, and now I'm feeling like 'stupid me' for being so accommodating. So if someone out there is kind enough to offer up seeds to newbys to help them get involved and make it a good experience, well then I think that's just great! Christina

Christina,

I think your experience is more the exception rather than than the rule. It's unfortunate that some folks would do that. I've only had a few trading experiences myself... they sent what they promised... however, some do not really take care in how they are shipped and they are pretty much no good when they reach the recepient (me).

It's always a risk. You just have to weigh out the risk. Also, there are comments that you can leave on people's profile. Check them out... see if anyone has traded with them before.

You'll find that the more regular folks around here are more apt to package properly and do send as expected.

Use your Trade Tracker. And don't trade with the folks that don't do good by you again.

Take care,
Donna

And please use the trading feedback system. That's what it is there for.

The Attn: to Newbie offers gives the new comers an opportunity to not be a newcomer any more. An opportunity to get some trading experience in and gain a good reputation as a good trader.

Molly
:^))))

cnswift, as Donna said, that's really not common. You can leave them back feedback by clicking on their DG name, then clicking on the "Leave Feedback for..." link on the left side. Doing this helps others from being scammed. I felt bad at first about leaving bad feedback for a DGer, but I waited 5 months after being repeatedly promised and then, like you, he was silent. I don't think it's fair that he keeps getting packages from DGers and doesn't do his part. And I see him trying to trade all the time. So I think my little note helps others remember to be more cautious. Perhaps my little note will even save you from trading with him. ; )
Cheryl

Oops...sorry...I was typing when you also mentioned giving feedback.

Thanks you guys. I figured this wasn't the norm, but I'll definitely do my homework first next time. I hadn't thought about how seeds should be packaged for shipping - is there a preferred way? I just stuck them in a bubble envelope, but maybe that squishes them too much?

Definately use a bubble envelope! Plain old envelopes often go through automated machines no matter how many notes your write on them. Then the other person ends up with dust, depending on what the seeds were.

I took the summer off and applied for a job at the garden centre in a HD here, and got in, not easy, very demanding application process, but I am a knowledgeable gardener and squeaked in (don't ask me how many strokes an engine has).

I am astonished at how much basic advice I have given over the last six months. People don't know the basics... they NEED a teacher. Sure, I told people what to buy ( and Mr. HD made money), but my real goal was to help my customer amend the soil, create a visual focal point, save the plums, grace a daughter's memory, seed a lawn on sand or clay...

My point is that so many people on DG come here for advice. I know I fit into this category. They happen upon the site, join up, and start asking innocent questions. We who can relate to the problem because we have lived through the same thing can share the experience That's what the site is for.

I have learned an enormous amount from people here on DG who love to give advice to a 'newbie'. I know that I gave very sound advice to customers when I was at HD this summer. This is all good.

And while I may be very knowledgeable in some gardening subjects, I have much to learn in others, so I am always a newbie. I hope I deserve some special treatment when I need it. Most people here are willing to give it. That makes DG what it is.

andycdn,

Very well put!!!

Donna

All good points and I must add that I sent cuttings to a very OLD member last spring and still have not received postage. So you can also get stiffed by old members. I had been warned in advance by other OLD members but went ahead and sent them in good faith...hate to cause problems here but I am considering giving some negative feedback on that one.

Happy Gardening!

Just possible? Did your recipient maybe forget, and not know that he/she owes you? And is possibly reading this right now and not knowing it's him/her?

I was thinking the same thing nap. I can't remember if it could be me or not. LOL

It could also be possible that the package you mailed didn't get to the person expecting it, and they are wondering why you didn't send it? I would try to contact them first, before leaving feedback.

I knew I should not have mentioned this; all of you GOOD people immediately worry if it was you! It wasn't.

I received the request in March
Sent the cuttings and she responded back exactly what she received.
April 20th said she would send the cash on the 21st
Didn't receive anything and emailed her a VERY GENTLE reminder as I know she is very defensive with people.

On May 17th I received THIS response:

"if u have paypal acct.,, this could have been resolve long time ago.

i wish u were standing in my shoe to understand the hell i am presently going thru.

1. i have heart, severe acid reflux problem and hypertention problem, ex husband terminated my medical coverage out of spite. i have been busy chasing my lawyer to file an ex-parte court request to reinstate my medical coverage.

when one is broke, down and out, everyone seems to give u the ran around.

2. i am dealing with a fanatic/lunatic landlady who had done nothing but abuse and harrass us. my grandma was right, u do not know who u deal with until, u live with them in the same roof. the one bedroom rent is suppose to be $550.00/mo with utilities included. now the owner want us to pay 2/3 of her utility bills where she has 3 bedroom, 2 baths and has 2 handyman working for her, but she never paid them. to make matters worst, she has a big waterfall/pond on our line, the ligths of her stable too, the washer and dryer too. the electrical panel should only ran 20 amp where on our side alone is already running more 30 amps which is a fire hazard. most of the time the electricity on our side goes off constantly.

3. there is hardly any food on the table: my house buddy has $700.00 SSI, and i only get $150.00 food stamp on monthly basis.

4. we are 10 miles from the post office, there is hardly money for gas to go to the post office.

do not worry, ur $5.00 will soon be reimburse when things got settled down around here. i know! my present problem should not be a concern for u. i was just hoping u will understand where i am coming from, as my plate is very full and am so stress out.

i am not one who skips my responsibility. i hope u understand. "

It is not worth the $4 for the trouble she will stir up publicly here but I do feel I better post a comment so others know. Most people know by seeing her last few years of posting to stay away from her. I just am not on enough to read enough to catch up with all that.

In all the years I have been on Dave's that is the only bump in the road I have hit so maybe I should consider myself lucky.

Enough said . . .

I just went and posted a neg response on her page. Interesting that there were no negatives but mine so she dealt well with some people. Evidently the bad experiences were never posted. I never post good or bad on people. This was my first time to post on anyone.

Well, Twin Lakes Chef, it seems there's much more to this story than was originally known. I am sincere in hoping that the negligent party will be reading this and realize how important it is to be sensitive to others. In fact, we can all learn something from this. Thanks very much for sharing your story with us.

Personally, I hope she doesn't see it . . . she will go ballistic as she has in the past . . . just know that this is a very public place with MOSTLY very nice people.

I love Dave's and would never give it up. But amongst so many nice people it is easy for those with their own personal agenda to lurk and it is sometimes very hard to see them unless all you do during your day is read every thread on here. Personally, I have a very busy but enjoyable life outside of here and don't care for unpleasant things to muddy it up.

I know that if I ever needed anything . . . someone here would come through for me. Most of the time I choose not to ask. I fully believe that just because people offer things to you it is not ALWAYS OK to accept. That also encompasses asking for advice . . . usually a search on Dave's will answer the question.

Have a lovely day in the garden!

TwinLakesChef,

Wow! I don't know who this person is or anything to do with stuff you have described. I'm still sorta new I guess. But I do make sure that I make good on my end. As you sorta said, I think 99% of the folks here probably are good folks and have nothing but good intentions.

I'm sorry that you have had to deal with this person. It's hard when you get a message like that. You don't know if it's true or not.

Off topic a bit... how do you send cuttings?

Take care,
Donna

I have dealt with the same person and known her for many years. I haven't had a problem like such and we traded a couple of years ago. I have to seriously wonder if it is because of all of her medical problems that you were slighted. I recently sent her a box full of cuttings and was paid triple the postage I asked for to send the box. I told her she had sent way too much and she insisted she had not and to keep her in mind next time I am cutting things back. I know she has had a really horrible medical problems over the last year or two. Maybe she will see your feedback and fix things. I'm betting that she lashed out because of frustration with life and not you.

TwinLakesChief- I think it's great that you took that stand and told the rest of us about your trade gone wrong by leaving negative feedback. The person I left feedback for also seemed like a very well-liked person. But he should have sent his box just like your person should've sent postage. If she didn't have the money, she shouldn't have asked for the cuttings. It was irresponsible.

The person I was doing a trade with kept telling me he was too busy to go digging- but I saw him trading potted plants with others and even offered me one FOR POSTAGE!! lol I told him he could send it in exchange of the plant he was going to dig up, and he declined.

Maybe not everyone gets ripped off by these people we've been trading with, but WE DID. And so others could, too. It doesn't mean that every trade is a bad one. Leaving neg feedback just helps others make a better informed decision and realize there's a risk.