Hosting My First Seed Exchange :)

Hello All you NorthEasterner's :)

I was thinking of hosting my first Seed Swap this fall amongst us colder zoner's :)
I have never done this before so if any of you have, PLEASE pipe in with any suggestions or advice as I certainly could use it.

Here are a few thoughts of the type of exchange I would like to host:

1. I would like to request seeds from "reseeders" in our gardens so that people in the exchange can winter sow them.
2. I would like to only include perennials only hardy to zone 5 or 6 (zone 4 would even be better but at least to zone 5 or 6)
3. I would like to keep it simple for newer gardeners or gardeners who grow basically for looks, not collectors of the rare and exotic.
4. Latin names are fine but common names/colors are fine too. If you know the Latin Name or the Given Name, please include it but if not, that's OK too. Example: Hot Pink Cranesbill/Hardy Geranium is fine. If the person ever wants to find out it's Latin name they can always try to get an ID on the ID forum after it blooms. I know for me, that isn't important but to alot of people it is.
5. I would like pictures of each of the flowers for the seeds (if possible) sent for the exchange to be D-Mailed to me so I can forward the pictures to the people who will be receiving them. I will be sending pictures of every seed type I collect.
6. Common plants are fine. I find I don't have alot of the common "old time faithful" perennials (such as larkspur, flax etc.) and would LOVE to try them.
7. If the plant is invasive by means of runners, please inform on the packet of seeds. (Example, Campanula Punctata or Obedient Plant).
8. I would like to commit to only 20 people so that this doesn't run away with me.
9. I ask that if you'd like to play that you D-Mail me:
a. Your address
b. Favorite garden color
c. Whether or not you want invasives (some people are just starting out and the more invasive the better)
d. How long you have been gardening
e. What plants you already have
f. A couple of plants you would like to have in order to try to winter sow :)
10. I will try very hard to keep an intricate spreadsheet of what everyone sent so that everyone will get 10 DIFFERENT types of seeds in return.
11. All baggies need to contain 15 seeds for each type of seed and I ask for 10 different types of plants. If you can't do 10 different types, it's OK to send 2 packets of 15 seeds from the same variety. We were all new once.
12. When sending your seeds, please include $1.50 for return postage ($1.50 for 10 different types of seeds isn't bad). Should the postage be more for whatever reason, I will make up the difference.
13. If I run into any snags, I have a seedbox and will find something in there so that everyone gets back at least 10 different plant types than what they sent.
14. "Mixed colors" are fine. Example: Lupine, mixed colors (again, please D-Mail a picture so that the person will know what colors COULD be in the mix :)
15. Should any of you experienced, well groomed gardeners out there have extra seeds to send along, I will be happy to spread them around to any of the newer gardeners who might really LOVE to have them. I will be putting alot of thought and research into the envelopes when I mail them back.
16. I will start another thread for everyone to post when and what they received in the swap.
17. Some seeds may arrive with "sluff" along with them (especially tiny tiny seeds)....this is part of small seeds. Try to remove as much as possible but expect that smaller seeds are very hard to deal with.

Please post sign ups here and then D-Mail me the requested information privately.

If I have neglected anything, please let me know as I'm sure others will have some GREAT ideas.

I'm posting this early so that we can be taking pictures of our parent plants to be.
I'm looking to start the swap around November 15th. This will give even us most Northerner's the opportunity to collect the most variety seeds as possible (even asters etc.) and still leaves plenty of time for winter sowing planning. It also gives me plenty of time to get my spreadsheet together, research everyones Dave's pages to see what you have, what you are looking for, what zone you're in etc. so that I can send some special envies to everyone :)

Okie Dokie, I think I have everything but I'm sure some of you will come up with some new thoughts.............so it's officially open :)

Kim

You've got d-mail

I just printed out your information :)
Thanks for joining.....I think this will be alot of fun :)

Kim

Seandor, what are your thoughts on this?
I was thinking that since we're winter sowing most of these that maybe I should include annuals also? Maybe state no more than 3 annuals so that 7 of them are perennials?
What do you think? Anyone?

Kim

You're the boss - I think you had better limit it to very hardy annuals that grow quickly. I have larkspur that I winter sowed, and I might not see blooms until August at this rate! On the other hand, the linaria are fabulous (who know mass planting of such tiny flowers would look so terrific!), as are the bachelor buttons, baby's breath, and annual poppies.

Hope this helps :-)

I think we'll stick with perennials, I know lots of times I don't want to bother with annuals. I want something that's going to survive winter and keep coming back for more :)

Kim

Good plan :-)