To make it easier on anyone who would volunteer for the newbie packets it could be divided among several people and have them listed as zone people to contact. The newbie in Zone 7 for example would contact a person representing that zone and be sure to get seeds that would work for that zone.
As far as giving information on growing the seeds, it could be listed as a post in a new forum, perhaps, that Dave could make for the newbie seed packets.
If the person representing the certain zone would post information on germination etc.on that forum it would save on having to use printer ink to send to the person. Ink and paper can get expensive. You wouldn't want to have the person volunteering for this to be taxed with extra expenses.
I think maybe first having Dave make the forum and then have someone in charge and selecting the volunteers and everything would be needed. It sounds like the whole idea is a great one, but would need someone willing to get it all organized and running would be needed.
No, I am not volunteering either. Sounds like a big project, but a good one.
Who takes care of seeds for newbies
I am not bothered. Anyway is fine with me. I already send out seeds to all new nembers that get in touch with me. I think I have helped at least 40 by now. I am now writing to all new members where before I waited for them to reach me. Soceven if it is organized by zone, I will still send seeds or anything else to all new arrivals who would need/want it. All other members who want, can sure send any extas they have and they will go to new members as well ϋ
And in APRIL I will be doing a newbie RR again.
♪Robbi
Hi guys. I think it's wonderful idea and would be willing to help too if you need me. Just let me know
I just wanted to say hi! I am new here too...I am sure there is a thread for this...and I will find it, but I can only steal a few minutes at a time to browse (I have a demanding 2 year old).
That sounds like a great idea-the welcome packages...I was just thinking about how I am going to get going since I don't have anything to trade, I feel bad about asking for seeds. I hope they can find a way to organize it.
We are in the military and move frequently and I am always starting over--slowly taking up more of the uhaul with with each move --for my plants :) We just got our orders and sometime between now and July will be leaving Virginia for Texas...I can't WAIT !
I love this website and wish I would have found it last spring.
Thanks for all the great info!
Welcome to DG Coastie, We can certainly get you fixed up. Please don't worry about asking for seeds. We were all newbies at one time.
Right now the person that is taking care of the welcome seed wagon is Distantkin - Robbi. I will let her know of this request. I'm also very glad you found this thread.
Texas sounds wonderful, so does Virginia, It's so cold here right now just the thought of some place in the 20degree range sounds like the tropics.
Happy Gardening.
Hi Coastie!!
Welcome!!
I am sending a D-Mail :o)
Welcome Coastie!!!
Welcome Coastie! Robbi is the uncrowned Seed Sharing Empress on here.........LOL
I bow to that :oP
I think it's time we did crown her.
You can take that anyway you want. LUV ya Robbi.
(((HUGS)))
Some day my seeds will be all gone :o)
Oh wait-if only half of what I planted in the snow comes up-I will have loads of those seeds-OK I think I am going to be in trouble in the Spring-but over my head in the fall-wonder if I can post on Craig's list-dead header needed-LOLOL
Wow, I just saw this thread.. This is a great idea.. If it was only around when I started.. Have to say, I met some nice people here in the beginning (that shared seeds) and some okay people (that made me feel like I was begging and still said no seeds for you). It wasn't until I got some stuff that people were willing to share with me though.. Something like this definitely would have helped me get started..
I was just thinking that it can also be separated into annual, perennial and edibles.. I don't know if that'd be any easier..
Good day all, and welcome Coastie!
Hello all! Glad to meet you! I am quickly becoming addicted to this site! You could spend 24-7 on here and not see it all...
It's too cool :)
LOL-I know I do-LOL
CoastieWife we're all addicted & it's all distantkin's fault. She just sucks us all into her trap with her sweetness & generousity & ubiquitous presence on the forums. What chance do we have?LOL Of course Plant Files is addictive, too. So I guess I can't blame it all on her. Sorry Robbi.
To whomever becomes the Co-ordinator of this project:
I have tons of Liatris Spicata seed to contribute to the welcome pkgs. I was thinking of posting it as a SASE offer but this would be better b/c we can all send seeds to a central location & then the newbie only has to pay postage for one pkg with several kinds of seeds. I was wondering, if several different people share this job how do we get the seeds to them all. Seems like that would involve a lot more shipments, especially if it were done by zones. If something grows in multiple zones you might have to ship the seed to a bunch of different people.
Pam
That's a very good point, Pam. How could you coordinate such a large amount of diverse material and keep the costs reasonable?
Those contributing seed could help immensely by providing good basic information about the seed they are providing. Hmmm, and maybe Dave could do one of his handy dandy surveys to see what kind of interest there would be in this kind of project? As far as sharing extra seed and sending it to a central point.
Personally, I think it's a great idea, but I'm having visions of just how much "work" this is going to be for the guy doing the coordination.
Maybe we need to brain storm this some more and see if we can come up with some options that could make this a reality.
pam :o) It is always my fault-LOL and by the way.."ubiquitous" WOW!!!!!! I had to look that one up! LOL I love that word, it means "Being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time"-Thats me-or my kids would say so anyway-LOLOL
This is how I do my seeds for new members at the moment. I stopped writing to all the new members as I am afraid some thought I was just plain nuts (I have met many nice new members though) and wouldn't write back-I do catch some on the Welcome home thread...but I let all know that I have free seeds. I keep my "Free Seeds" organized by Latin name so all I have to do is look them up by zone...of course there are some that are standards like echinacea-everyone gets some of those until they are gone, I used to give out tons of MG to the Northerners and TX mnt laurel to the south but have since discovered that I can send anything everywhere because many have asked me not to worry about it since what they can't use they put up for trading anyway. So I have a file cabinet next to me that has a drawer of my "Need to plant seeds" which are always transfered to my 2 drawers of my "to send seeds". If a new member says "Oh I see you have such and such-I love that, or it remeinds me of my Great Aunt Mary-it goes in the baggie for them. I am not protective of my seeds-to much (I just don't share 'Early Splendor' or my Burning Bush annual yet...those I worked very hard to get :o)
Once I know they made it through the cold-they will be transfered to the other drawers as well.
I learned so much about organizing when I sent out 30+ newbie envies all in one day :o) Todd just loved me then! LOL
(for new members-Todd is my very understanding Mailman-LOL)
OK-a bit to much info I imagine :o) Sorry!!
I have talked to Admin about this project and sounds like we are on our own. As was pointed out very correctly, many people don't join Dave's for seeds or are not addicts and hoarders (are we a minority-LOL) so it would be best if we created something on our own-and besides-what better way to show new members how wonderful it is than to have members being generous without it being "part of the Dave package". We are doing it because we want to-not doing this as a bonus for their subscription :o)
The one thing I have to be careful of is sending seeds out to people who are not members of Dave's. Not that I don't want to but it can get really hairy if I start doing that. I have already had a few e-mails saying "I heard you have free seeds for newbies" when they are new to planting-not Dave's. So I learned that if they D-mail me, I can check if they are new members or not.
I just am afraid some will register as a trial-get the seeds and vanish-that is not what I want :o)
OK-off to the Dr to get these stitches out-yiipppeeeee!!
Robbi
All valid points, Robbi. What stitches, what did you do to you? I can see where this could "mushroom" and yeah, I think it needs to be limited to DG members. Maybe need to make that clear up front and using the d-mail to verify is a great idea. I'm not sure they can just get a trial on here and have access to the threads. I think you have to be a subscriber to do that. Not sure though.
That puzzles me, since there are mondo seed sharing sites on the internet. I belong to several, never enough gardening sites.......LOL And since I'm into heirloom veggies I have a tendency to go that way. Seed Saver's Exchange and Homegrown Goodness are 2 sites that are geared more for the veggie gardener. Although SSE is behaving badly about allowing the posting of other sites. Sheesh, it's a brand new site and they can't seem to gather many new members...er duh! I see it as trying to control/limit my access to information from other gardeners. Yeah, I did contact them about it, so far no reply. This is not the best technique to use with a paying customer, since I buy a lot of seed from them. Not the only site selling organic heirloom veggies, though. Not a good business decision.
LOL-doc-this is why Dave's is the best-HANDS DOWN-LOL
I have tried a few myself-but discovered Dave's has all I need :o)
As for my stitches-nothing major-had biopsies done for skin cancer-a normal problem for me since I loved to lay on the beach when living in TX :o) I have only actually had cancer once-and now I try-as much as I hate it-to keep on top of it. :o)
Oh, not fun. I have to check out my other sites, although I spend most of my time on here. This is a much more "active" site and I love to talk, could you tell? LOL
ummm-No?-LOLOL just kidding-no more than any of us-LOL
Robbi, You are ubiquitous. It amazes me that you have so much on your "plate" & still have time to be so involved with everything on DG.
It called stopping in when I have a free second-LOL
I am serious, if I have a second when I think "what next" or if I stop to get a drink of water-I stop in here-LOL
That's actually interesting, doccat - you'd think SSE, being about the diversification and dissemination of genetic material, would be all for getting gardeners in touch, in every way possible. Seems odd that they wouldn't have a humungous list of every single online shop and site they could find, doesn't it?
-Sev
True, Sev. I usually share info if asked, since my tastes are rather eclectic in a lot of areas. Not all of it would appeal to everyone. :)
I don't know if anyone looks at this thread at all, but I thought I would add my two cents. I d-mailed a very generous person before I purchased my membership (new as of tonight!) regarding some seeds they were giving away. They were very nice about trading and everything. It was a great first experience on Dave's!
redhead.... I have found that most of the traders, if not all, are extremely generous.
many sending seeds with nothing in return, not even postage.
Dave's is really an awesome 'community' .
I'm in!!! I could take care of the SE if we are going to split it up into sections like that.
Donna
You might want to contact Dave before you start taking sections. I don't think he wants us to do that again. Just check first.
It was just mentioned earlier that it might be a way to split up the work.... just volunteering if needed, that's all.
Donna
Oh I would dearly love to be on the receiving end of some of these wonderful seeds yall are talking about. We moved to what we loving referr to as the north pole (it really is just a smigen south of Cleveland) at least that is what it seems like since we lived in central Kentucky and I'm originally from Florida. I just finished shoveling and hauling 10 yards of new bedding soil for my new flower beds. Only managed to get two beds started and have talked DH into letting me use some of his government money to get another 10 yards of mix..... I have some plants but I'm finding out that I also really enjoying growing the flowers from seed. I just love waiting for that first sign that I didn't kill them....LOL
I would also be willing to help out with this type of venture next year as I'm gonna be a little busy this summer trying to get my front yard layed out and the plants in as well as taking care of them.
Janet
Janet,
I know what you mean about the seed. I started growing from seed a few years ago... and I love it. I keep a huge stash of all kinds of seeds, I collect them!! It's kind of like you watch it be born and nurture it to maturity.
Incidentally, I'm originally from sough GA. I did live in Buffalo for 9 years though... I didn't like it much. I love being back down here!!
Take care,
Donna
Donna: I'm hoping we only have at the most 8 years before my DH can retire and for us to then try and sell the house and go back south. I'm too old for these winters, however, the bright side is the summers are wonderful..... just too short for me...lol
I even made up my own velum seed envelopes for my seeds.... I hooked on collecting the seeds and then giving them a try.
I love to grow stuff from seed. Last December I hosted a Winter Sown seed swap and it was all stuff that could be winter sown. I didn't get all my seeds planted but I did plant around 150 kinds of seeds. It is so addicting and you get to try stuff from all over the world. If you want to get into some of the swaps go over to the Round Robin, swaps and ??? forum.
When I hosted that swap I had about 3000 kinds of seeds to play with and redistribute, it was fun. People on DG are very generous with their plants and seeds.
Which seeds or how do you know if seeds can be winter sown?
I've often wanted to do this, but didn't know which to plant.
Donna
Any that are hardy in your zone or colder, any that say cold moist stratification needed. Instead of doing them in the refrigerator you can plant them outside in a milk jug or other winter sowing container and they will come up when it is time for them to. I was very skeptical but I have so many seedlings it is unreal. The ones I WS are hardier and stronger than the ones I started in the house. I got too anxious and potted up some of the seedlings as soon as they were handleable but they didn't do as well as the ones that are still in their jugs now.
I posted some of my plants on Ebay and I will use some to trade with for things I really really want. I have tons of seeds left also if any of you newbies need some. Save your seeds from whatever you have bloom this year and then you can trade in the fall for the fresh seed swap.
dylancgc: 3000 seeds, oh my goodness... I just picked up 2 cold frames from a guy in my local garden club, as I so want to give WS a try. I have always heard while growning up that things left outside to grown were always going to be the strongest and hardiest plants.
I have several seeds that I didn't get in time to do that with this winter so I'm going to give them a shot this coming winter.... burrr I can't believe I'm talking about winter.... we are just now coming out of the cold.....
I'll make sure to keep an eye on that forum and if I have anything then I'll sign up. Wow 3000 seeds oh my.....LOL
Seeds you buy or seeds you get in trades do not say "cold moist stratification needed' or not. I do put my seeds in the fridge for a few months each year. So in a way, I am putting them all through stratification. Where do you even find out if a plant is "cold hardy". Plant Files doesn't indicate that. I've had to find out the hard way.
Donna
Plant Files gives the hardiness zones for each plant. If a perennial is hardy in your zone or if an annual says that it self-seeds or to deadhead to prevent reseeding, then it is probably a good choice for WS. Plant Files often states when stratification is necessary to start a plant indoors. Those are usually good, too, but I'm not familiar with "winter sowing" in zone 9. You don't really have winter do you? LOL This was my 1st year to try WS. I just tried to plant a bit of everything, even if I pretty much knew it wouldn't grow. But I have been amazed at how many things did grow - & grew really well.