Why don't we do some "mixed seed trades"

Like Surprises? Have a space that needs a space lift? Do you like an adventure and are you willing to let mother nature do her thing, then join our surprise swap
Here's what you do: Read below and read the instructions

Whenever I'm getting my seeds ready to winter sow etc, I always have some left on the counter. I end up with a lot of mixed stuff., so I keep a container beside where I work so I just put them in a container. Sometimes I get low and don't have enough of something to do a trade with, and those go in there too. If any of you do the same thing, or if you just have a lot of something and don't intend to plant it. You could put a few in there.
One of the prettiest beds I had was the one where I just threw those seeds in the bed. There were a few I needed to move, etc., so I transplanted those.
So......... if you're willing to give it a go: Here's the instructions.

1. Gather the seeds you want to send. Send what you want, it doesn't have to be a certain amt. So lots or not lots (lol)
2. Toss them in a baggie or something marked "Surprise seeds"
3. Ship to me by March 5
4. I'll mix all seeds I receive and send your "surprise bag" by March 15.

We have a few people that are sending seeds but don't want any back so we'll have plenty to make some pretty big bags.

Come on, let's be an adventurer!!! Let's try to send a picture so we can see what everyone's flowers look like


This message was edited Feb 9, 2008 7:39 PM

I store all my packaged seeds inside ziplocks, inside more ziplocks, and I always end up with a teaspoon or two of loose seeds in the bags. I hate to throw them away. I think you've got a good idea there.

I can remember getting alot of "Surprise Mixed Seeds" packages in many of the 'Round Robin' seed boxes or Sheran's 'Round Robins'. Yes they were alot of fun and I wound up wlth a lot of good surprises too.

~* Robin

Interesting idea for a seed trade.

My big question would be:

Are these seeds annual, perennials, shrubs, trees, or what?

If it is for flowers (annuals and/or perennials), I am game to give it a go!

I have NO more room for trees or shrubs, though.

I know I have annuals and perinnials in there. I may have a bush or something in there, but it could just be thrown away. Like I said I started winter sowing and have forgotton some things that are in there.
What do you think. Should we just get a list of people who want to trade them, then what. That's as far as I got. I was thinking if it was just 3 or 4 people then we could just all send a small package to each other. Trust me, I don't know what the best thing to do would be. We wouldn't want a bunch of packages, probably be too much surprises.
Some of you who have been around here awhile, maybe you have an idea. I just thought it would be fun, didn't think about how to do it!!!

Lorraine - My suggestion would be to set a number of seeds per package or a size of package. Everyone just send one package. This could be a secret swap - send them to you and you decide who gets what package from who. Or you could dump all the seeds into a container, shake, and then pour them back into each package so that we get a diverse mixture of seeds from all participants. I do cottage garden style of gardening, so I love surprises!!

I am sure others have some cool ideas on how to do this as well.

hI, Great minds we have, must be all the dirt!!! I like the idea of mixing them all together and sending out a bag to everyone like that. We'd probably all have some surprises, probably some stuff we want but could'nt find. Also I know since I've been in round robins, I notice after I've packaged up some, I get to the point like ya'll where you don't have enough to make up another trade.

I don't think it matters how much you send, some may have more than others, I have lots, but I'll divide them where everyone gets about the same.

This sounds like fun. If you want to do it, just D-Mail me with your dmail name or just post it here and I'll start a list .and we'll figure out a time for me to get them and send them back out. I figure we need to do it by March 15 so we can get them in time for spring. That sound about right.
I've already figured out where I want to throw mine!!

This message was edited Feb 8, 2008 1:13 PM

I'd be happy to send some, and I should have some ball park idea what they are... at least genus, maybe species. However, I really don't want to receive any, so you can count on me for a donation, if someone wants to receive them and dole them out.

weezegreens, I sent a d-mail

Count me it! Sounds like fun and perhaps some wonderful surprises.

How big of a seed package do you want us to send? 2" X 3" or something bigger like 3 X 5"?

And of course, when is the deadline to get them to you?

The thing that appeals to me is that I have gotten Flower Garden Mixes (store bought) that have quite a bit of seeds and last year one of my beds turned out just gorgeous because of it! So this is right up my alley! :-) Great idea, Lorraine!

Hi, Beckygardener, I don't think it matters at all how big a package you send. Some will send more and some will send less and a few people have already d-mailed me to say they are sending some but don't want any back. Also, I will put extra in if I need too.
Just send what you want, it will all work out so everyone gets same amt.
Don't you think about March 15 would be agood time for me to have them, that way we'll be sure to get them sown for spring.
I just added to my batch because I had some little tiny ones, like cockscomb on the counter and my darlin' little cat jumped up and knocked them off. Couldn't tell them apart so just threw them all in.
Wanted to kill that cat, but he was just sitting there looking at me like wha'd I do
Got your name down

March 15 (or even earlier like the end of this month... hint, hint) is fine with me. I already have many of my Spring seedlings popping up out of the ground. (Hopefully, I won't get a surprise freeze this month! Yikes!) It's been 80's here during the day.

Do we need to label what we "think" some of the seeds are in our seed package? LOL!

I probably will try to write down some of the things that are in mine.
March 1 is fine with me, I just didn't know if it would give us time, but I'm sure it will. Most of them, I just can't remember!!!
So now our deadline will be March 1. If they don't get here till March 2 we won't hunt you down.

My stuff is coming up too. It was about 76 here today!! Bet we'll get all cocky and then get a bad freeze the end of March!!

Noooooo! Don't say that! Spring is here (I hope) in south-central Florida! :-) LOL!

Are you in the address exchange? Do we start sending them out to you now?

So we should send our seeds in a bubble envie that can be used to resend them back to us. I use 3 regular postage stamps (41 cents) to mail out a small bubble envie. So we should put in our seed package, 3 stamps, and a return label. Correct? Anything else?

This message was edited Feb 8, 2008 8:50 PM

That's fine. I'll email my address. Just send them when ever you are ready. Also, I bet you could get by with 2 stamps, I've been weighing stuff and I noticed Mailing the seeds aren't as expensive as we think.
But 3 is fine just to be sure and yes, just send it with an address label and I'll send it back in that.
Oh, let's keep our fingers crossed about the freeze.

If I don't send my bubble envies using 3 stamps, they send it back to me or to the receipent with postage due. I can't believe how much postage went up to mail a little bubble envie. It doubled in price. Grrrr .... but it's still much cheaper than buying most seed packages. And I love getting seeds from folks here on DG!

I've had extremely good luck with seeds I have received from DG members using my favorite new soil mix .... Moisture Control Potting Mix by MiracleGro! :-) And I love Osmocote slow-release fertilizer. My garden beds and my container plants look great! (And no, I don't work for either MiracleGro or Osmocote companies. LOL!) I am just thrilled to finally have a successful garden. I still can't believe it's MY yard! LOL! Can ya tell I'm still a newbie gardener! LOL!

I am too. I've always wanted to have a pretty yard But I can never figure out what to put where, etc. so this has really helped me a lot!!
I'll have a yard full of flowers this year!!
Guess I was wrong about the postage, but that just seems high to me. We'll have to figure out how to fax seeds. lol I know 2 oz is supposed to be 58 cents.

If seeds are in a bubble envie it is more postage because they base it on thickness as well. I don't trade seeds without using a bubble envie anymore because I found out the hard way that they either get crushed or shredded and pushed right out of the corner of the envie. I have lost 6 trades because the folks sent them in regular envies and the seeds were either missing or destroyed by the post office sorting machines.

The actual postage for a 4 X 6 padded envelope is $1.13. But I hate standing in the long lines to mail a bubble envie, so I just attach 3 postage stamps instead. You are right, it is highway robbery. It used to cost 58 cents to mail them before they raised the rates in 2007.

Oh I want to do it too! I have a bunch of left over seeds. Do we mail the seeds and an extra envelope with postage (padded)? I have never participated in a seed exchange like this.

LorraineR; are we sending the seeds to you? If so, will you Dmail your addy?

Weezingreens, your seeds are always lovely, no matter what they are!!

~* Robin

I need your addy, too! :-)

I forgot to tell you this when I wrote instructions.

Send your seeds in a bubble envelope and put some kind of label with your address and 3 stamps and I'll send your bag of seeds back in same envelope.

This message was edited Feb 9, 2008 7:44 PM

Hey, we have people now who want to trade, so we can probably get it done by the 5th. If more want to, they can just "come on in"
I want to be sure you get them back by March 15,
So, I'll start mixing when I get the seeds.
If you need address, please just d-mail, or if you want to join us and had rather d-mail, please do.

LorraineR wrote:

Hey, hadn't thought of that, but that's what we'll call it. !!!

I should be working with my seeds again in the next few days, so I'll see what I can send.

Thank you so much , Weezingreens, You are really a sweet lady.
Now, I have to know where did the "weezingreens" come from?
I'm just not creative, but I love seeing all the names, I just want to know what they all mean!!

Weezingreens is the name I use for my little nursery business. My actual business name started out years ago as 'Weezinbiznus'. I had several little part time business ventures, as one must in a small town, so the name was a crude version of 'We is in Business'. Since my husband has been using the Weezinbiznus name for his stove repair business, when I opened my nursery business, I called it Weezingreens... and We is in Greens!

The name seemed right for DG when I subscribed here in 2002, and most folks here have shortened it to Weez or Weezi. Some even call me Wheezi... I guess they think I have respiritory problems! LOL! Lorraine, can you give me a little reminder early next week so I don't forget to send the seeds. I stretch myself a little thin around here sometimes and I have a lousy memory!

I love it!! We had a couple "ventures" going at one time, my husband's construction business, a restaurant, and a scrapbook craft store. Wish I'd thought of just one name!!! It sure was hard at tax time.
Course it helped in other ways, we'd be in the store and someone would ask for a place to eat and someone in the store would always say, "try Cat's Diner down the street, it's really good" HEH HEH
Yes I will remind you next week, you are really a nice lady. In your nursery, do you use your seeds from your own plants or buy them in bulk. What do you sell. There's a lady in Gladewater that does something like that. She has two monster greenhouses and in the spring, she sells plants

I will do that. Did you get the other d-mail? I was telling you how much I love your name and thanking you for sending the seeds, you are really a nice lady.
I see seed mixes at the store all the time, so figured why not

Hi, Lorraine. I grow my plants from purchased seeds and collected seeds. Some of the collected seeds are my own, and some are from trades. Generally, for the bedding plants (annuals), I buy the seeds so I can be assured they will come true from seed, but I always use my own collected seeds for perennials whenever possible, since I think seeds from plants grown in my area are likely to be more hardy.

Hi everyone, be sure to d-mail if you don't have my address.

I want in!

Gotcha ,weeds free. The instructions are on top of thread, so get those seeds in a bag and put them in the mailbox!! As soon as I get them, I'll send them back.
My address is:
Lorraine Johnston
2175 Cherry Laurel
Gilmer, Texas 75645

If I can get everyones seeds by March 1, I can get them to you by March 15. Plenty of time to plant

Yep. I've read the whole thread. To think that postage is going up again in a couple of months!

I think that will happen in May, of course I have been known to not know what I'm talking about!! So we ought to be ok

Postage is going up AGAIN????? I hadn't heard that! Grrrr ..... It's a conspiracy against us seed traders!

You're right Lorraine. It is going up in May to I think .42.

Too bad we can't fax seeds

I know. Believe me, I have thought about that!