How about this, If folks extras that nobody asks for on the swap, I will first double chekc on folks want list to make sure that maybe inthe frensy they didnt them offered. Then will put some in the hurricane and disaster victims boxes. Thinking that might giv ethem a coupel extra seeds to trade with sicne they don't have anythign and maybe not make them feel so quilty about askign for somethign from another Dg without having anythign to trade. Then if there is anythign left will find out who looking for seeds for schools and charitie sand stuf f and send them on to them.
Kidna like when I stil has a bunch of seed s extra that didn't go on the swap but were all for butterflies and hummers so they got shipped to thos efolks to share.
Seeds never get wasted, there always somebody who is in need in some form or another and will be glad of anything named or mixed.
tcs1366 picture (Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #17
sounds like a plan.
Hello fellow piggies - I'm going to post a draft to the opening post of the swap here, followed by questions I need to have answers to in order to finally start the swap sometime after midnight, November 10. I look forward to any answers, suggestions and/or input.
signed,
"Alas, it's Bluespiral"
------------------------------------------------------
DRAFT FOR 2008 FALL FRENZY PIGGY SWAP
******************************
For your Autumn 2008 organizing and decluttering extravaganza, Starlight is offering a Fall Frenzy Piggy Swap to benefit Ike/Gustav survivors, as well as to involve newbie and oldie piggy swappers. This would include: 2007* seeds, 2008 seeds, plus: 2006* seeds, seeds from half-packs you have sitting around, yuccky swap stuff, and seeds that might include more chaff than you want to clean. Any source. Leftover commercial, garden, trades, we even taken stolen seed.
GUSTAV / IKE SURVIVORS: Consider this swap a cross between a Genie and a Gift Horse on your behalf - we all want to replenish your new gardens with as many seeds as we can, and your WISH LIST is therefore "our command" and we will be such better Genie/Gift Horsies if you let us know wacha want AND don't want:) Starlight will conduct this swap similar to previous piggy swaps, except that, in this one, Gustav/Ike survivors will not be expected to send any seeds in, but rather 1) let us know which seeds we post that they would like and 2) accept extras that Starlight either divies up at her discretion or as directed between everyone participating in this swap. It will be a tremendous help if Gustav/Ike survivors could post which seeds they would like to have.
****************************
Signups will be open for 35 regular participants and all Gustav/Ike storm victims beginning Nov 10, and the swap will run until December 15, with all seeds due in by December 20.
Participants who have signed up so far:
Artemiss
Dryad57
Fairy1004
gemini_sage
Lala_Jane
LeBug
Margaran
Meredith79
Maozamom
PamSue
PrimroseSue
Seandor
tcs1366
tuinkabouter
Wind
The deadline is Dec 20th for seeds to be into Star. There is a 100 pack limit on seeds going back to you, so if a 1 for 1 trade is important to you, send 100 packs or fewer. All participants should tell me how many packs they sent and how many packs they want back.
The swap is divided into 2 parts: 1) Loose seed packs to be shared among the general swap and Ike/Gustav survivors, and (2) seeds in baggies for a specific person (including those Ike/Gustav survivors who let us know what they want).
For the loose seed packs, which are packs for the general swap, not for a specific person, I will distribute these based on who I think will like them the best, but I need some limits on quantities:
Limit quantities to 5 of a kind
Herbs ok, but No Veggies, No Shrubs or Trees. (for the general swap, it's ok to send these if you can find a person who wants them)
Limit the commonest seeds to 2 packs, unless you are sending them to a specific person:
COMMON SEEDS:
Morning Glories: Ipomoea purpurea, quamoclit
Brown Eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida and Rudbeckia triloba
Datura
Nicotiana sylvestris
Gaillardia
Red Cypress Vine
Malva moschata
Unnamed Hibiscus, like pink, swamp, or any other kind
Joe Pye Weed
Iron Weed
Liatris
Cleome
Four O Clock's (except Broken Colors, Kaleidoscope, etc.)
(If you want any of those listed above, please let me know!)
*No Delphinium older than 2007
*No Larkspur older than 2007
* Here's a guide to seed viability: http://www.hillgardens.com/seed_longevity.htm
For the packs to a certain player, all you need to do is post your seeds in the Seed List Thread here: _____ and watch for the responses in the parallel Swap thread. This will be fast and furious, then there will be a lull, then more posting. Please use one post in the Seed List Thread for your seeds available, and try to edit them off as they are taken, (and edit when you add on it as you clean, sort, and sow). You can dmail or post if you want somebody's seeds, but remember, it is up to the sender to get the seeds marked with your name on them, so be sure they see your request.
Grab a box of cheapie snack baggies, sandwich baggies, or ziplocs, and as people sign up, write their name on the baggie or on a slip of paper inside the baggie. If you have seeds for each participant, you might need 30 baggies.
Some seeds are premium seeds because they are rarer and "worth more". As loose packs of seeds come in, Star will sort of separate those out and distribute them in a way that makes sense in terms of what people send in (or ask for, as in the case of Ike/Gustav survivors). If you send in a lot of commercial half packs, or the more premium seeds, you will get more of those back in your envie.
WISHLIST
The last wrinkle is your wishlist! When you sign up, also post 10 things you'd like to have. These can be specific (Lupine 'White Snow') or vague (anything white for part shade). It is not "anyhting for butterflies and hummers" or "anything for part shade". Note: You will not be considered "in" the swap until this wishlist is posted.
Star needs to know what you want before your seeds show up! Tell Star the kinds of things you want!!!! In a private Dmail to Star (with the subject line 2008 Fall Frenzy Piggy Swap) send your list of 10 or more things you'd really like AND a list of 10 things you really don't want. LOL! It would be so helpful to Star if you also added things about you and your garden, such as: I have a Moon Garden; I have too much shade; I have a cutting garden; a Cottage Garden; I like bright colors; big & bold plants; pastels; pinks and purples; I am new to seed growing; I have every seed known to man, try to surprise her. Whatever you can tell her about yourself or your garden will help her sort seeds you'll like into your envie.
FOREIGN DG MEMBERS: Yes! You can join! Send me a dmail with your address and I'll send the APHI paperwork to you.
NEWBIES: New DG Members/New Gardeners/New to Growing from Seed: Yes! Join in. You will receive back many more seeds than you send in, but you will be required to make an effort to send in something. If you have absolutely nothing to send in, you could buy a mega pack of a more unusual seed from a small seed house like Fedco, Gourmet, Territorial (locate through www.google.com) (all for less than $5.00 including delivery) and divide it up into trade sized packages. Or! you could do the same with some inexpensive or bulk seed from the seed houses listed here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5697731 . Be sure to check with Star first to avoid duplication. If you decide to go this route, be sure to aquire the seed early enough that it won't arrive too late to be available by this swap's deadline of December 20.
Things to pack up for the swap:
1. Your seeds. added: Since Star needs to send back as many packs as people send in, she needs some help counting. LOL! On the baggies that are tagged for certain people, She would like the number of packs you've enclosed for that person written on the slip of paper with their name so that she doesn't have to go rooting through to count them.
2. Return address label (or piece of paper I can tape) to use on bubble mailer you send to Star.
3. Star will need at least a 10 x 14" envie, or a little box, to get your seeds to you. (The PO has a 3/4 inch limit on bubble envie thickness)
4. Postage to return your mailer to you. If you have 100 packs, use postage for 13 oz. and consider sending Star a little box instead of an envie.) added: If you want extra packs back, really, really consider that box! And pay attention to the postage amount you send Star as it will cost more than what you sent in. Do not be stingy on this postage.
5. A sheet of paper with your:
1. name,
2. address,
3. email,
4. DG name,
5. Number of seed packs sent, and number of seed packs wanted back
6. Description of your garden, and yourself as a gardener and grower from seed (new, middle, experienced.)
7. 10 things you want (no limit for IKE / GUSTAV folks, though can't guarantee how many will be sent back),
8. 10 things you don't want, and
9. a list of the seeds you are sending of all the loose packs that are not earmarked for another player.
6. Addendum: Due to the sheer volume, these envelopes or boxes will need to be sent back to you with delivery confirmations. Also, since postage & confirmation costs have gone up, and since Starlight may also need a few extra bucks for more postage either for Ike/Gustav survivors or for other participants who may unwittingly not have sent in enough; or for larger envies or boxes than folks send, let's each send in $1.50 in addition to return postage.)
This post will be updated from time to time. Be sure to dmail me with any ideas for this post and mark it "2008 Fall Piggy Swap" in the heading. So check back to this page right before you send your seeds. LOL!
-----------------------
11/09/08 - open questions -
1. Regarding the logo image for this swap,
a) we've found Grampapa's article here: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/725/ , and the pic of the beds with all the seeds has been suggested - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5707373 . So, I went ahead and dmailed Grampapa for permission to use that one this afternoon.
b) on the other hand, Fairy votes for Ansonfan's box pix, so I have dmailed him, too.
If Grampapa & Ansonfan don't answer before tomorrow, why don't I go ahead and use the piggy logo ( http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5766014 ) and start the swap in the Group Trades, Swaps and Round Robins forum on Monday 10?
2. Star, have you been contacted by any storm victims? Want2bee?
3. I have listed participants who I strongly suspect want to participate - if you want your name on or off the list, let me know. Critter - do you want to sign up?
4. still want to do a 100-pack limit?
5. Does this forum want to do "anything goes" with both targeted and loose seeds, or just with loose seeds, so that the loose seeds might have a better quality?
6. Regarding FOREIGN participants, tcs, could you do the APHI paperwork for foreign participants? If not, would anyone like to volunteer?
7. Regarding #6 - is sending in $1.50 in addition to return postage okay?
8. Also regarding #6, how much does confirmation cost these days?
--------------------------
closed questions -
--- sign-up date? - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5744534 - starting tomorrow, Monday, Nov 10 and running until December 15
--- dead-line date? - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5744534 - seeds will be due in by December 20.
--- Are we going to post this in the Group Trades, Swaps and Round Robins forum or Seed Trading forum? - answered here - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5736141 - Seed Trading forum
--- # of participants? - answered here - http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5706345 - 35, it is
>>tcs, could you do the APHI paperwork for foreign participants? If not, would anyone like to volunteer?
OH -- i would have NO idea what to do.
and i love where you included "Stolen seeds"
which reminds me... i have to go to the local park for BES.
good thing my changes left as much of Suzy's personality in the swap rules as possible - would've been pretty dry
This message was edited Nov 10, 2008 1:14 PM
This message was edited Nov 9, 2008 8:41 PM
That's a lot of information! I'd like to suggest organizing it, if possible, into separate posts at the top of the new thread to make it a little easier to read and take in.
For example:
First post: swap rules, concisely stated (deadlines, the things that need to be sent in with your seeds, envelope/box size to send in, and requirement to sign up on this thread and to post on the swap seed list thread in order to participate). Note how seeds should be packaged ("requested" seeds separately from those meant to be generally shared) -- and maybe this should be a separate post if too many details are required for quick reading.
Second post: running list of participants for the thread, 35 "regular" participants plus a second list for disaster victim participants (we might consider not limiting to those who went through the hurricanes but also include those who lost their gardens to flood or fire). This post can also be used to check off status (sent, received, etc) for participants.
Third post: how many seeds to send (note limit of 100 packets returned), how many seed packets to include of "common" or "uncommon" varieties, and what kind of seeds can be included. This might be the place for the discussion of what kinds of seed can be included and suggestions for how disaster victim survivors should post (those 2 paragraphs near the top of your post above).
Fourth post: Additional details such as wish lists, info for newbies and foreign members, and anything else I've forgotten that was written in Bluespiral's post.
Also, I'm thinking that the swap organizer (Starlight) should post all of the above, so she can go in and edit at will. She can copy/paste the text that was written above, and maybe Bluespiral could Dmail her with any additions etc... or we could continue hashing that out here.
OK, there have probably been a dozen responses since I started trying to work out the possible organization of the above info... so I'm going to hit "send" now! :-)
I think that Nicotania maybe shouldn't be on the common list-it was VERY popular last time and great for the victims of the storms, and that only reg Gaillardia is common enough....Oranges and Lemons, Fanfare, Burgundy and others are not common, so maybe a notation bout that....I think we should send all we can for those peeps affected by the storms....so that the common list may not pertain to that part of it...
I don't remember who asked for photos of my over-wintering mania, and maybe this isn't the place to post them. But I brought almost everything indoors today so to whomever it was, here's what my house looks like tonight. (And I admit to being a little overwhelmed as I made trip after trip in from the GH. I was freaking that I'd never find enough space, but they're all in! It's as dark as a cave in here because every single window is taken, but they're in! LOL) Here goes:
The bathroom took part of the overflow...
As did the kitchen, the living room, and the end of the hallway....
Most of the rest of the greenery went into the basement. I have 9 Boston's in Bag. I've never tried this before, but I read about some one doing something similar on the Fern Forum. If it doesn't work I'll know not to try it again. LOL
The 3rd picture is the hidey-hole that contains several dozen cannas and about 2 dozen dahlias....
The basement is also home to 5 shelves of coleus babies, and 2 shelves of EEs, begonias, and other odds and ends.
Keep in mind that about 1/2 of these treasures were "gifted" to me and if they don't make it through the winter it's no big deal. But plants are my hobby (passion?) so I'm happy to give them all a fighting chance.
:-)
I've read the whole concept, and it's fine with me. It would be lovely if someone could do the APHI paperwork for me, but I did without last time and all went well!
With regards to the deadline, I'll have to send my seeds a little earlier, let's say by the beginning of December, in order for them to get there in time.
Would it be a problem if I posted a link to my seedlist, which is on my website, instead of typing a list? There's about a 750 species and more are being added........
With regard to the logo, whichever you choose is fine but a through with slobbering piggies would be nice.
I would suggest to put the thread and the ones (lots!) that follow on the Group Trades, Swaps and Round Robins forum and to post an anouncement on both the seed trading and the international trading forums.
PS,
Love the stolen phrase about the "stolen seeds"!
Morning everybody! Man I cold, it 8 here and frosty all around.
Wow. You did a good job there Blue Spiral. Think you covered all the bases. Can you folsk just imagine all my typing errors in trying to do that.
Let see, this one can come out. " 3. Star will need at least a 10 x 14" envie, or a little box, to get your seeds to you. (The PO has a 3/4 inch limit on bubble envie thickness) " I have eevry size box imagainable and cases of them and envies, so that no problem.
If you don't mind, could ya put a note about if the extra postage is not neded it will be returned in each persons box or envie.
Ya 35 regulars is a good number, I can handle that, and maybe we can do like last time, if anybody esle wanted in, have it to a vote to the group, cuz I admit I am a weak person when people ask. We had last year more than 20 and I figure we wil end up with more than 35 regulars, but gotta have a starting point.
Good idea Critter about putting it into several posts.
I have some storm victims names and today will dmail them that it starting. If anybody else has storm victims or knows of shy folks that are victims, have seen a few posts on the threads, feel free to contact them. All the names on the Ike benfit seed thread will be contacted and asked to join too.
I don't know how to do that form either, but sure between all of us we can figure it out for them , the foreign country eople probably know better than we may and can help too.
Ya I remember last year you had to come earlier Tuink, there no problem with that. yes you cna post a link, would appreciate if you would try and post some things too, cuz some of us can't get to your list pages, lease if ya don't mind.
Don't mind copying and pasting Blue's post but the first lines will all be to make sure that she gets the credit for doing it all and thanking her. I would have made a blotch of it. Oh ya miss fumble fingers here.
Think confirmation is like 60 or 65 cents. I don't have a computer that wil print out labels and confirmation labels. It all done by hand here. I already have more than enough labels and confirmation stickers too for folks. Ordered in like 500 of them, hopefully we won't end up with that many people or ya all gonan see just the top of my hands waving Hi! as I sit burie din seeds. LOL
Oh just thought, also maybe in last posts, a link to here in the cottage garden forum, so that newbies joining can join in sharign their gardens and we can expand the cottgae garden growing folks . And a link to the story of the traveling seeds. That was such a great story of how the community at Dg here as a whole works and what brings us together to form all these new friendships.
We'll post i nthe seed trading forum and when we wind down will come backover here and just continue on our regular threads, I nice and comphy here, plus you all are experts on the seed ya grow and thta way we stil can kinda stay organized.
Yep, deadline the 20th, cuz that wil giv eme time to sort and package and finalize evrything , plus tiem for those that take a few extra days to get here and then will mail them out after Christmas, so they not all in that mad rush of holiday shippers and will arrive for folks to have to ring in the New Year .
Must not have enough coffee in me this morning yet cuz I don't understand this one. "5. Does this forum want to do "anything goes" with both targeted and loose seeds, or just with loose seeds, so that the loose seeds might have a better quality?"
Please, I wont be aroudn on Tuesdays til late at night, if somebody sees questions or a problem, will ya jump in and help. Ya all know how it goes. I gone from about 5:30 in the morning til about 8 at night, sorry but got real life commitments durign that time for the next two weeks yet.
Lala... Oh those all look lovely. Can I bribe ya with coffee and cookies to come and do me.? That a cleaver idea to stack that way. You've given me an idea with what I cna do with a plastic self and some of my tubers. Thanks. : )
Thanks for all the answers and suggestions, Star, Critter and All. I'll integrate them into the rules.
Star, with regard to -
"5. Does this forum want to do "anything goes" with both targeted and loose seeds, or just with loose seeds, so that the loose seeds might have a better quality?",
"anything goes" refers to the list of qualifications Suzy wrote for loose seeds. I think she did it because she wanted to ensure that everyone received a better selection of seeds. But, then, we all define that differently. I can delete those qualifications if you like - let me know.
Grampapa dmailed me to say that Dryad57 had taken all the photos that illustrated her article about our piggy swap last time around, so I've dmailed Dryad for permission to use one of her photos for our upcoming swap. Once she gives us the okay and dmails me the pic, the swap can begin. If I don't hear from her before my doc appointment this afternoon, then hopefully we can get the swap going sometime tonight.
Star, I don't need credit for doing this - just glad to help. So, once I incorporate everyone's suggestions, I'll email the swap rules to you. It's better to email, because if I dmail them to you, then you will have to download each hyperlink and copy and paste again to get the link to work again. Would you like to dmail me with your email?
I'll take out that "Alas, it's Bluespiral" business. tcs did not mean it the way I took it. As an army bratt, I passed through many different high schools in different countries. Very little penetrated my thick, transient skull, but for some perverse reason, Shakespeare's take on mortality in Hamlet, Act V, Scene I made an impression on me. When Hamlet holds Yorick's skull up and muses, "Alas! Poor Yorick. I knew him [well]..." it stuck. I can still remember the classroom in Manila when the class took turns reading that play out loud.
So, one word, but two different meanings for two different folks. I apologized to tcs for misinterpreting her remark. When I dmail these swap rules to you, Star, I'll be out of everyone's hair.
Love you indoor Garden of Eden, lala.
ps - here's Hamlet: http://www.bartleby.com/70/index42.html
This message was edited Nov 10, 2008 7:18 AM
Blue sometimes, I get this dahhhhhhhhh moments and nomatter what I look at it don't make sense, so you just go ahead and use your best judgement. If you think it good, put it in. : )
LOL .. You not in my hair, but amass of tangles are. Was socold last night I went to sleep with my ski hat on and all the tossign and turning must have tangled my hair. I sittignhere wondering how I gonan get the mess out and it a nightmare without pulling my hair out by the roots. If I could get apic of the bakc of my head, you would see the dilema I am in. It worse than goign to be dwhen a kid with bubblegum to find out it stuck in your hair.
Wil send ya my email right away. Thanks so much!
Only one answer to that, Star! Well, actually two but scissors are soooo drastic! You'll have to put a lot of oil (olive or any other kind) in your hair and leave it in for a while. I have waist long hair and am sometimes totally tangled too.....
Maybe I'll stay indoors alday and wait til it time for the piggy swap and then I can really be all greased up. LOL My hair is grown logn for th elocks of Love network and appreciate the idea cuz need to try and keep it from being damaged too much. Won't do that again. : (
O/T I know, but my niece uses a L'Oreal kids detangling shampoo, and it works wonders on her long, fine hair -- even after a windy soccer practice! The detangling sprays work, also. And yes, any sort of cooking oil should do the trick. I like apricot kernel oil best for deep-conditioning because it's light, but olive or canola etc. should help, whatever you have on hand. Plan on shampooing twice! :-)
Oh, and another suggestion... I braid my hair at night, and that does a lot to keep it from getting tangled!
Thanks Critter. May have to give braiding a try. All I can do is sit here and laugh at myself, only thing on the good note is my head stayed warm last night! : )
I have copied and pasted bluespiral's detailed posting into a word document so I can refer to it at leisure without trying to find it in this thread again. Maybe others might find that convenient as well. ^_^
Good idea. Esepcially for whoevre does the next one.
Can somebody please start a new thread. It startign to get rela hard to load the thread now, please.
Hello all,
I'm a newbie at this and not sure If I am supposed to wait until midnight tonite to let you know I want to be in. I thought I saw 12:00 somewhere. I want to be in, but of course want to "play by the rules". Also, do I let bluespiral know here or by d-mail? Could someone clarify for me?
Tonya
Tonya,
Maybe you should do both, to be on the safe side!
Thanks tuink. I'll do that! - Tonya
Oh, yes, I forgot that Bluespiral asked if I was "in"... yes, I think I should be able to get some seeds together by the deadline. I'm not sure there's much I "need" -- but I'm sure I'll think of a few once the lists are posted!
I've been getting some seeds this morning off the "Hot & Spicy" basil stems I brought inside to ripen... some immature seeds in the mix, but looks like plenty of nice plump little black seeds too!
That's fantastic!
Star -- did you actually say it's 8° as in EIGHT DEGREES this morning???
holy cow ... we were upper 20's over night.
IS that cold for your location??
Well, i slept in ... and i need more coffee to get thru all the messages that came in...
I'll be back...........
WOW you all have been busy while I've been doing my seeds lol I felt like I was going blind yesterday LOL
Everything sounds good you have been hard at work, save room for ansonfan, I should hear from him in a day or two to find out if he's going to be in the swap this year he probably will :) Maybe he will post on here? :) I sent him a note and as soon as you get the link to the swap thread I'll send him one. And I remember Veronica wanting to be in this year, I'll dmail her.
La, that's a lot of storing for your plants! lol I'm wondering where you're going to start your seeds at! I got me one of those EE's that is variegated, I'm courous to see how it holds up this winter but it's a house plant so it should do alright, I haven't dug my big EE's and Taro up yet, I still have some comfrey I want to get in the ground this after noon if I can get out in this cold weather but it's suppose to get to 56 today and that's the warmest it's going to be this week! Yes, I'm still planting OMG! I had them in the field sitting where I want to plant them and out of sight out of mind and forgot them!
28F my darn number two key sticks real bad and the cover thing woblles and i hope it don't fall off.
Please, ne w thread somebody!
Great hope Afonson joins in. I sent dmail to pulltab tooo that we gettign ready tostart. That one of our victims.
I started a new thread for Star ...with a little surprise. I hope everyone likes it : )
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/922371/