Organising a seed swap!

[hamamelis]

I'm trying to get a local seed swap organised- and was wondering, have any of the folks on here ever tried to run one? Or been to a good one, and have any good tips?

I've hopefully talked a local organic shop/cafe into hosting it free as an evening community event- it's not the biggest place, so I won't have that much spare room to play with. I'm hoping they say yes- it will be decided at a meeting on monday, but they sounded keen! I'll try and find somewhere else if they say no; it'll be in february, so I have a while to get things sorted out.

All comments and tips appreciated, I don't know what I'm doing!

[binley100]

I'm trying to organise our first lottie one for a couple of weeks time Just been round putting posters up today .....at least you've got time to spread the word ..
I've just put that the rules are one packet in for one packet out and if you have nothing to put in then you get a packet out for a 50p donation to lottie funds Also to label packets .......
but I'm sure there are more experienced seed swappers on here who can give tips

[Pumpkin Becki]

I organised, and maintain, an ongoing one for our garden society.
I put out a request in our Annual, and made announcements at meetings asking members to donate unwanted, spare and saved seeds.
At each meeting (monthly), I spread all the seed packets out on tables in clearly labelled categories (Flowers, fruit, veg and herbs).
People can swap their seeds for ones on the table, or make a donation to society funds if they haven't brought any to swap with. Depending on the number of seeds in a packet, it's usually about 20 or 30p.
I also point out that I make no guarantees about the viability of the seeds, as many packets are already open, close to expiry, or contain saved seeds from members own gardens.

You need to consider how the seeds will be stored when they are in your care. Mine are in a dark, unheated cupboard, in airtight containers.

Our members have been very generous, and keep donating seeds...now I need people to take some!!

[Florence Fennel]

PB sounds very organised and has given good advice. I'm afraid I have no advice to give, but I wish you the best of luck and I hope the venue give their agreement.

[hamamelis]

Just bumping this up from the depths- to say the original venue just stopped answering me after a while, but I've found somewhere else, and it's now going ahead! Yay!
Anyone in Bristol on the 5th February is hereby invited to a seed swap at the Cube Cinema.

Now I just need to try and find more seeds to have ready at the start, as it's not directly associated with any allotments, and as it's the first one, I suspect more people will be coming intending to take some than bring some. I still have over a month, so it should be OK!