The Seed Parcels

[veggiechicken]

Presumably, the master/mistress of the website updates the list by adding the seeds sent in and removing those sent out in return. So the list is constantly changing.
Is there a recommended number of seeds in each package submitted (as you did for the Random seeds swap)? Just asking because I'll soon be bagging up for one list or another and don't want to get it wrong.
Feel free to tell me to shut up and wait for instructions!!!

[zazen999]

Presumably, the master/mistress of the website updates the list by adding the seeds sent in and removing those sent out in return. So the list is constantly changing.
Is there a recommended number of seeds in each package submitted (as you did for the Random seeds swap)? Just asking because I'll soon be bagging up for one list or another and don't want to get it wrong.
Feel free to tell me to shut up and wait for instructions!!!

Shut up and wa....just kidding

We are splitting bags down as and when we can. Yup - the seeds will be updated as they change. And if you stick to the recommended number [ish] in each bag as mentioned on the random seed swap; then that would be fab.

At the moment, Chris is the webmaster and I can edit and amend, and add.

We are hopefully combining both our stashes over the festive season, so that when we go live, people will send their seeds to me for packing and sending out.

Don't worry - proper instructions will be drafted with the launch of the website.

[binley100]

and have you got somewhere to hide them ....

[Jeanied]

I think what we all find is that commercial seeds come in either too many or too expensive! So a nice way is to swap instead. I can't believe how expensive squash seeds are -for so few - when the ripened fruit are full of them! Same with tomato seeds really.
What is wonderful about seed swapping is that you can turn the excess seeds into ones you really want.
But I'd love a good guide to how many for each kind for a mixture of eating and saving - now that would be lovely. I know that HSL only do 10 seeds of the big varieties such as scarlet broadies - but 10 is not a really sustainable eating number for broadies - only enough to grow on for more seed if you see what I mean.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Zaz. That gives me something useful to do on the 25th!

[chris]

What a resource, Chris! Just keep the big seed companies away - especially the ones that go in for copyrighting seeds!

Keep them away?

This is our community "thing", made possible by every single one of us.. personally speaking if some seed company came along and asked to advertise on the site, or "sponsor" it, I'd be asking for a stash of seeds to add to the parcel and then telling them to jog on

The website is only to help us list the seeds, and so you can easily look for the ones you want (currently split by seed family - posh names and all that). Think of it as a database that we'll keep updated as and when seeds come in and out

I'll add in a search facility (hopefully before we start the parcel up again) so if someone wants a particular seed, but doesn't know what family it's in, and can't be bothered to find that out - they can just search for it

It's a very simple site really, nowt fancy!

[VirginVegGrower]

It's a very simple site really, nowt fancy!

I am feeling simple so sounds good to me!

[BroadRipple]

so, like, um, er, durrrr...we sends in the seeds, in little packs as we did for the random seed swap, and then the blessed gods on high (Zaz and Chris with little crowns made of potato flowers) log 'em or do whatever deities do to seeds, and then we can, like, ask for as many seed packs as we've sent in? this is very embarrassing, only veggiechicken (who i suspect DOES get it and is just doing charitable outreach work by pretending not to understand) and i seem in a blur, but am hoping this isn't Quality Street poisoning but simply inexperience...
and Zazmeister, do we send them to you as before? so basically, like, same process as random seed swap, but we get to choose what we want at the end?
BRILLIANT. i love you both, in my dim puzzled way...

[zazen999]

so, like, um, er, durrrr...we sends in the seeds, in little packs as we did for the random seed swap, and then the blessed gods on high (Zaz and Chris with little crowns made of potato flowers) log 'em or do whatever deities do to seeds, and then we can, like, ask for as many seed packs as we've sent in? this is very embarrassing, only veggiechicken (who i suspect DOES get it and is just doing charitable outreach work by pretending not to understand) and i seem in a blur, but am hoping this isn't Quality Street poisoning but simply inexperience...
and Zazmeister, do we send them to you as before? so basically, like, same process as random seed swap, but we get to choose what we want at the end?
BRILLIANT. i love you both, in my dim puzzled way...

Exactly. Precisely. 100% correct.

I've PM-ed the first 5 people - I am going through the original list of people who wanted the parcels....so they get first dibs. Destructions are included, so once they have gone through the process, I am sure all questions will have been asked so that the 'official' destructions can be clear, precise and to the point.

[veggiechicken]

BR, I think we have to be patient and ultimately, all will be revealed by the mighty Seedmeisters! Its not that I understand the system (or am being kind to you in your chocolate induced woolliness) - I actually think that you and I are amongst the very worst sort of seed addicts and are, therefore, desperate for another fix of seeds. I've spent much of this morning drooling over the Chiltern Seeds catalogue which arrived this morning. Don't I realise that I still have to buy some presents, food and do a bit of cleaning. Ah - what the heck - who cares anyway? Maybe I'll shop tomorrow...

[BroadRipple]

ok fab that makes sense. only tragedy is that having not quite dared to ask if i can join in other seed swap parcels, due to a)major exclusion complex and b)fear of breaking The Rules, i won't get to the top of the list until all that's left is carrots (too tricky) and enormous cabbages (no room). [weeps softly, another gulp of sloe gin, snaps at mother-in-law, passes out in a sea of quality street wrappers]

[veggiechicken]

No, do not worry young BR, it will not work like that. You see, as each person takes out their selection, others will put more in, which means that the first in will miss out on whatever goes in later into the humungous trug thing that contains the seed stash. The stash is ever changing, and rejuvenating. Any of those purple Quality Street left? They're my favourite!!

[zazen999]

No, do not worry young BR, it will not work like that. You see, as each person takes out their selection, others will put more in, which means that the first in will miss out on whatever goes in later into the humungous trug thing that contains the seed stash. The stash is ever changing, and rejuvenating. Any of those purple Quality Street left? They're my favourite!!

Spoken like a true pro. We have over 1200 packs, with over 400 varieties just to start off with.

Also, once the people who had put their names down originally are sorted; it's first come first served.

And we don't have to wait on anyone - as soon as I get notification that you are in and the seeds are chosen, they are being 'reserved' for people. Then as soon as your seeds get here, the reserved ones can be sent straight out.

[northepaul]

So....for example, I (think?) am on the herb and edible flower list.... do I let you know what I have and then ask for what I want?
How about if you dont need any of the seeds I have then, eg marigolds etc?

However, another example, I have a few sweet cecily seeds I carefully saved, but they are very hard to save/flowers dont produce many seeds at all, and I was going to pack them in 3s...would one packet count per request ie for 3 packets I can ask for 3 other packets? Or just one per variety?

I also have woad...which is a herb but used as a dye....????

Hope you dont mind the questions!!??

[zazen999]

So....for example, I (think?) am on the herb and edible flower list.... do I let you know what I have and then ask for what I want?
How about if you dont need any of the seeds I have then, eg marigolds etc?

However, another example, I have a few sweet cecily seeds I carefully saved, but they are very hard to save/flowers dont produce many seeds at all, and I was going to pack them in 3s...would one packet count per request ie for 3 packets I can ask for 3 other packets? Or just one per variety?

I also have woad...which is a herb but used as a dye....????

Hope you dont mind the questions!!??

We're making it up as we go along, but yes - for rarer seeds, lower numbers would do.

3 packs in, 3 packs out - so that the numbers stay buoyant. You can donate any seeds, as long as you believe them to be viable.

There is no herb/flowers list any more; everyone that asked to go on one of the parcel lists was merged and so it's now just in order of who posted first. Once we are through that, hopefully by New Year's Day everyone will have been contacted; and we can launch the website for all.

You will get a PM in due course, with destructions.