VSP future - Please read!

[Root66]

Thanks a lot VC. For the recent seeds and for doing the VSP

[veggiechicken]

An Update!

The VSP has been split into 4 and the seeds have arrived with their new Minders

Scarlet - Tomatoes & Peppers
Norfolkgrey - Beans & Peas, Fruit, Herbs and Flowers
Sparrow100 - Cucurbits, Lettuce and Miscellaneous
Greenleaves - Alliums, Brassicas, Beet, Carrots

In due course, the Minders will let you know the arrangements for swapping.

My Thanks to everyone who has participated in the VSP over the last 4 years and my extra special thanks and gratitude to Scarlet, Norfolkgrey, Sparrow and Greenleaves for stepping in and allowing me to retire

[Nannysally99]

Ah, that's lovely VC, your seeds are off to new minders
Thanks for sending me seeds, sometimes without a direct 'ask'. Just you being thoughtful
A big, big thank you

[Bigmallly]

The complications start when the seeds you request are not with the holder of the seeds you are sending in................I suppose it can easily be sorted.

[veggiechicken]

Its only a "complication" because Grapes have been used to swapping anything for anything.
Now it will be a case of better targetted swapping.

[Greenleaves]

Just to add to what has already been said....the Brassicas, Alliums, Beets and Carrots will be phased out over the next 12 months as these are just packet seeds.

There will be ample opportunity for you all to access these next year

[sparrow100]

Plus the categories for the other sections are pretty wide AND we shouldn't forget it's based on free swaps. I certainly won't begrudge an extra stamp or two.

It won't be the same as before but, looking at what we've all been sent, VC must have felt like she was single-handedly running a full-on seed merchants.

[mothhawk]

Just to add to what has already been said....the Brassicas, Alliums, Beets and Carrots will be phased out over the next 12 months as these are just packet seeds.

There will be ample opportunity for you all to access these next year

How can they be phased out when you are swapping packet for packet? Unless you give back two for one, there will still be a pile of seeds at the end of the year.

Presumably as you refer to "packet" seeds, the intention is eventually only to swap self saved seeds then, not half packets or surplus unopened packets of seed?

Will no-one be saving and sending kale seed then? (Not that I need any, saved 3 or 4 ounces off one Red Russian plant, enough to last me quite a few years....)

[veggiechicken]

Don't want to upset you, sparrow, but you had the smallest box
Norfolkgrey's was hooooge

[Greenleaves]

They wont be swaps Mothhawk, just requests....Sparrow may well look after self saved Kale seeds

[mothhawk]

They wont be swaps Mothhawk, just requests....Sparrow may well look after self saved Kale seeds

So you'll just give them out to people who request them till they are all gone, then no more VSP?

[Greenleaves]

So you'll just give them out to people who request them till they are all gone, then no more VSP?

Not for the ones I have, as VC will testify none really asks for them, Sparrow, Norfolkgrey and Scarlet will be continuing

[veggiechicken]

Yes, as GL said, there have been very few requests for brassicas, alliums, carrots and beets - but a lot of these seeds are sent in. This has made the VSP very unbalanced. Most of these incoming seeds have been commercial ones - there are very few saved seeds amongst them. Not that many unusual varieties either!
Off the top of my head, there are a few interesting kale, leeks, parsnip and beetroot that have been saved - that's about it. Much of the remainder are, what I think of as "front of magazine" seeds - and there are multiple packets of these.
Every year I try to give them away and there are very few takers! You can see from the list at http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1490623 where the surplus seeds are!
I'm sure that the "interesting" seeds will make their way into another VSP
Good luck GL, finding homes for the rest

[Scarlet]

Unfortunately the VSP wont be run as it was before. It was a fulltime job for VC with many trips to the post office/post box every week and the stockpile of seeds becoming too large, many of which were sent in but not requested. GL has most of the seeds that aren't popular with the swappers, most requests were for tomato, chillies beans, squash etc. It has been very convenient having a 24/7 open shop with an amazing selection of seed varieties to choose from. The "VSP" has been split to make it manageable and although we will try to offer a similar service that VC has done for several years unfortunately it will not be quite as convenient as before. We are in discussion on how we can continue and will let you know how it will be run shortly.

[geepee]

It's what Mork said to his pet caterpillar after she turned into a butterfly

What ever it is your on Jayell .....if you got any spare seeds ......i'm sure they'll be appreciated by some ....not for me however