tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post4454475508056391652..comments2024-03-28T06:48:42.379-05:00Comments on MrBrownThumb: How to Organize a Seed SwapMrBrownThumbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-2528688582925828882016-03-02T14:56:43.486-06:002016-03-02T14:56:43.486-06:00Thank you!!! We are running our first seed swap on...Thank you!!! We are running our first seed swap on Sunday. This is a great help!<br /><br />Kathykathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10947233901412406068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-78472997286489486482012-03-01T19:00:12.103-06:002012-03-01T19:00:12.103-06:00Great, thanks for the tips!Great, thanks for the tips!Amy Andrychowiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04834295402269490621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-87308423265571828192012-02-29T17:50:00.246-06:002012-02-29T17:50:00.246-06:00I generally don't check the age, because a lot...I generally don't check the age, because a lot of the seeds brought to swaps are only in the 2-3 year age, which is fine. If it's older seed I generally encourage people to provide more of it to account for the lower germination rates. <br /><br />There's no expectation to take home excess seeds, but I'll usually send the stragglers home with any extras. You have to reward people who stay 'til the end. :0)MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-72991654405694569812012-02-10T16:30:05.097-06:002012-02-10T16:30:05.097-06:00This is fantastic!! I was thinking about doing som...This is fantastic!! I was thinking about doing something like this with some friends, I didn't realize it was something people do on a larger scale. I am definitely going to plan on organizing a larger one next year.<br /><br />I have a couple of questions…<br /><br />Do you check the age of the seeds too? If so, what's the cut off - 3 years, 5…? Or do you determine it by the type of seed?<br /><br />You said you encourage people to donate the seeds at the end, or give them away. Are there people that expect to take their extras home? If so, how do you keep them organized so people can get their extras back?<br /><br />AmyAmy Andrychowiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04834295402269490621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-38247856152999546462011-03-04T17:09:03.878-06:002011-03-04T17:09:03.878-06:00Gearing up for my first seed swap of the season on...Gearing up for my first seed swap of the season on Sunday. I'm not all that into seeds, but even I get a little glassy eyed at these things.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-75421285748798362322011-02-20T22:11:54.412-06:002011-02-20T22:11:54.412-06:00I totally want to plan a seed swap in the future. ...I totally want to plan a seed swap in the future. This is great!!meemsnychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10584936035577822444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-64029757063194368832011-02-19T22:14:47.769-06:002011-02-19T22:14:47.769-06:00@Jennifer, Attending an offical Seedy Sunday is on...@Jennifer, Attending an offical Seedy Sunday is on my bucketlist! Man, I want to know what that kind of crazyness is like! <br /><br />@Bren, That's very nice of you Bren. I hope people get more proactive and host their own. It's so much fun to attend and to participate. <br /><br />@Pippi21, Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope your seed swap experience is just as fullfilling as your plant swap was. You could encounter some seed packs that are closed and some that are open. Don't shy away from them because they give you a good opportunity to try new stuff out. <br /><br />@Fer,You have to at least give it a try. Do they have message boards where a lot of gardeners post? Maybe see if there's a Facebook group in for gardeners in your area. I'd love to see what a seed swap in Japan would look like.MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-5383981498951800682011-02-18T09:14:40.251-06:002011-02-18T09:14:40.251-06:00I have to give it a try. But I wonder if I can get...I have to give it a try. But I wonder if I can get enough people to make it worth while. I don't know that many gardeners hereferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16276731855082908670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-6661818950785337182011-02-17T07:38:24.231-06:002011-02-17T07:38:24.231-06:00Mr.Brown Thumb..what great timing you have. I'...Mr.Brown Thumb..what great timing you have. I'm planning on attending my first seed swap on 2/26 and am really looking forward to it since I don't know what to expect, it should be interesting. My husband and I attended our first plant swap last May. I didn't know what to expect and didn't want to go empty handed, so I went to Home Depot and purchased a flat of plants. Well, let me tell you that day was not only beautiful weather but the hostess had a yard that was smashing. Everybody bought food to share and we had a wonderful time and received quite an education. It was then that I realize how serious gardeners can be about their plants and how generous. I only came home with 5 new plants. I only asked for a plant that I had on my wish list and I really don't need more seeds but there are certain ones on my wish list that I don't have and am hoping that I can trade for those at the seed swap coming up. Most of all, it is fun to put faces to the usernames you have converse with on the gardening websites. I see entire pkg. at your seed swap, and then some sample pkts. I wonder if this is how it will be at the one that I'm planning to attend. I enjoy so much all your tuitorials and have learned so much from your blogspot. I have referred so many gardening friends and newbies to your blogspot too. I just wished you lived in our area!Pippi21noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-66346545882041809822011-02-15T18:10:46.456-06:002011-02-15T18:10:46.456-06:00This is a great post filled with inspiring ways to...This is a great post filled with inspiring ways to share seeds. What is there NOT to love! I like the giant sunflower you have treasured at the end of the blog post. <br /><br />I'm going to share this link with a few connections who always comment that they wish they had a seed swap near them. YOU prove that it is well worth the lite organization to host a seed swap of your own.Bren Haashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17373890474848211301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-73647971125009833612011-02-13T23:13:34.345-06:002011-02-13T23:13:34.345-06:00Nice! Spring is a million miles away still but to...Nice! Spring is a million miles away still but today was the first of several Seedy Sunday events. Fun! But disorganized indeed. We could have used rules, tickets, etc. It was kind of a free-for-all and all the herb seeds were gone by the time I had a chance to get to that the table. (and the donation jars were mostly empty...)Tziviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828930310967808828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-45959920041586709812011-02-13T21:57:02.666-06:002011-02-13T21:57:02.666-06:00Tom, You'd be mistaken. I would've snapped...Tom, You'd be mistaken. I would've snapped those up. One of the employees at one of the conservatories brought some cool tropical stuff.MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-65720865500733782402011-02-13T21:18:44.853-06:002011-02-13T21:18:44.853-06:00I wish I could have made it! Then again I doubt t...I wish I could have made it! Then again I doubt there would have been too much interest in my odd Mediterranean and semi-tropical climate plants...Tomhttp://theatrumbotanicum.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-80258320634082603162011-02-13T17:57:49.879-06:002011-02-13T17:57:49.879-06:00@Monica,
I never thought of having a proxy seed s...@Monica,<br /><br />I never thought of having a proxy seed swapper. That's kind of brilliant and devious. Although, since I'm picky about what I'll take maybe that wouldn't work so well for me. But may be something worth exploring. <br /><br />I didn't want to get into the "special" seeds area in the post, so I'm glad you brought it up in the comments. I sometimes take something that's rare or expensive and will keep it to myself until I see someone who has the same and then approach them for a trade. The next one I host I'll come up with a way for people who have special seeds to trade to recognize each other. We had a number of awesome seeds at the seed swap at the Chicago Cultural Center because a few of the attendees were "pros." <br /><br />@Garden Girl,<br />I'm fine with older seed too because they don't really lose that much viability. Older seed should just be sown more heavily to make up for the freshness loss. If they're in the original pack and it is clearly labeled as being grown for a specific year, it should be fine. Everyone should read their seed packets and learn as much as possible about what they're growing.MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-60901603645067921452011-02-13T17:44:20.577-06:002011-02-13T17:44:20.577-06:00MBT, what are your thoughts about bringing seeds p...MBT, what are your thoughts about bringing seeds packaged for a previous year? I have a surplus and would be happy to share them (without expecting to pick up the same qty. as I brought,) but wasn't sure if they'd be considered of any value since they likely won't have the higher germination of fresher seeds.garden girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13284047851881823280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-72423067539547650992011-02-13T17:19:35.117-06:002011-02-13T17:19:35.117-06:00Gina, You don't have to repack seeds. Most see...Gina, You don't have to repack seeds. Most seed swap hosts bring lots of small envelopes. Then people can just pour out a little from a larger seed pack and label it themselves. But I come with the larger seed packs; I don't divide them into multiple smaller envelopes ahead of time. Um, unless you mean repackaging AT the swap, which I really enjoy. However, some people DO come with smaller quantities, or let you take the whole large envelope.<br /><br />MBT, I felt the exact same way when I hosted a plant exchange all those years--like I couldn't partake in the action because I was facilitating and answering questions. Which I like to do, but I like plants, too. I finally assigned some friends to trade on my behalf and was lucky they had a feel for what I wanted. :) Also, the German part of me wants to over-orchestrate every detail of a swap, but I've been happily surprised how well the whole just throwing seeds down on the table works. Esp. if people bring what is truly extras, not their most prized seeds--then no one really wants to leave with them and it's all good. (One swap was run by a community garden group so many of us donated our leftover seeds to the organization, and the leader of another swap donated leftovers to another community garden for us. (If people wanted to leave them.) <br /><br />I have some good stuff ready to swap!!Monica the Garden Faeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06369882350990949968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-72114055834620176912011-02-13T16:45:01.223-06:002011-02-13T16:45:01.223-06:00@Gina, LOL. I guessed as much about you since last...@Gina, LOL. I guessed as much about you since last year you didn't participate in our seed swap at the Chicago Flower Show on account of repacking seeds. That's actually my favorite part of seed swaps. Getting to touch and repackage the seeds. It must be what it feels like to be rich and run your hands over stacks of money, expensive art and endangered animals in your private zoo. <br /><br />What I don't like about seed swaps is organizing them! Just kidding, I love it. But I miss out on all the cool seeds because I feel like I shouldn't be taking seeds or I feel like I have to be a good host. Although, this time a few people who came brought seeds especially for me. It was awesome. <br /><br />You know what would be cool? Having like a course that you have to take from beginning to end to educate people about seed starting and seed saving. I bet we could put a dent in the number of people who don't know about seed saving and the difference between heirlooms and hybrids. Then they could go off and teach other people about it.MrBrownThumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11326733084344581944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14573299.post-17000859869308242922011-02-13T16:37:08.776-06:002011-02-13T16:37:08.776-06:00MBT - hate I missed this one! You know what I don...MBT - hate I missed this one! You know what I don't like about seed swaps? The repackaging of the seeds. It's a lot of work! <br /><br />I would never have thought about the risk of somebody bringing saved seeds from hybrid plants but yeah, that's not cool. That said, I think there are quite a few gardeners out there that don't really understand why this doesn't work.Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13963031967392008760noreply@blogger.com