It’s that time of the year again! It’s seed swap time! I’ve been doing this for a couple years now with some great success.
The way I do it is this: I start the swap by putting a bunch of seeds into an envelope. I also put an address list in the envelope. You receive the package, pick what you want, put in as many packages as you took out,* then send it on to the next person on the list and put your name at the bottom of the list. It’s kinda like a chain letter, actually.
When you receive the package let the blogging world know you got it by posting about it. Please include where they came from by linking to the blogger, what you chose, and where you are sending them, again by linking to the blogger. A picture of the seeds is nice but not necessary.
I do insist on “natural” seeds. That is nothing GMed just heirloom seeds please! Seeds you saved are fine just let us know what they are. Flowers are ducky also. I have some wonderful gladiolas from Peppylady which bloom a brilliant red.
If you’d like to participate leave me a comment and I’ll email you for your snail mail address.
*For instance, if you take out two tomatoes, one sunflower, and four cucumber you’d put a total of seven seed packages of your choice into the envelope.
Oooh! I’d LOVE to be a part of this? Are we allowed to put in partially-used packs? I usually only use a tiny amount out of my seed packages, since I have such a small garden, and I’d LOVE to be able to pass them on.
That’s an amazing idea! I’m going to have to participate when I have a garden next year!
Taylor: yes, absolutely. Usually that’s what I put in myself.
Kyla: just let me know when you’re ready!
I’m in again! ;)
I’d love to participate!! I was just wondering what to do with leftover seeds and the thousands of seeds I harvested so far this fall. This is a great idea!!
Farm mom: I figured as much so I put you on the list already =)
Melissa: I’ll send you an email. How did you find my little blog?
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Ooh! I’m in!
What a cool idea! I’d love to be a part of this. :)
I would love to. Maybe this time it will make it to my house? LOL
Allie: you’re on this list and so are you Jena.
Mim: Not making it to someone’s house seems to be a trend I can’t break. I have no idea how to “enforce” the idea once you get the package you have a week or two to send it out to the next person on the list.
The seeds end up somewhere and whomever gets them doesn’t post they got them, what they chose, nor to whom they sent the seeds out to. It’s hard for me to track the package unless people post. When the package doesn’t end up at it’s destination the seeds get lost. I have no idea what happened to last years package. The journey around the country is supposed to end back here at Howling Hill but the two years I’ve been doing this I’ve never seen the seeds again.
I just have to trust people will pass the seeds along instead of forgetting about them or procrastinating choosing and mailing. Hopefully this year the seed swap will go smoothly with everyone on the list able to make a choice.
Can I join in?
Talkingmute: certainly!
You never get the seeds back?! That’s horrible! I love that you keep doing it though.
Farm mom: no I never got them back. I’m still annoyed by it actually. I’ve tried to track them but after leaving Massachusetts the trail goes dead. No one wants to claim they have the package of seeds.
This is why it’s important to post who sent them to you and where they’re going. I think I’ll insist on a link to my blog too so I can keep a better eye on them. Or maybe I’ll put a lojack device in the envelope.
HA!! There you go! :) I remember there were only 3 people after me, and mim was one of them.
The list is getting really, really long. Very exciting!
I am in! I have been having a heck of a time experimenting with all sorts of seeds this year!
This year if you have a large number of participants maybe you could do two rounds (e.g. someone on the west coast or midwest send out one with the names reversed and you send out one as well) this way if one goes MIA, there is still another one out there. Does that make sense? Plus, everyone would have a larger sample of seeds.
On that note, I think I’ve been doing it wrong, LOL. I only take a bit of seed from packets of interest and leave some for the next person. Then I add in my own contributions. Guess I should have paid more attention! :)
Grace: I put you on the list.
Gina: I thought about doing two rounds but I don’t want to complicate the process. It’s hard enough to keep track of one package.
You weren’t doing it wrong. The whole point is to take what you need and want and replace. If you only want five pepper seeds, ten watermelon seeds, and two packages of tomatoes, go ahead and take those amounts. Then replace with fifteen seeds and two packages of your choice. What you put in only has to match what you took out in numbers.
The most difficult part is compliance with the posting. It seems no one wants to post “hey, I got the seeds!” and I’m not sure why. It’s the only way I can track the package so I insist everyone please post!
Count me in! I am starting heirloom seed planting instead of the packets I get from Lowes. Looks like it is time to order from Victory (unless someone has a better company).
Thanks! I am sooo looking foward to this!
Annette: you’re on the list.
other companies to buy from: Fedco, High Mowing, and Victory. There are, of course, others but those are the companies I use.
I just posted this on the SwapDex:
http://swapdex.blogspot.com/
And I’ve love to participate! I save all my seeds (most of which are from seed saver’s exchange) and I’d LOVE to get some new flowers! I have TONS of pumpkins and gourds of different types. Ohh, and heirloom tomato seeds!
I trust I was placed on this list a long time back
;)
Jenna: you’re on the list!
Phelan: yep.
I’d love to be in on this this year as well, it is an excellent idea!
Ok, Maya. You’re on the list.
I would love to join the swap if it is not too late.
I’d love to participate, I’ve been seed-saving for many years and participate in a number of swaps.
Melissa and Diana: you’re both on the list.
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Hi – is it too late to join the seed swap? I just found your site…
Hi Kelly
Yes, unfortunately. How did you find HH?