Author Topic: Blagging Freebies  (Read 86431 times)

Jeannine

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #20 on: March 23, 2010, 22:23:15 »
Pesky there is nothing wrong with freebie shopping, if someone posts I have something free and don't need anything back that is fine..if it is a swap then it should be an exchange of seed,if a round robin I think the organiser has the right to want to know a bit about a peep. Why would someone post a parcel of seeds that could have cost   a lot of money to someone they have never heard of, it makes no sense,but if that person is around for the next one then that would be different. I give tons of seed to newbies starting out and that is a blessing for me but I don't think I should have to if my common sense tells me different.

I must stress again to newbies, if you don't get on a swap there could be many reasons why,I have a joining date on this one for a good reason, I don't usually do it. We have all been newbies and we really do need to encourage them to join in.

I think we should have sticky that suggests etiquette for swapping..eg, be polite..it is unlikely if you would get seeds if you were rude to the giver. I actually got one that simply gave an address and a message that send "yeah I will have any freebie seeds I can get" and this is from someone I have never heard of of. Also Post a thankyou, etc...someone else can come up with the etiquette. you all know what I mean. Georgie is right totally agree with what she is saying. I also agree with Robert.

I think this an excellent post and might lead to a clearing of the air a bit.

I would like to hear some comments from a few newbies as to what they think.

XX Jeannine
« Last Edit: March 23, 2010, 22:25:40 by Jeannine »
When God blesses you with a multitude of seeds double  the blessing by sharing your  seeds with other folks.

Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #21 on: March 23, 2010, 22:36:58 »
i just think if you want to offer seeds to newbies then do, if not don't.  Why moan about it?  Endlessly....Surely there are far worse things in life?  I can't see the fuss at all - why take something like that personally?  Perspective is sometimes a wonderful thing...I think the anger expressed on this sometimes borderes on the unhealthy myself.

Jeannine

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #22 on: March 23, 2010, 22:38:54 »
Who is angry? XX Jeannine
When God blesses you with a multitude of seeds double  the blessing by sharing your  seeds with other folks.

Ninnyscrops.

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #23 on: March 23, 2010, 22:39:17 »
Oh well, I suppose the best thought is if they are going to a "blagger" at least my seeds will be sown by someone somewhere - that's what it's all about at the end of the day.

Ninny

Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #24 on: March 23, 2010, 22:39:56 »
who keeps raising this subject?

Jeannine

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #25 on: March 23, 2010, 22:47:06 »
If you are in fact talking about me, I am not angry at all,it is an emotion that I rarely feel, in fact I am quite sad, no  that is wromg I am very sad.. I am also nervous that newbies will be put off which is the point of MY posts.If it takes a lot of words to say to them what I need to say then so be it. If the post turns into an angry one it will not be from me, and I truly hope it does not it is not the place to do so.

XX Jeannine
When God blesses you with a multitude of seeds double  the blessing by sharing your  seeds with other folks.

Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #26 on: March 23, 2010, 22:54:30 »
hey there Jeannine, not talking about you at all - I have seen over the years you are generous and welcoming!  You are brilliant, as are nearly everyone on here.  I aspire to your level of politeness and organisation - it is wondeful!

I just think sometimes there are bad vibes on this sort of thing, which I think is unfair and unneccesary when there are so many positives to talk about regarding gardens/allotments. That is all.

For someone who was kindly helped starting off last year I appreciate the encouragement garnered by getting help from you guys.

Simon

Jeannine

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #27 on: March 23, 2010, 23:00:25 »
Simon, thank you. I do however feel that folks who need to state an opinion should do so and as long as it is polite I have no problem with that. Funnily,  I am not feeling anger from anyone..frustration maybe, but we may not agree and it is perhaps best we should  not follow this any further as it might start to look angry and I am sure no one would welcome that.

I respect ypur comments.

XX Jeannine
When God blesses you with a multitude of seeds double  the blessing by sharing your  seeds with other folks.

Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #28 on: March 23, 2010, 23:02:20 »
i agree totally
x

Ninnyscrops.

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #29 on: March 23, 2010, 23:06:18 »
Time to ignore my first post please folks, a knee-jerk reaction  :(

Seeds are all about growing - pass them on irrespective of who grows them - they'll hopefully give pleasure wherever they end up!

Ninny x


Jeannine

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #30 on: March 23, 2010, 23:09:27 »
Ninny, your post was very valid, I think it was wise and should not be ignored.XX Jeannine
When God blesses you with a multitude of seeds double  the blessing by sharing your  seeds with other folks.

dtw

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #31 on: March 23, 2010, 23:16:45 »
cheeky beggers!

I must get involved in a seed swap one day, but I always seem to see them after they have been already organised.

Digeroo

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #32 on: March 23, 2010, 23:48:34 »
I got one very nice email from a newbie I rejected but I felt very bad about it.  I was very concerned that she did not in fact join the forum.  

I like the idea that someone would like to give several things a try in small quantities.  I would  like to think of a way of having a round robin seed swap and giving everyone a better selection of what is on offer.   The idea of everyone sending in seed and then publishing a list and seeing who wants what and then splitting up the seeds sounds like a nightmare.  I would welcome some positive suggestions.  

I did a swap with someone when I had not been on the forum for very long and we have become firm friends.  

I like the thought that perhaps they are giving someone some pleasure.   

My swap was open until last week dtw.  I did not send round the address list but PMd each person with the next on the list.  Half the people on the list joined after the start date.

I  met an interesting person many years ago who did me as complete stranger a favour.  He said that I should repay the favour to someone else and then perhaps that favour would one day go round the world and back to him.  For years I did people favours but in the end decided I was being taken for granted and that he would never get that favour back.  I would just like to feel that one favour has got back to him and his family.








Jeannine

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #33 on: March 24, 2010, 01:28:38 »
Digeroo, your message touched me wee bit and I feel I have to say that if you feel so strongly about that favour it will, or has ,got back to him, the important thing is in the doing which it seems you have tried to do and he probably knew that when he said what he did. To give with no hooks or expectations of reward is a gift, one that you were given from the stranger, you are very lucky, don't give up on ,the treasure you have been given, it is a blessing it will come back to you and the stranger. XX Jeannine
When God blesses you with a multitude of seeds double  the blessing by sharing your  seeds with other folks.

chriscross1966

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #34 on: March 24, 2010, 01:45:51 »
I like the idea that someone would like to give several things a try in small quantities.  I would  like to think of a way of having a round robin seed swap and giving everyone a better selection of what is on offer.   The idea of everyone sending in seed and then publishing a list and seeing who wants what and then splitting up the seeds sounds like a nightmare.  I would welcome some positive suggestions.  


That's sort of how I did the squash/exotics swap (and I believe how a tomato one was done recently too).... it's more work than I thought, mostly trying to keep track of peoples preferences and what they sent in so that what they get back is stuff they're both interested in and haven't got.... on the upside if you send in say 10 seeds each of three varieties, you're likely to get  3 seeds each of ten varieties back.... targetted at stuff you've indicated interest in.... indeed, in mine everyone who put down a named variety got at least two seeds of it.... end result was a bunch of people opening envelopes with a lot of varieties in.....

I certainly plan on running another one next year but will try and organise it a bit better and a bit earlier so that participants might realise they'd be better off putting some obscure Japanese kabocha on their seed order rather than sending me in yet more b****y Marina di Choggia :D

I've also sent out seeds to folks who've asked for them and arranged individual swaps too, there are several people on here where i would  suggest that my situation with them is that if they're looking for something and I have it then I'll send it to them and they'll reciprocate as and when the complementary situation arises and vice-versa....

I must admit I find it a bit duff that somone is pushing us as a source of free seeds on moneysavingexpert though.....

[/my 2p]

chrisc

DawnF

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #35 on: March 24, 2010, 07:43:19 »
Hi,
I do hope you dont think this was me?
Yes I am new!
Yes I have asked for 3 possibly 4 types of seeds ffrom other members of this forum...
I have a vast array of seeds in my potting shed at the moment possibly more than most ....being new its like a trial + error thing.If anyone wants any they are quite happy to have them ... if I can help.
I do regularly ask for advice on several subjects.

In regards to your seed blagging .... in the Bargains Galore forum posted on there is
Free Big Dig Seeds
Free RHS Seeds
Free Mail on Sunday seeds.....

I am feeling rather hurt by your comments that you PM.d  me

Regards
Dawn

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #36 on: March 24, 2010, 08:01:51 »
On round robins, a thankyou to the organiser might be in order when the parcel passes from one person to another. I have been in swaps where an envelope with the organisers name on is added by one of the  first recipients, seeds are popped in there, not to be taken by anyone else, but are a special thank you to the person who started it.


I think that is a lovely idea Jeannine :)

Robert_Brenchley

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #37 on: March 24, 2010, 08:09:34 »
They are a bit strong aren't they! I hadn't thought what the effect of a lot in a bag for a while would be.

Come to think of it, I wonder what proportion of us save our own seed, and are likely to have the rarer things to put in a swap? We probably need to do more to encourage people to start - maybe have a specialist seed saving board?

Robert_Brenchley

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #38 on: March 24, 2010, 08:13:11 »
On round robins, a thankyou to the organiser might be in order when the parcel passes from one person to another. I have been in swaps where an envelope with the organisers name on is added by one of the  first recipients, seeds are popped in there, not to be taken by anyone else, but are a special thank you to the person who started it.


That's a good idea, because a lot of people won't have rarer things to swap, and if we have some designated for the organiser, then they've got a better chance of getting some interesting stuff. If someone has nothing to offer but 'ordinary' varieties, that shouldn't be a bar to participation, but at the same time we can't complain if that's what they put in.

lottiedolly

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Re: Blagging Freebies
« Reply #39 on: March 24, 2010, 08:28:20 »
I have to say that i have been blessed with swaps and pass the parcels from both this forum and others and have been able to aquire seeds that i would not have been able to purchase easily. With this in mind, i will be sowing as much as possible so i can save seeds to pass on for next year. I would like to think that is what most of us will do.

 

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