Just wondered what everyone thought were the high and lows of seed swaps. For me....a novice by far and only organised one seed swap
1. When you recieve a parcel being so happy to look at so many different seeds - some you have never heard of, but all you want to grow. The self restraint in not being too greedy is a buzz in itself
2. Hoping that I have included enough interesting seeds for the first two or three participants when I organise a swap.
3. The holding of breath when you post it on and the relief when it gets there. (For male members, for us ladies this similar to the relief when you have prostate issues later in life..........or so I am told ;D)
4. Looking everyday on the seed swap pages and seeing who is swapping what.
5. Sorting through your seed collection to try and find gems that others would want.
6. And finally with me, I have a seed addiction and I am happy to spread it around.
These are my high and lows....what are yours?
:)Suzanne
I love it all, the asking to be included, the waiting for the clues as to whom the next one to attack the postman will be ;D
Opening the packet and seeing the goodies, adding my goodies and hoping others will like them and they will grow well for others, and the sending it onwards, waiting with baited breath to hear it arrived safely :D
...is the anticipation of what is to come. I don't manage to get involved very often due to the late hour I get online, but on the odd occasion I have, I have never been dissapointed.
I have to say i rather like the 1-2-1, seed swaps, & have said so before, not everyone can do the parcel swap thing.
I have done many seed swaps with A4A`s, the surprise package is lovely of which i have been very fortunate with, many of the long time A4A`s, have a good seed & plant swap going. Thank you Emma the CARDOON, is looking soooo, good at present.
The chance of finding something interesting, and very often getting seed which germinates more reliably that commercial stuff, doubtless because it's fresher. Cardoons are nice, but massive. I'm just hoping mine isn't going to swamp the onions.
With EU regulations definitely going to restrict the varieties of seeds available over the next few years, diversity is only likely to be maintained if all of us start swapping seeds regularly.
Hurrah for seed swaps!
It takes away some of the guilt of buying so many in the first place.
Getting a chance to see what other smaller seed companies are like.
Trying something you may otherwise would not have done.
Sesame street was always telling us how good it is to share.
It's social.Etc.etc .etc
The only down ,when the Postmans late.
Good stuff Rosebud. The mumma has plenty of babes so I will slice you off a couple, or I can wait until you move???
My highs...............the utmost disbelief at seeing the trust put in each other on my first participated swop. The response is phenomenal, so is the feedback. Just seeing so many different varieties of veg and flowers in one bag!
My lows....................Specially the first one, worrying that I hadn't got enough or good enough variety seeds to swop with people who had lots of great things. (Made me feel inadequate, But everyone is so nice, not one person would have criticized a newbie).
extending your own varietys of seeds
saves on cost as seed is so expensive!
Getting the parcel, its just like christmas!
sharing with others who share the same passion!
The best bit is the sheer excitement of opening the parcel! What could be nicer, rummaging through seeds! Bliss! ;D 8)
I just love them ! ;D
The best pleasure for me as a gardener is being able to share ....
Seeds ... knowledge ... hard graft if needed ... love it all! ;D
And I still have too many seeds for my requirements :-[ :-[ :-[ so if anyone is short of anything .... just ask ! ;)
.... and thank you to all I have shared with it's been a pleasure ... roll on the next one :D
I have only done one seed swap so far.
What I really loved was seeing all the varieties, and getting a book and looking them up. My daughter thought I was very sad, but it sure was fun learning about different veg and plants :)
I even wrote some down for future reference in my note book!
I also love the passion of everyone on the swaps and the kindness of everyone.
For a beginner like myself, its been fab :D :D :D
Ooo Springbok, my daughter loves to go through the parcels with me and I am not allowed to open them until she is home from school. If she had her way, we would take 1 or 2 seeds from every single packet! Glad to say, I'm in charge. :)