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It all started in September in the Cottage Gardening forum. It was innocent enough. A forum regular wanted to organize a seed swap just among a few others on the forum to increase our "cottagey" plants for the coming year. This is the story of what it grew into.
The hostess decides not to post on the Seed Trading forum to keep the swap more intimate... just some friends from the Cottage Gardening forum getting together to share their bounty of fresh seeds from their 2007 harvest. Then it will be mostly seeds collected from their very own plants in their very own cottage gardens, or partial packs of commercial seeds sold for 2008. The Cottage Gardening forum is new this year at Dave's Garden at the request of many of us who were either interested in starting a cottage-style garden or who already had one and wanted a place where we could share our pictures, plans and problems. If any newbies come along they will be more than welcome to join in.
Nine people sign up for the swap and we all start to put together our lists of available seeds while the hostess tries to work out rules for the swap. The initial idea was that folks would send in their seeds with a list of what they would like back, for example "tall perennials, mostly pinks and purples," or "I like penstemons and foxgloves, no hollyhocks." Participants can send in as many packs of seeds as they want and get the same number back. In the next couple of days 5 more people sign up. We begin talking about the seeds we will be sending. There's a lot of chat and advice about harvesting seed now. Some of us, including me, don't have a lot of experience in this area. The deadline is extended from October 15 to the 31st to give everyone a chance to dry their seeds. As the seeds are collected and availability is announced, maybe even photos of the plants in bloom posted, there are (typed) shouts of "Me! Me!" as the participants indicate which seeds are of interest. The thread is getting too long and a new one is started. For those of you who may be new to this kind of web site, a thread is a discussion topic. By the time there are 200 posts on a thread, it loads very slowly, particularly for dial-up users. This new thread will be called by the same name with a "Part 2."
More people sign up. (The list eventually reaches 29 by thread #4, but not every sign-up follows through.) As new varieties of seeds are offered it becomes apparent that we need to keep track of "who wants what." So we start marking sandwich or snack baggies with participants' names and putting requested seeds in their baggie. This way, when they are sent in to the swap, the hostess just has to plop the baggie into their envelope. But wait...an envelope may not be big enough. How many seed packs are you sending in? Better use a box. I am sending a total of 146 packs of seeds. This absolutely beautiful box stuffed full of seeds arrives on November 16th. It's like opening a treasure. I didn't count, but there are only one or two duplicates. I believe I received over 140 different varieties of seeds in this box. Totally amazing? I think so. But it doesn't stop here.
By the end of thread #4 the hostess has another idea. If we all put in a few dollars we could buy some unusual seeds on sale that might be too expensive to buy a whole pack individually. She volunteers to split up the packs and mail them back to us; a mini co-op. All who are interested are off to thread #5 discussing which seeds we should buy. Everybody is to mail suggestions to the hostess and she will choose the most popular depending on what we can afford. Of course, not everyone is interested, but being a self-confessed "seed addict*," I follow along. A nice bubble envelope arrives on Christmas Eve with 16 packs of wonderful commercial seeds that only cost a few dollars. You may think that everyone has plenty of seeds now, but not so.
* I started this thread entitled "Seed addict...add to the list" just for fun. This is where I confess to being a true seed addict. You might want to read it to see if you might be a seed addict, too. Remember, the first sign is denial.
In order to spread around the seeds obtained in the first swap that we may not want, or seeds a bit older than 2007 that are still viable, the hostess has suggested another swap for early 2008...kind of a "clean out your seed box" swap. Many of the participants, like me, that had so much fun in the original swap are still hanging in. We picked up some people, too, so we'll be back up to 26 by the end of the swap. The rules are a little clearer this time around because we worked through some things on the first swap. The hostess has some different goals in mind this time, though. She is expecting a large amount of interesting seed from a trader in Alaska, much of it not from this year, but obviously hardy in the colder zones. There are two traders from the Netherlands and one from Canada...should be interesting.
There is no waiting for harvesting and drying this time, just everyone digging into corners, dumping out boxes and looking into the backs of refrigerators for all those seeds that were never sown and aren't likely to be this spring. The photo at left is representative of every horizontal surface in my home. Each participant has a spot on the thread for posting their list of offerings. Believe me, these lists are looong! It starts out calmly enough. Trader 1 asking Trader 8 for a pack of red monarda..."oh, and I'd also like the pink double hollyhocks, Jacob's ladder and Salvia 'Victoria Blue,' please. Will crape myrtle grow in my zone?" And then 20 posts later, "Can you add the yellow hollyhocks to that, too, if they're still available?" New thread, quick!
Some posted on the threads asking for the seeds they wanted. Some D-Mailed the owner of the prize (D-Mail is the internal message system here at DG). Some did both. The lists of offerings are growing daily and we are picking up new participants. Then there are the "Does anybody have...?" posts. Of course, somebody does "have," so sort it out and see who will provide it so it isn't duplicated. There are thoughts of when to post new seed offerings so everybody has an equal chance at them. Some of the seeds are so attractive that everybody wants them and there may be only one pack. Others are those dime-a-dozen kind that you can't seem to get rid of. Then the newbies show up and are glad for a chance to pick up those common ones that are garden staples. I was one of those newbies last year.
The seeds are coming fast and furious and just as quickly are snapped up. Some traders are tempted to join in, but lurk for a while and get dizzy just trying to keep up, then back away quietly. It reminds me of when you see the mayhem of the commodities market in the movies...everybody yelling at once and waving the slips of paper that represent wheat or orange juice or pork bellies (like in "Trading Places," if you've seen it). We begin "oinking" and referring to ourselves as "piggies" because it just seems like we are being so grabby, but there is such a bounty of seeds and plenty for everyone.
The threads grow and grow...three, four, five. We have to copy our lists and pull them forward or we would lose track. There are a couple of volunteers who generously offer to keep lists for the hostess to make her job a little easier. She is a model of organization. There is a room at her house (more than one before this is all over) dedicated to the swap and big cans labeled with our DG user names. When there is something requested from her own stash (which is more than considerable!) she throws it in the appropriate can. The opening thumbnail is my can, marked with my zone, so she knows what kind of extra seeds to toss in, but I understand I have been upgraded to a larger size!
In the middle of thread #4 the seeds from Alaska show up...a wine case FULL! Piggies to the trough!! We get lists of availability as the the seeds are sorted and repacked into smaller lots. Now the hostess starts advertising the seeds that aren't being taken...descriptions, links to PlantFiles (the huge, searchable plant database here at Dave's Garden), ideas on where to use them. The lady knows her plants! Soon they're being adopted. "Yeah, I could use some of those to hide my A/C." "They'll grow in dry shade? Oink, oink...I'll take a pack." Thread six, seven...more seeds, more advice. The cans are really getting stuffed now.
Our Canadian trader has heirloom tomato seeds. Even though the general rule is "no veggies," they can be included if someone specifically wants them. One of the Dutch participants wanted all the heirloom tomatoes that were available. There was an interesting story offered with the seeds. There is an heirloom seed project in British Colombia where our trader obtained the seeds. There is no telling where they came from originally. Our friend in the Netherlands sends heirloom vegetable seeds to traders in many other countries. So the trail of these seeds, in this swap alone, is from B.C. to Toronto, to the swap hostess in the mid-west, to the Netherlands, to Gibralter, Germany, Denmark and Slovenia. Amazing!! If only we could tag a seed the way we band birds.
Thread 8...you better have your seeds packed and ready to send in. The deadline is just about on us. It's time to move on to finishing winter sowing and getting ready for spring. Folks in the south are already reporting seeds sprouting. Our hostess, with a mind like a seed filing cabinet, has to be exhausted. (See the pic on the right...pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain...). No matter how much we appreciate her efforts and how impressed we are with the job she has done, I don't think we'll ever realize the magnitude of it. Maybe her volunteer assistant, another DG member, who was kind enough to take and share these pictures, has a handle on it. She was kind of an intern...a beginner who wanted to learn at the feet of the master. Also she doesn't mind typing, a task which the seed master loathes.
As I write, we're on thread 9, the final thread. Boxes have been mailed out today. You can't begin to imagine the wild ride. The fun we've had! We're planning new threads; one for our new babies... seeds germinated by winter sowing or under lights inside, one in the spring for sharing blooms, one for questions and advice. We're not just participants in a swap any more, not just DG screen names. We have real names, real gardens, real lives. The new friends are reluctant to lose the camaraderie.
Postage: $20
Seeds: $0
New flowers and beautiful gardens: $0
New friends: priceless
Attention potential swappers:
For any newbies out there who are a little reluctant to jump in and start trading, try reading through the Trading Primer first. It will give you some guidelines, basic how-to's and also trading etiquette so you don't inadvertantly step on any toes. By the time you've read that, you should be ready to visit the Seed Trading Forum or the Plant Trading Forum to see if there is anything that interests you. If something is confusing, ask! Nobody will bark or bite. There were lots of participants in the swaps I talked about in this article who had never been in a swap before. There are two excellent articles that were published recently that will also be a great help to you if you take a few minutes to read through them: What is a SASBE? Learn All About Getting Seeds for Postage and Seed Trading Etiquette=Please don't make me get out the magnifying glass! But whatever else you do, please take the plunge and join us in the fun. I wouldn't suggest starting with a big swap like the one I described, but most are much more manageable. Just read and take your time until one sounds right to you.
About Jan Recchio
I'm a 'dabble' gardener. Been gardening for over 40 years. I will plant anything that will grow for me and some things that won't, indoors or out. Outdoors I have theme gardens: roses, butterfly/hummingbird, heathers/dwarf conifers, a rock garden (in progress) and a new English-style cottage garden with an herb garden at it's 'heart'. Indoors I try to concentrate on orchids, African violets, anything that will flower or has lots of color and unusual houseplants. I try to stay organic and keep chemicals to a bare minimum. My non-gardening interests include quilting, counted cross-stitch and watercolor painting. I am a proud grandma and before my recent retirement, I was a clinical systems analyst (computer geek) for 24 years.
Subject: UK Newbie-want to join a UK/USA seed swop?
Posted by Seedolic (from Plymouth
(United Kingdom)) on March 9, 2008 at 2:27 PM:
I have just read your travelling seed tale - sounds like Christmas came a few times last year! What a great idea. I would really love to join you (if I am allowed). I am not familiar how things work yet with Dave's site or with importing /exporting seeds from USA/UK so will read up on the areas you mention. I am a big seedolic. I love germinating new varieties and the process of collecting and storing for reuse. Are there any UK seed addicts out there? If so, I will offer to be the UK organiser - what have I let myself in for! Maybe we could do the same in the UK, i.e. I centrally collect in the UK from other UK Dave's gardeners and we do a big swop with your US group? If anyone is interested please let me know through this forum.
Kathy
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 9, 2008 at 3:59 PM:
Hi, Kathy. I'm glad you liked our story. I can tell by your screen name that you would fit right in LOL. I'm not sure of the rules on importing seeds into the US, but I think there are limits (it may be 15 packets) for personal use or some such. So you may be better off just participating as an individual. But we would certainly be glad to have you. There are always swaps going on here at Dave's, but not always big ones like the ones I described. And there would be nothing stopping you from getting together some folks inside the UK for a swap. I'm sure there are some that would be interested.
I don't think you will get much response on this forum, as it's only for responses to the article. You can post in the Seed Trading forum. But first, let me see if I can find out some specifics for you.
~ jan
...
Posted by Seedolic (from Plymouth
(United Kingdom)) on March 9, 2008 at 5:16 PM:
Hi Jan
Many thanks for your quick response. When I replied today I was not a member so couldnt see some areas of the site- since I have become a full member - a very easy quick process - and have spent a few hours on this site trying to familiarise myself. I understand what you mean about no responses on this forum - I couldnt find the thread for a while but thankfully remembered your name so got back in again. If 15 pkts is the max then I could probably manage trading on my own as you can imagine I already have far more seeds than I will personally use as you only need a small amount of seed each year. I have bought hundreds of packets of seeds on Ebay but have never sold any seeds, only given away to friends. Hopefully I will be able to join in your group. Bye for now Kathy
...
Posted by Seedolic (from Plymouth
(United Kingdom)) on March 9, 2008 at 8:05 PM:
Hi Jan Having read various forums it is evident that there are strict regulations that I need to comply with to swop seeds with gardeners on Dave's website. I will have to do some more research to check what is involved and what the costs will be. May just have to trade with Dave's UK'ers. Anyway, I havent given up yet so so will keep researching. Kathyx
...
Posted by Illoquin (from Indianapolis, IN) on March 9, 2008 at 8:53 PM:
Hi Kathy,
I'm Suzy who ran the Nov. swap and also the February one. Jan asked me to drop in and tell you how it goes...at this moment in time, anyway. :))
The US seed Import rules are annoying at the moment, but basically we can import, with proper paperwork in one envelope: 50 different packs of seeds, and only 50 seeds per pack. This lets out things like poppies, well, it doesn't exclude them, but 50 poppy seeds is just a drop in the bucket for what you usually get in a pack. It also answers the question on getting a group together to send seeds: You really can't (and stay legal). It is much better to just send your own and get back your own, although I would always look it up on the usps.gov site to search the UK for "disallowed items" before sending to you. 50 packs of no more than 50 seeds eachis NOT VERY MANY, and you'd probably like to do a double envie (2 envies) if you joined a swap.
If you want to join in the swap, just let us know in November when we have the signups, we'd love to have you and I'll walk you through the paperwork.
In November: The seeds need to have a Latin name, height and color, but can be purchased or collected, but they need to be FRESH seeds.
In January/Feb: Anything goes. Seeds you bought and didn't use, things that are sort of old, things that you think are yucky from the Nov swap, whatever you got. I have a list of very common things that you can only send 5 packs in.
There are three traders in the UK I know about: LaurieWilson, Mr. Crocosmia and >>>>>>>>>>> another person I can't think of. :)) You should be able to search,though. Mark and laurie have all seeds known to man, and you can tellhim I said that :)), so you should easily be able to get somehting cooking with them. :))
I hope this sheds some light on the subject, but keep in mind, things change and we are voting on a new President who takes office Jan 2009.
Suzy
...
Posted by Seedolic (from Plymouth
(United Kingdom)) on March 17, 2008 at 5:06 PM:
Hi Susy
Many thanks for taking the time to explain whats what. I had a look at the gov site and the 50 pkts/50 seeds is how I need to go to comply. Think it will probably need to be 2/3 pkts per swop to make my swop worthwhile for other other members. Hopefully I may have something a little different to make up.
Nov seems ages away - so I may have a dabble in the meantime until then. Would love to join you and willl start sowing and planning for Nov.
bye for now Kathy
...
Posted by Illoquin (from Indianapolis, IN) on March 18, 2008 at 12:17 AM:
Okay, we will all look forward to the UK addition!!
Suzy
...
Subject: Dabble Gardner??!!
Posted by drumlin (from Prospect, CT) on March 3, 2008 at 12:36 PM:
Your profile says you're a "dabble gardener", but you don't sound like it!! From the amazing article you wrote it sounds like you are as serious and determined as anyone! It's interesting that you're also a quilter. I wonder if the same behavior characteristics that cause us quilters to save our "stashes" for years also cause us to be "seed addicts". There's probably more than I want to know. I was exhausted by the time I finished reading the article, but it sounds like a good time was had by all. I may stick my toe into the water this year and see if I can get some plant and seed goodies. I KNOW I'll get addicted, oh well.
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 3, 2008 at 3:00 PM:
drumlin, such a harmless addiction lol. I think you've got a point about the seed stash and the fabric stash being related. and you can get beautiful colorful things out of both.
btw, when I said 'dabble gardener', I really meant that I do a little of everything. I never see a plant without wanting to grow it. So, as much as I am in love with roses, I also collect creeping thymes, and have a garden of heather, and dwarf conifers, and want all the plants that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and succulants, and cacti, and vines, and ... you get the idea.
nice to meet another quilter
~ jan
...
Posted by drumlin (from Prospect, CT) on March 3, 2008 at 6:42 PM:
Ahhh, that makes sense now. At least you have a garden for each interest...mine are all jumbled. Time for deep breaths and getting organized this year.
...
Subject: oinK oinK oinK
Posted by wrightie (from Metro DC, MD) on February 29, 2008 at 2:15 PM:
LOL !!! ... You captured it well, Grampapa!
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 2:24 PM:
thanks for the compliment, wrightie. and for sharing the fun with this piglet :0)
...
Posted by Fairy1004 (from Temperance, MI) on February 29, 2008 at 7:33 PM:
That was awesome!!! What a great narrative of the whole adventure!!
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 9:01 PM:
Thanks much, Stacey. It was one of the easiest things I've written.
...
Posted by Fairy1004 (from Temperance, MI) on March 1, 2008 at 9:26 AM:
Really-wow!! Maybe you should try books!!
...
Posted by wrightie (from Metro DC, MD) on March 1, 2008 at 9:30 AM:
She is a woman of many skillZ - her seeds are pretty spectacular as well!
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 1, 2008 at 9:52 AM:
Now I'm blushing 8)
...
Posted by flowerhead410 (from Nelson, NH) on March 1, 2008 at 11:17 AM:
Great job, Gram! I love the comparison between us and the wall streeters. That was the best!!
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 1, 2008 at 9:16 PM:
thank you, flower
...
Posted by bluespiral (from Ellicott City, MD) on March 1, 2008 at 9:33 PM:
Beautifully done, Grampapa
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 1, 2008 at 10:09 PM:
Thanks much. ~ jan
...
Posted by tcs1366 (from Itasca, IL) on March 18, 2008 at 9:55 PM:
Jan -- since i'm so far behind on all the threads... i just found this link on Thread #5
great, fun article!!
i was glad to be apart of the "second chance seed swap"
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 18, 2008 at 10:11 PM:
I'm glad I was there, and you, too, Terese! It was a ball :0)
...
Subject: I was one of the dizzy lurkers!!
Posted by Cordeledawg (from Cordele, GA) on February 29, 2008 at 12:03 PM:
Great article describing that huge piggy seed feast! You are so right, grampapa, that particular swap made me dizzy just lurking through it daily! But what an entertaining read it was to see so many seed addicts on one thread having so much fun! Thanks for your comical review of how that swap got its start. I often wondered.
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 1:28 PM:
Thanks, C-dawg. Maybe next time you'll jump in.
...
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on February 29, 2008 at 2:01 PM:
A really fun read, thanks.
...
Subject: I was there and I lived it!!
Posted by soulgardenlove (from Marietta, GA) on February 29, 2008 at 10:52 AM:
That was fun and I am a seed pig, no doubt. So grateful to Suzy for making it all happen :) Jan thanks for your seeds! :)) The article was a great reminder of the wonderful fun I'll having growing them this year :)
Susan
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM:
Susan, thank you, too. and thanks to all who participated.
...
Posted by Lala_Jane (from North West, OH) on February 29, 2008 at 11:39 PM:
I had to jump on this post because I love Susan's "I lived it." comment. That swap should have it's own "I survived the '08 DG Piggy Swap" T-Shirts....in 2nd printing!
Great article Jan. I think you captured the frenzy in all it's glory.
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on March 1, 2008 at 8:17 AM:
Thanks, La. The compliments from my fellow piglets mean the most :0)
...
Subject: what a nice article
Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on February 29, 2008 at 6:15 AM:
You make it sound like so much fun!
...
Posted by pixie62560 (from South China, ME) on February 29, 2008 at 7:05 AM:
And now I know why you have been M.I.A. for months!
...
Posted by svplantingfool (from South Venice, FL) on February 29, 2008 at 7:35 AM:
Great read, that was the swap of the century! I had fun reading the posts, thanks for the "insider view!"
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 8:20 AM:
Thanks, all, for the nice comments. It really was as much fun as it sounds.
...
Posted by starlight1153 (from Seale, AL) on February 29, 2008 at 8:48 AM:
You did a good job and it been so much fun reading our wild time. it was my first big co-op and I had the best time of my life.
Sometimes it is good to be a piggy LOL And just think there is next year to look forward too after we harvest all our new babies. : )
Thanks for showing the pics and putting our journey down for us. : )
...
Posted by Seandor (from Springfield, MA) on February 29, 2008 at 10:17 AM:
Thanks for recording this - is there a DG archive, because this seed trading session was of historic proportions!
...
Posted by gardengus (from Flora, IN) on February 29, 2008 at 10:30 AM:
Job well done
Good read
Thank you!!
...
Posted by BlueGlancer (from South/Central, FL) on February 29, 2008 at 11:21 AM:
That was a super article. Nicely done. : ) Oink, Oink,
~Lucy
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 11:54 AM:
Oink, Oink back to you all. It was a wild ride. Still sowing and sowing. I can't imaging how we'll get all those plants in the ground if these seeds all germinate, but it'll be fun trying.
...
Posted by FlowrLady (from Olive Branch, MS) on February 29, 2008 at 12:42 PM:
Great article! And it's pretty much the same in other forums, too! DG is great!
...
Posted by dryad57 (from Indianapolis, IN) on February 29, 2008 at 2:14 PM:
Oink, oink! What a fun ride on the piggie express! Very nicely written travelogue ;-P
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 2:22 PM:
Couldn't have done it without you in the caboose and you-know-who in the engine!
oinks ~ jan
...
Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on February 29, 2008 at 3:48 PM:
Too bad (or good luck for my family) that I avoided that Forum like the plague - all I need is another impossible dream for them to have to do all the work on, LOL.
Wonderful read, Jan, and really nicely done.
xx, Carrie
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 6:23 PM:
thanks, Carrie. I like our little mutual fan club LOL
...
Posted by wind (from Mount Laurel, NJ) on February 29, 2008 at 7:19 PM:
Jan, enjoyed reading your article!
All three swaps mentioned were the first, second and third swaps I've ever participated in ~ it was like starting in the kiddie pool then jumping off the high dive ...all I had to do was hold my nose...and plunge into a pool of the best seeds ever! Truely a gardeners dream come true!
I love all my seeds and soon so will the hummingbirds, birds & butterflies (maybe even the neighbors). I am grateful for the DG resources, interaction and sharing from DG members.
I highly encourage new members to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities here in the DG community :)
Happy Seed Sowing!
oinker Di
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on February 29, 2008 at 8:58 PM:
Oinker Di (I like your new name lol), thanks. can't wait to see your garden this year myself.
More people sign up. (The list eventually reaches 29 by thread #4, but not every sign-up follows through.) As new varieties of seeds are offered it becomes apparent that we need to keep track of "who wants what." So we start marking sandwich or snack baggies with participants' names and putting requested seeds in their baggie. This way, when they are sent in to the swap, the hostess just has to plop the baggie into their envelope. But wait...an envelope may not be big enough. How many seed packs are you sending in? Better use a box. I am sending a total of 146 packs of seeds. This absolutely beautiful box stuffed full of seeds arrives on November 16th. It's like opening a treasure. I didn't count, but there are only one or two duplicates. I believe I received over 140 different varieties of seeds in this box. Totally amazing? I think so. But it doesn't stop here.
There is no waiting for harvesting and drying this time, just everyone digging into corners, dumping out boxes and looking into the backs of refrigerators for all those seeds that were never sown and aren't likely to be this spring. The photo at left is representative of every horizontal surface in my home. Each participant has a spot on the thread for posting their list of offerings. Believe me, these lists are looong! It starts out calmly enough. Trader 1 asking Trader 8 for a pack of red monarda..."oh, and I'd also like the pink double hollyhocks, Jacob's ladder and Salvia 'Victoria Blue,' please. Will crape myrtle grow in my zone?" And then 20 posts later, "Can you add the yellow hollyhocks to that, too, if they're still available?" New thread, quick!
The threads grow and grow...three, four, five. We have to copy our lists and pull them forward or we would lose track. There are a couple of volunteers who generously offer to keep lists for the hostess to make her job a little easier. She is a model of organization. There is a room at her house (more than one before this is all over) dedicated to the swap and big cans labeled with our DG user names. When there is something requested from her own stash (which is more than considerable!) she throws it in the appropriate can. The opening thumbnail is my can, marked with my zone, so she knows what kind of extra seeds to toss in, but I understand I have been upgraded to a larger size!
In the middle of thread #4 the seeds from Alaska show up...a wine case FULL! Piggies to the trough!! We get lists of availability as the the seeds are sorted and repacked into smaller lots. Now the hostess starts advertising the seeds that aren't being taken...descriptions, links to 
Thread 8...you better have your seeds packed and ready to send in. The deadline is just about on us. It's time to move on to finishing winter sowing and getting ready for spring. Folks in the south are already reporting seeds sprouting. Our hostess, with a mind like a seed filing cabinet, has to be exhausted. (See the pic on the right...pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain...). No matter how much we appreciate her efforts and how impressed we are with the job she has done, I don't think we'll ever realize the magnitude of it. Maybe her volunteer assistant, another DG member, who was kind enough to take and share these pictures, has a handle on it. She was kind of an intern...a beginner who wanted to learn at the feet of the master. Also she doesn't mind typing, a task which the seed master loathes.
As I write, we're on thread 9, the final thread. Boxes have been mailed out today. You can't begin to imagine the wild ride. The fun we've had! We're planning new threads; one for our new babies... seeds germinated by winter sowing or under lights inside, one in the spring for sharing blooms, one for questions and advice. We're not just participants in a swap any more, not just DG screen names. We have real names, real gardens, real lives. The new friends are reluctant to lose the camaraderie. 
Postage: $20 
New flowers and beautiful gardens: $0 
