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Section 3: Seed Trading How-To's
What's an SASE? And how is it different from a trade?
SASE stands for "self-addressed stamped envelope". Other countries use the term SAE ("self-addressed envelope"). Some traders offer their seeds for SASE, instead of requesting seeds in exchange. This can be very helpful for a beginning gardener, with few (or no) seeds to trade.
Somebody has the seeds I want, what's next?
Do your homework. Will these seeds grow in your zone and climate? If you don't know, find out before you ask for them. PlantFiles lists the hardiness zones for perennials, shrubs, trees and vines.
Read the entire thread. By the time you see a posting, all the seeds may be spoken for. Make sure the trader hasn't posted a message notifying everyone they are out of seeds.
Contact the trader. Reply to their posting, or via e-mail. Through Dave's Garden, you can click on the trader's name to initiate e-mail to them. Some traders will request one or the other means of contact; honor their request if they have made one. If you send an e-mail, be specific about which seeds you're asking for both in the subject line and your e-mail, as traders may be advertising several different offers simultaneously. Also ask how much postage to send (larger seeds may require more postage.)
IMPORTANT: Don't post your full name or address in a thread! These are public forums, and can be read by anyone.
Wait for a reply. The trader will usually respond within a few days, and provide their address for you to send the SASE. Be patient; don't pester them with repeated e-mails.
Promptly confirm the trade. Let the trader know you've received their address and will mail the SASE promptly.
Prepare the SASE. Place your name and address (mailing labels are fine) in the "to" section of a legal-size (#10) envelope.
IMPORTANT STEP: On the inside flap, always include the following information:
the seeds you requested (if it's a long list, enclose a note or copy of your e-mail correspondence ); and
your e-mail address and DG name.
Place the postage required on the envelope - typically one price for under 1 ounce or a different price for 2 ounces.
NOTE: Currently it costs ?? cents to send a regular, flat envelope within the U.S. This amount is NOT sufficient for a hand-cancelled envelope. Don't shortchange the trader by putting too little postage on the SASE. If in doubt, include one or two loose $.10 stamps and ask the trader to send them back in the envelope with your seeds if the additional postage is not needed. [Contact the USPS to find out what today's rates are]
Ready, set, mail. Fold the SASE envelope, place it inside another envelope, and address it to the trader. Then mail it - promptly! Most traders appreciate receiving SASE's within 7-10 days of sending their address to you.
Let them know when the seeds arrive. This step is sometimes overlooked , but it is considerate and helps you establish a good image within the trading community. A quick e-mail thanking the trader for the seeds will let them close out the trade in their mental and/or physical records. (If you use the TradeTracker feature, you can send these e-mails automatically.)
What's the difference between SASE and loose postage?
Some traders prefer to use padded envelopes to send their seeds. In this case, the trader may ask you to send loose postage stamps, which they will affix to envelopes they have on hand.
IMPORTANT: DON'T SEND A PRE-PAID METERED LABEL in lieu of stamps - it is a violation of postal rules for someone else to use your metered label, and may delay or prevent the mailing of your seeds.
What if the trader wants to trade for other seeds?
Determine if you have what they're looking for. If you don't have anything on their list , but you have something that is comparable in rarity and value to what they're offering/looking for, ask if they would consider an alternative.
IMPORTANT: If a trader is offering rare exotic seeds, chances are good they aren't looking for marigolds or petunias in return. Use good judgment in cases like this; if this is a plant you've searched high and low for, ask - politely - and be prepared for rejection. Who knows, you might luck out and find a generous trader with excess inventory! But if the trader refuses or doesn't respond, let it go - don't follow up with repeated e-mails.
How do I let people know what I have?
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. If your seeds aren't dried and packaged, you aren't quite ready to trade. See Seed Saving above.
Set up your Tradelist. Dave's Garden has some excellent tools for tracking seed and plant trades. Your Tradelist lets you list seeds and plants you have for trade, will have for trade, or are looking for.
List both the common name and Latin (botanical) name. Double check your spelling! Some traders will search for a particular plant, and they'll miss your entry if you've spelled it wrong.
Latin, schmatin. Why bother? Because there are 10 unrelated plants called Firecracker Plant and because Ragged Robin is Centaurea to some, Lychnis to others. If you don't know the Latin name, PlantFiles allows you to search by common name to determine the Latin (botanical) name.
If you aren't sure what plant you have, post a photo and/or description in the Identification forum, and you'll get help determining the botanical name of your plant.
List the number of trades, and seeds per packet in your description. Any other information you can add about the plant is helpful, including a hyperlink to a photo or description in your journal or PlantFiles.
Advertise. Post a message in the Plant Trading or Seed Trading forum. Use the subject line to let people know a bit about what you have, then give some important details in the thread. If your list is extensive, direct them to your Tradelist for the details. They will be able to access your tradelist simply by clicking on your username.
How much seed is considered a "fair trade"?
That depends on the seed - its size, the typical germination rate, and how rare it is. A general rule of thumb is to put at least a little more than the commercial seed catalogs offer in a package of similar seed. Very tiny seeds are usually measured in fractions of a teaspoon (1/16th, 1/8th, etc.); larger seed that are easily counted should be listed as number of seed.
If your seed is rare and/or you have a small amount to trade, the general rules of thumb don't necessarily apply. Just be sure to let traders know how many seeds you can send, and they can choose whether it's worth the postage expense.
Keep up with your trades. Just as you wait anxiously for someone to respond to your request for seeds or plants, others who inquire will appreciate a prompt reply. Use the Dave's Garden TradeTracker when a trade is "in the works" This allows you to send out e-mail correspondence and keep track of your trades from start to finish.
How do I manage my seed inventory and trades?
Seed packets. You can use a wide variety of items for seed packets. At a minimum, your packets should contain the common and Latin name of the seed, the year harvested, the number/weight of seed and your e-mail address.
Make your own. Pros: Inexpensive. You can be creative in your design. Templates are easy to come by. Cons: tiny seeds can escape from unsealed
corners and edges. Seeds can stick to taped edges. Inkjet printed designs will smear if they get damp. (You may find some seed packet designs that you may print, right here.)
Plastic zip-lock envelopes. Available from hobby stores, these come in a variety of sizes, 1" - 3" wide and tall. Pros: Seeds are unlikely to escape. Cons: seeds can't breathe, so if they aren't completely dry, they may rot. Static makes it difficult to remove smaller seeds from plastic envelopes. It is difficult to include complete information on the outside of plastic envelopes.
Manila coin or key envelopes. Available from many office supply stores, in sizes from 1-4" wide and tall. Pros: usually well-sealed, preventing seed loss. Paper allows seeds to breathe. Cons: can't run them through a printer, so you'll have to handwrite the information, or use adhesive labels to identify your seeds. If the envelope gets moist or wet, it'll fall apart.
Glassine envelopes. Lightweight available from hobby and specialty office supply stores. Pros: Lightweight, allow seeds to breathe, works well for tiny seeds. Can see through them, so a slip with the information can be tucked in with the seeds. Cons: More expensive than paper or manila, these fragile envelopes tear too easily for large seeds. Writing on them is difficult.
Pill bottles, film canisters. These are the free byproducts of ordinary household items. Pros: Inexpensive, virtually indestructible mailing containers, work well for large seeds like beans. Cons: Can trap moisture, leading to rot. Can increase postage costs. Be sure to clean containers well and dry thoroughly, especially pill bottles, which may contain residue.
Sorting/storing techniques.
Whatever type of container you use for your seeds, you need to keep them in some sort of order. Many traders use shoeboxes or plastic tubs to sort their packets. These are portable, and you can set them next to you when replying to e-mails and threads, making it easy to fulfill trade requests. If you have a large variety of seed, it's helpful to categorize them by type (vegetable, perennial flower, annual flower, etc.) and then sort them alphabetically by name.
Keep your list updated.
This is one of the most important aspects to seed trading and will prevent you from overtrading. If you use the Tradelist feature of DG, you can change the number of packets as you fulfill trades. A few minutes spent on this task will prevent disappointment for you and those who want to trade with you. When you indicate zero packets available, that item will no longer show up on your tradelist. This is a handy feature, because it "hides" it from view, but allows you to re-use the entry when you have more seeds available.
I'm ready to send my seeds. Now what?
Choose your mailing envelope. This is an area where traders get very creative. Here's a list of items that can be used, with pros and cons for each.
Pre-made bubble-wrap envelopes. Pros: Approved by the USPS. Widely available. Ensures the envelope will be hand-canceled (it won't fit through the sorting machines.) Re-usable - remove old labels and canceled postage first. Stubborn labels can be removed with a hot iron. Cons: Buying new envelopes can be expensive.
Home-made bubble envelopes. Place bubble wrap inside a small manila or #10 (legal size) envelope to make your own. Or cut up the bubble-wrap envelopes when they are too worn out to send again. Pros: re-uses materials you have at hand; inexpensive. Cons: Post office may not accept them.
Foam insulation. This is thin lightweight material sometimes used instead of bubble wrap to cushion objects during transport. Pros: lightweight, flexible, reusable. Cons: may not provide sufficient protection for larger seeds, may not be bulky enough to ensure hand canceling.
Styrofoam meat trays. Can be cut to fit inside an envelope. Pros: recycles materials on hand. Cons: Trays may contain bacteria; the Post Office may not accept an irregular-shaped envelope.
Thin cardboard packaging. This can be found on many food and household product containers, and will create a sturdy package when cut to fit inside an envelope. Pros: promotes recycling of discarded items. Cons: The Post Office may not accept the envelope; the cardboard may poke through the envelope en route.
Tissue paper, paper towel, facial tissue.It's better than nothing, and may be sufficient for small seeds. Pros: lightweight, inexpensive. Cons: it probably won't provide enough bulk to ensure hand canceling. If your envelope jams a sorting machine, the seeds will be mangled, and the post office will have to repair their machine.
Send the seeds. Try to fulfill trades within 48-72 hours whenever possible. Out of sight is out of mind. It's so easy for real life to distract us and we forget about the unfilled trades. If you can't mail promptly let the other trader know that you can only mail on the weekend, or on your day off, or whatever works best for you.
Send them an e-mail. This is built into the TradeTracker, and allows you to send off an e-mail letting the trader know you've sent their seeds, and moves your trade to the next status, waiting to receive your trades from them. If this completes the trade (because it was an SASE or you've already received your seeds from them), this will move the trade to completed status.
