I assumed that was okay also. I read a post the other day from a lady that said if you had nothing to trade then you should offer to print seed envelopes and trade those, which I had never thought of. I thought it was a good idea since if you are new to gardening you wouldn't have anything to trade. It's kind of like looking for a job fresh out of high school and everyone is looking for experience. How are you supposed to get experience if everyone only hires people with experience? Don't feel bad I got the "message" because I posted a question about needing help with my flower beds on this forum. I thought this would be the perfect forum to ask this question on because everyone here has established flower beds and has been so helpful to me in offering seeds and answering questions. The people I have dealt with on this forum have been exceptionally nice and totally generous and seem to take gardening the way I think it should be taken : as a hobby, a lot of fun, a stress reliever, a source of enjoyment, and a way to share and give back something of themselves. Not like what I consider "high society" gardeners. I guess the "forum police" take their jobs seriously which can be a good thing if not taken to extremes. I guess it's all in the way you look at it and everyone has their own opinion. And you know what they say about those.

Bigfoot, I believe PostPolice may be outnumbered 9:1 by the silent ones who approve of your approach.

Stick with what's feeling right, if the moderators don't complain, go ahead and have a good time.

Graanie Bea

thanks to both as i said i am new to seed collecting so i found somthing to trade to get started lol i have read alot here and learned alot from the post seem to be alot of nice people here and i hope to get to know more of you

thanks to both as i said i am new to seed collecting so i found somthing to trade to get started lol i have read alot here and learned alot from the post seem to be alot of nice people here and i hope to get to know more of you

No need to apologize to anyone Bigfoot. I have seen several on here who have not had seeds nor plants to trade and have offered plastic baggies, envelopes, etc. as trades and nothing has ever been said.

If you will email me your mailing addres, I would gladly send you some Zinnia seeds (there is chaff (?) in them as it is hard for me to properly get the junk from the goodies). I think I may still have some cucumber and some okra seeds available and plenty of birdhouse gourd seeds to share. You can also take a look at my trade list and see if there is anything you'd be interested in. No need to send me anything, just email me with what you'd like and your mailing address and I'll get them out the end of this upcoming week. We had alot of flooding here (Oklahoma) and I have lost alot of my flowers but still have enough seeds left to share.

If you contact me, I can send seeds of flowers and some veggies, have to see what I have.
Darlene

I might be able to send you some seeds also. What were you looking for? E-mail me at lauriegarris@yahoo.com

Hi Bigfoot839,
Odd..it never occured to me that offering envies (which everyone uses) wouldn't be kosher here. Seems that Mary, who had suggested this specificly, was of the same mind. I guess maybe that kind of trade "officially" belongs in the Garden Exchange, rather than the seed exchange?

It would definately have to be acceptable over there..."all things garden". That forum doesn't get as much traffic as this one. I personally don't check it as often as here, but still do on a regular basis.

In fact, I offered someone a bunch of seeds over there for envies a while back and havent' heard from them....

Definately post it there, bigfoot. You'll get responses, and it has to be okay...people are trading birdhouses for plants and such, that's what it's about, can't be different than envies for seeds. Link is below.

See ya' over there :)
--Tina

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Exchange

something else you might want to do.. go buy some seeds on ebay or at the store or nursery. I did the ebay thing, that's how I have so many to trade. I am also very new to gardening and I'm like addicted to growing things now since I use to have a 'black thumb' and couldn't even look at a plant too long it would die LOL. I know it costs money to get the seeds, but you can get some to start.

I was'nt aware that it was inappropriate to ask to trade envelopes for seeds either, as I have done it in the past also. I don't understand why it would be a big deal, as it seems like those who were'nt interested, would just move onto another posting. But I do know there are a lot of kind people on this site, and they are constantly offering SASE offers to newbies and other members, so that is a great way to get a variety of seeds for your garden. Plus, when your flowers produce seeds, you can use those to trade or offer SASE offers to others, and then also to use for your garden the following year. They have also helped me to learn what certain seeds look like, how to harvest them and how certain seeds need to be planted. I am very grateful to all the sweet people on this site who have shared their garden seeds with me and traded with me. It has always been a pleasant experience, and I hope all of your experiences will be pleasant also. You have email.

email me I have some extras to share also.
Melanie

Proudgm, i never understood about the "experience" issue either.

Bigfoot, Very Big of you to offer an apology, but i don't see a need for one. A whole mess of people here start out with nothing to trade but envies, baggies, stamps, etc. Some might frown upon the mention of "stamps", but hey, it helps cover the cost of the baggies. Anywho, if you're still looking for veggie seeds, check out my list. i've got lots of stuff. just send a sasbe. Have a great one! Jenn

I wish to thank every one that has emailed me i really appreciate the kindness of every one this isn't like alot of forums i have seen and joined in the past where it is like a newbie isn't welcome. You folks make even a newbie feel welcome. Sure am hoping my son will pick up on seed saving also not looking for much from him yet though as he is only 7 but loves to grow (and eat) his own veggies
Again thanks for all your kindness and i hope soon to have some veggie seeds and flower seeds to trade with all of you (seems my land lord only likes to plant hybrids in his garden and i am really scared of what i will get from those)
Shoan

Shoan~
Please don't let a few grumpy oldies discourage you from trading. Evidently there are a few folks that like to pick on the newbies, and honestly think they are doing them a "favor" by telling them how they are messing up.
You didn't do anything wrong, you offered what you had. That's the point of trading.
I see that you have "met" a few of the nicest people here....everyone that has answered this post!
I hope that everyone has made you feel welcome. Just remember that the friendly outweigh the grumpy. :O)

I think it will do everyone good to remember that we were ALL newbies at some point.

i have some seeds too, i got snatched up too, it does say trade, this is the way i figure it, i am trading their extra stamps for my extra seeds, or in your case your envi's for thier seeds, in my book that is a trade. them people should just be making sure that people arent ya know doing something wrong, like really wrong, geesh!! LOL i think your just fine!! anywho email me!! :')) have a great day!!

I have to apologize too. I wouldn't think trading envelopes was not considered a trade, but if it is , I am sorry to lead anyone a stray. The rules state that trading seeds for postage is not allowed, but if anyone has so many seeds they just need to clear them out, or just wants to be nice, I could not see how giving something away would be wrong. It is not in my book. Anyway, I guess the best thing to do is read the rules, and not listen to folks, like me trying to interpret the rules.

Again, if I have ever confused anyone, I'm sorry.

Mary

Several times in the past (since I've been a member of the GW) individuals have started an Adopt-A-Newbie thread. The idea was for newbies to post their seed wish list and older members would fulfill their wishes. All of the seeds were sent to the member who started the thread and she/he would sort and send them to newbies for postage. I sent seeds earmarked for someone and I enjoyed being able to share.

Personally bigfoot and lake, I don't feel that you owe anyone an apology. Everyone here was new once. I've seen quite a few posts asking for seeds for SASE. Heck I've even responded to a few.

I have seeds also if anyone is interested.

Mariann

i must say every one here is so nice that i have talked to and i have realy enjoyed reading alot of the post here learned alot (not bad for some one who don't usually read huh) i have found myself spending most of my day on this site just reading or even rereading some things to make sure i understand them
thanks to every one that has been so nice and generous i hope to have lists like some of you do one day and be able to help some one out also

I'd love to trade seeds for some small envelopes. I have more seeds than I know what to do with but am always running out of coin envelopes. I don't have a list posted on GW (too difficult to keep updated) but can let you know what I have if you email me. I don't see where an apology was necessary either. Plenty of people offer things other than seeds/plants for trade.
Karyn

I don't think trading envelopes is at all wrong. some even ask for them on their trade lists. I was the one that said in a different post you should offer envelopes if you have no seeds to trade. Just to clear up what I was talking about in my post earlier.

It does not sound as if the message the person received was from a moderator, so I would not worry about it. If it was, this is what I would do. I would just put under items to trade, I have seed envelopes. Specify plastic or paper. I don't use plastic, others prefer plastic, so listing that is a good idea. If paper, list if homemade, used, coin envelopes or what ever, so folks will know what they are getting. Also state how many you will send for each trade, or just work that out with your trader.

Anyway, I don't think big foot has anything to apologize for. I am no expert, so please use your own judgment on what to do

Mary

well gee, I am good at being wrong.

In a private e-mail from bigfoot, it does would as if the message was from a moderator.

For what it is worth, I think the moderator is misinterpreting the rules.

So I guess the previous suggestion of posting seed envelopes for trade on the garden exchange forum is a good idea.

Mary

I still have a package with loads of seeds packed up for you but you've never responded to my emails asking for your address. I'm going to assume that you no longer want to trade seeds for envelopes.
Karyn

I agree with the others...no apology necessary, and I see nothing wrong with trading envys for seeds.
Possibly, since it is the Seed Xchange, it is necessary to have seeds listed in the subject line...as in "wanted: Seeds...flowers/veggies" and not something like "Have envys for trade." Could that maybe have been it? I'm just guessing here as to why it was not all right.

The trading for postage in the past has occasionally been a problem. It is not really a 'trade'. I recently had a newbie confide in me that the postage the 'sasbe offerer' said they needed considerable more postage ($) if the receiver wanted any more than just one pack. Sheesh! We all know that more than one pack can be send for the same minimum amount of postage, unless they are a large quantity of huge seeds. It seemed they were trying to 'gain' at least a little at the expense of a newbie, instead of being a generous sharer, as the post lead one to believe.

Anywho...Welcome! and Happy Gardening!

Sue...resident busy body, and an unofficial member of the unofficial GW Welcome Wagon.