Ok, so anyone who thinks gardeners can be obsessive has not yet met scrapbookers - I have just spent part of my day immersing myself in scrapbooking products, and this must be a goldmine industry. The amount of money you can spend to on products that organize all the other products you need to buy... But anyway, they have vast multitudes of organizational products, many that seem like they would apply well to seed saving/packets. From hard boxes to compartmented totes to file systems, they have it all, and usually in perky colors (if that's your thing.) So my research efforts today (not at all avoiding hilling my potatoes in this 90 degree sticky heat) conclude that it's still very difficult to find precisely what I want: binder inserts that are a) heavy-duty, b) zippered and c) multi-pocket except in the lee valley and the spinnerbait binder. But some of the scrapbooking products come close. I think I like these pages, for economy's sake, although they say they have a 'security flap' on the pouches rather than a zipper, and since the product image isn't a photo I'm not sure precisely what they mean there. But I can't beat the price, and I may just use a zippered binder to keep things contained. If my calculations are right, I should be able to store 80-100 seed packets per ~$7 set with these. 4 6x6 pockets 5 4x6? pockets I was also briefly enamoured of these, which are individual zippered pouches, but are expensive and seem like they would get too bulky too fast. 16 3.5x4.5 pockets 8 4.5x7 pockets I do recommend anyone looking for seed storage taking a browse (allocate SEVERAL hours) through the scrapbooking sites/stores, as I think everything discussed in this thread can be found there in some form or another. Capitalistbaby, thanks again for starting this thread, as you've given me the impetus I needed to actually get this research done. I think I'm going to try it! ~emmers Here is a link that might be useful: scrapbook store > storage/organization

Carla: Sooner or later mice and other hungry things will eat through a plastic container to get at your seeds. Been there; done that! Depending on however many seeds you intend to save, consider doing what I do: store them in glass containers with a screw-on lid. You can get a spice rack at Wal Mart that has about 20 spice jars (they even come full of spices) for around $20. Just make up labels on your computer and tape them onto the front of the jars. Glass containers are easy to handle, moisture and RAT proof and if you get the spice rack, it comes with a handy wall-hung place to keep all the bottles.

Like dklucius I use a 5-gal. plastic pail with the tight-fitting cover (a Lowe's bucket) for black oil sunflower seed (the most popular seed here overall). I buy the seed in a fairly large bag and once it's opened, store it in the bucket; the bucket keeps it dry and safe from potential pests (mice etc.) I keep a special scoop for seed in it too.When I am filling a feeder with that seed, I do it right over that bucket to catch any spilled seed. The other seeds I use in the feeders I keep in easy-pour pitcher-type containers with tight lids(from Home Depot I think). Still, I would fill feeders over a bucket or similar wide container when using these pitchers. When it's spilled bird seed can really travel! I've learned the hard way! And the last thing you want is mice, squirrels etc. attracted to your garage by spilled seed. As far as whether you would need a shelf to help in the filling of feeders, I would recommend what I have learned over the last year or so, to fill them outside in a place you can easily clean up (picnic table, etc.) Good luck with your planning!

I much prefer paper to plastic. Bank envelopes are great for bigger seeds or amounts of seed and can easily be cut for smaller ones. For most things I use cut/folded paper. Got a trade packed that way and have been making them ever since. As long as you start with a square, can be any size, any paper. Like to have the outside blank so it's easy to label. Great way to recycle paper that's been used on only one side.