Bravo Ron, my sentiments exactly!!! If it weren't for Trudi how many of us would be even have given this any thought? I know I've told so many about this method of sowing seeds, and always give Trudi the credit she deserves. Think of all the fun we have been having for a number of years on this forum. If it hadn't been for Trudi there wouldn't be a winter sowing forum.
Alberta

Ditto! I am inspired to launch the Newbie Seed Project and pass on the generosity Trudi has shown us through her hard work. She has had a lot of sketchy critics and comes through smelling like a rose.

Because of Trudi, I've filled my gardens, my neighbors' gardens and my friends' gardens.

I just stopped by to grab the url to pass on to a co-worker and her mother.

And the beat goes on, and on, and on!

YEA TRUDI!

I agree also,Trudi bringing winter sowing into my life has changed everything here! She was the first SASE I ever did and made it such a pleasure. And her sharing this with so many is so admirable,let's face it,she could have been sowing away in her yard ,keeping her method a secret,but she chose to share it with many and never asked for a thing in return.No she didnt invent it, Maw Nature did. She just developed a method that is feasible for everyone!
I am so grateful to her for this,I could not afford to start all of these under lights or to purchase them all,I lost alot of seedlings in past years, direct sowing,to all sorts of things ,pill bugs mainly. I can keep my containers away from those little *****,where as I couldnt keep any of them safe before,I just had to deal with 2 out of 20 making it! But now thanks to Trudi bringing this all to our attention and doing so much work on her time to make this possible for all of us,these are problems of the past! Thanks Trudi,for everything you do! :)

No argument here.

I am also thankful to many of the long-timers on the forum. My first year, there were so many people who were so helpful.

Karen

What else can I say??? It's nice to have a friend who will help you to fill spaces like this in your gardens. Thanks Trudi!
{{gwi:365934}}

Well said Ron....

Trudi's contributions to bringing awareness to the subject of winter sowing cannot be denied. Her website has earned great recognition as being one of the best, if not the best, resources on the topic. Her time and generosity to compile such a wealth of information for all to share is selfless. She was my introduction to winter sowing. From there I was introduced to a wonderful group of gardeners who, like myself, had been inspired enough to gather here at Garden Web to discuss, share knowledge and even form friendships.
The heart & soul of one person's passion to share has touched and changed a group of people.
I am one of those people.
Trudi is that person!

Thank you Trudi. Your accomplishments do not go unnoticed.

I have to chime in.
Like many of you I found wintersowing through a simple google search on a plant I liked.
That search got me to this forum and then to trudi's site. Trudi was my first SASE on seeds (I couldn't believe she just does it for the love of it) From those seeds I started wintersowing and trading. Last year I doubled the variety of plants in my garden, and I may just do that again this year. Through the generosity of many people on this and related forums, gardening has become a great hobby and the garden itself has become a welcome oasis.
As PV can testify... living in the concrete jungle of NYC can be maddening. Luckily there is a little square of earth behind my building. Had I not stumbled across Trudi's site and sent in for her offer, my garden would still be ugly and I would have to pay a therapist for what I get from mother nature for free!
Invent... develop... promote... what ever verb you want to use: without Trudi's work there would be a lot less beauty in the world.
As always, sincerest thanks Trudi.
Peace
George

agree, agree, agree - great thread, ron

Carrie

Three Cheers for Trudi, only apple cider tho, Im saving the bubbly for when the sprouts actually come....

When I think about how many seeds Ive planted that failed to germinate.........

the times they be=a=changing

How can any person invent sowing seeds in the winter? I'm sure that people have been sowing seeds during the winter and every other season for thousands of years. But Trudi has developed a unique technique that makes so much sense - and has made it easy and inexpensive for a newbie to try their hand at sowing seeds.

This is my first year winter-sowing, and I'm so excited about it! I'm glad that Trudi was here on Gardenweb to share her technique and that the word about winter-sowing has spread to other forums and plant swaps (special thanks to Littleonefb for sharing her winter-sown seedlings at swaps too). For an avid gardener like me, it just draws you in! And the fact that this a great forum with really nice people certainly doesn't hurt...

I can't wait to see sprouts! :)

This is my second year, and I do not do the huge amounts of WS that many of you do, but I was so excited last year when I got "sproutage" (I just love that word!), and I got hollyhocks from old seed that would never germinate under the lights, inside. It was just so pleasing, and this year I have seeds from Trudi sitting out in the cold and snow. But now I have faith, thanks to her and to all of you.

ronald,

I do not think that Trudi or anyone here has claimed (at least to my knowledge) that Trudi had invented winter sowing. From what I have read, I think that most people see her as someone who took a method that was out there for years and helped us understand it.

This method has technically been used by Mother Nature since the beginning of time. Trudi gathered the information already out there, put it into writing and posted it on her site and here so we can better understand the science behind it.

To me, Trudi is a teacher, not so much the inventor. I applaud her efforts and am looking forward to my first every winter sowing sprouts. As I put in another post, Trudi should be recognized for her efforts.

Teaching is hard work, and look how many she has educated and how many have benefited from her efforts!

Thanks Trudi!

Here is a link that might be useful: Trudi for Gardener of the Year!

The way I see it:
I had been looking at forums on GW for a year or so, then one day shortly after 9/11 I found Winter Sowing. I was intrigued because my success at sowing seeds indoors had been dismal at best. So I got some jugs, soil, seeds, and gave it a go.

Before long, I came to realize that I had been given a special gift by a woman on Long Island who enjoyed (she said) having moths fly out of her wallet. It felt like Christmas, or my birthday; a gift that gave me months of blossoms and smiles. No words can express how grateful I am .

That first winter I was able to "sow away" the sadness I felt in my heart after we were attacked, it was the best therapy I could ever have hoped for.

Last year, I didn't WS because I was being treated for colon cancer and I had to travel to the treatment center every day. During that time I knew that I could look forward to this year to start again, and now I am in remission and able to enjoy myself, playing in the dirt. Life is good!

Thanks again, Trudi, for the gift you have given me.

Hugs, Mary

Agree agree agree with all that's been said! Trudi is so generous of time, effort and knowledge. I can't believe that I just had a discussion with my 4th graders about winter sowing and one little girl asked me where she could get soil real cheap and what containers should she use.

They are even excited because I bragged about the package that I received with the tom seeds from Trudi. They even want to grow them at school. LOL (We might just have to see about that :o)

This is an incredible endeavor and we have Trudi to thank for it.

La Donna