Hi there, I'm wondering if you still have one of these available, that you can send me. I'd love to get a set. I sent you a couple of emails but they were returned. I then sent you an email from this site, but I haven't heard anything. Sherry

Hi Sharon and everybody, As you all probably know, there are agreements worldwide regarding the importation of plant material. When sending plant material cross border or anywhere outside of Canada, the sender or exporter must provide a phytosanitary certificate to prove that whatever living plant material is sent is not contaminated with insects or disease and that it an approved species. For most countries, living matter only refers to live plants, roots, or bulbs. For the US and a very few other countries, seed is included in this category. This law always existed but since 9/11, the US government has enforced it very strictly. The law was first applied in July 2002 to all other countries except Canada and to Canada in January 2003. The point being that you need to attach a phytosanitary certificate to export seed from Canada to the United States. In order to get the certificate, you would phone your local Agriculture Canada office so that they can send you the paperwork required to obtain it. You must really be able to prove that the seed you are exporting is the genus, species and cultivar that you claim it to be, the quantity of seed in a package must be exact, and the country of origin must be stated. The inspector would then examine the seed and charge you a fee of $16.95 plus tax for preparing the paperwork and the visit. I cant imagine how you as a hobby gardener could prove all of that to an inspector. There are many loopholes to this law. For example, letÂs say you buy seed in the states and reexport it (and can prove it) then the US government doesnÂt require the certificate. Or if you are sending seed to multiple people in the US and you are fairly close to the US border, you can get one certificate and cross the border by car and mail it from the US (this is the way that most Canadian seed companies ship to Americans). Or you can be like Stokes Seed and have a US mailing address  there are lots of possiblities. There is also some new and very complicated provision whereby you can get a permit from the US government for a restricted amount of packets and a restricted amount of seed per packet that is sent to an inspection station and then once approved, the seed is forwarded to the receiver. This is how NARGS (North American Rock Garden Society) has their members from other countries send seed for their exchange. Talk about complicated  itÂs so uninteresting to send seeds to the US because itÂs expensive, time consuming, and difficult. The phytosanitary certificate requirement varies by country. Off the top of my head I can think of Chile, Australia, Argentina, and the US. Some countries like South Africa donÂt allow seed importation at all. Requirements really vary from country to country. You as a Canadian resident are not breaking the law by sending seed to the US. This is not a Canadian law, it is American. US law only applies to you if you are a resident, a citizen, or a visitor in the US. It is the receiver in the US that will have the seed confiscated and destroyed. Unless the US resident is known to be a repeat abuser, they wonÂt be fined either. However, when you send a parcel cross border (including a large bubble envelope), you need to fill out a customs sticker. If you lie and write something else on the sticker (instead of SEEDS) and you are caught, you will be fined (because at that point, you would be breaking a Canadian law). The chance of US customs picking your envelope out of millions and millions of mail items being sent from Canada to the US are remote but naturally, it can happen. That being said, there are several very well know British companies that send seeds to the US all the time without phytosanitary certificates. Hope that explains it all. Marilena

Hi there, Great pieces... Could anyone help? A lovely gold coloured tea set, gold karat? They have lovely floral design and the stamp at the base is simple JAPAN Thank you for any help. Enjoy your day!

Interesting mix. Amar Bose, my classic music collection really appreciates him. Rose Bird's quotes I really appreciate, especially "My role isn't to be politically smart. My role is to do what's right under the constitution. And if that's politically unpopular, so be it". Could have done without Mallone.