Could you answer some questions about the Seed SAvers Exchange?

15 years ago

Hello, I hope this post is ok for the tomato forum, but I first learned of the SSE on the tomato forum, so I figured here would be the best place to get info about it.

I am about to join the SSE and wanted to know a little more about it first. Now, supposively, when you join, you get access to much more heirloom seeds, which is posted in their Seed Savers Year Book that comes out every February. Now, I also see that they have a 6th Edition Seed Source book that you can buy for $26. Does anyone know the difference between these 2 books? Which one is better?

And just curious of the over all joining of the group and its benefits, epsecially its tomato availablity of uncommom heirlooms. I hope someone can share their experiences. Thanks! Christy

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Comments (4)

jackbenny
15 years ago
I believe the Source Book is just a listing of all open pollinated seeds available through seed companies. So if you have a variety in mind, you go to this book and look up what companies offer it.

The Seed Savers Year Book on the other hand is a listing of other member's seeds that they are maintaining and offering in the hopes that you do the same. There is a standard fee you send the other member based off of the seed size in order to receive seeds from them.

So it's not a matter of what one is better, it is a matter of what one better suits your needs. The Year Book isn't really meant to be used as a seed catalog which is why I suppose they offer the Seed Source Book...i.e. if there is a commercial source for the seed you seek, patronize it before requesting the same seed from a member of the Exchange.

As for the availability of tomatoes from members...let me just say that about one-third of the considerable amount of the Yearbook's pages are devoted to tomatoes.
carolyn137
15 years ago
I don't think it's necessary to buy the source book at first. With over 3,000 varieties listed in the Yearbook, which comes out not always in Feb, although that's a target date, there's plenty to chose from.

And as a long time Life member of SSE I don't think SSE membership is for everyone. Don't get me wrong here, being a member helps very much to further the goal of SSE which is preservation of OP varieties .

But I'd prefer to see folks join who have had some experience in growing tomatoes and that's b'c a certain percentage of seeds you request may not be pure and you need to know how to rogue out plants and you also need to know how to save seeds in terms of reoffering varieties that you might request. And while reoffering is desired, not everyone does it, unfortunately.

And I agree with what jackbenny said above, in that the Yearbook should never be seen as a seed catalog. After a person has grown lots of the more common varieties offered commercially, then I think it's fine to go searching for the more rare varieties that are offered there.

The other fact to note is that there are listed SSE members and non listed members and as mentioned above, listed members list their varieties in the Yearbook and those seeds are available to both listed and unlisted members but the cost/pack is higher for unlisted members.

Currently, for US members the cost of a pack of tomato seeds is $2 for listed members and $3 for unlisted members. A few folks like myself ask the same price for both listed and unlisted members.

So by all means if a person is interested in preserving genetic diversity I would urge anyone to join SSE if not for obtaining seed, then just for helping SSE with your membership monies.

SSE has been an important part of my tomato life, as it were, LOL, and I've made many good friends through the years. I joined I think in 1989, and it's been a great experience for me.

There's also a PUBLIC catalog with about 40 or so varieties that anyone can order from and the online version can be found at seedsavers.org

Carolyn
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>>macmex- the SSE rate increase was an easy way to appease listed members. But it >>made seed acquisitions for other preservationists like myself more expensive: a built in >>advantage for SSE (now also a seed company) controlling the exchange. >>As far as padded mailers go I reuse mailers whenever possible or pieces of bubble >>pack inside new kraft envelopes for equivalent protection of the seeds (and ZERO >>waste!) George, I don't follow you on that one. To me, that rate increase was helpful. Sure, one can save and reuse envelopes. I do at every opportunity. But for true preservationist interests the higher price seems better to me. In regards to people asking for seeds, this helps limit frivolous requests. When I request seeds, precisely because I intend to maintain them, that one time expense is the least of my concerns. And, it's not limited to the SSE. I ordered a sample of peanuts from a smaller, independent seed company, just a few weeks ago. That's all I ordered and, with S&H it cost over $7.00. It's easy to collect a lot of seeds. It's not so easy to maintain them. Now, that's where the work and expense comes in. I'm not prepared to say 'yea or nay' about the SSE seed catalog's legitimacy. There seem to be advantages and disadvantages associated with it. But I can definitely see how the SSE would consider it a good way to get some varieties out into circulation without taxing private members. Is it really best to start with the assumption that the SSE is trying to "pull something off," so to speak? I really really doubt that. Philosophy regarding how to do the work of preservation... now there is plenty of room for discussion and diversity! The SSE seems to have struck a course for doing much of the preservation right on its own premises, using its own resources. Part of their reasoning may be that they have (as have I) seen many preservationists fail, either through some problem with planning, organization, finances, health or whatever. My personal approach has been to stick with the SSE and branch out. The GW, for instance, is a good place to cultivate interest in maintaining varieties and in recruiting gardeners to do so. I won't assume that ANYONE is going to be completely dependable. It's alright to discuss these things. But getting back to Kents letter, it still seems to me that the problem was not related to a conspiracy or dirty work by the board. Kent simply diverged from the board and wouldnt work with them. There are a fair number of references in his letter which I found deceptive; for instance, this thing about a board of advisers. Recently I called one up, which Ive known for years. I was informed that the "board" part of the advisors was really only in Kents mind. The opinion I was given was that it appeared that Kent used the term board of advisors more as a way to gain credibility himself. They were not consulted and had no real say in his decisions. Plus, as has already been posted above, they too, unanimously (if I counted correctly) stood with the board. There is room for plenty of discussion on particulars for how to do "the job" better. But when the SSE is hurting, under attack so to speak, I dont think its time to jump on the bandwagon. From sunny Mexico, George macmex
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"How many seeds do they remember you save if you are going to offer in the catalog?" I'm not sure I understand the question (George may have answered it above) but here's my part of the answer. Once you list seeds with SSE, the listings are entered into an Excel database, from which the Yearbook is generated. Then each year, as the next Yearbook of seed offerings is being compiled, you are mailed a listing of every seed that you have offered in recent years - which you edit & return. You check off those that you will be offering again; those left unchecked will remain in the database, but will not appear in the next Yearbook. You can also add, delete, or change your listings at this time. Dean, your suggestion of a member login is a good one; I also would like to see SSE become more "member interactive". They have recently added an email newsletter, and you can post questions to SSE staff through the website... but in my opinion, they could still do more. For all I know, there may be more changes already in the works. But nostalgia runs deep in a portion of the membership, so there could be some resistance against fully entering the digital millennium. Here's my thoughts... There could be, perhaps, two tiers of access; a basic level for all members, and an expanded access for listing members. At the basic level, at the very least, establish a board where members can correspond with other members. I believe that such a board would be very active, and would help new members (and those who can't make the campouts) feel a sense of belonging. There could also be seed saving FAQ's, links to seed saving resources, and perhaps reprints of selected articles from past SSE publications... but these features could be phased in gradually. For listing members (those who offer seeds) there would be a higher level of access. As you have suggested, Dean, this could include the ability to edit listings electronically - saving SSE some postage, and allowing members (especially those with large listings) the option of an earlier start. I, for one, would like to edit listings throughout the year... it would be a less daunting task than doing it all at once in November. The listed-member login could also allow searchable "read-only" access to SSE's "Super Yearbook", which is a database of all seeds & stock ever listed since SSE's founding. This would be a valuable research tool for the serious seed saver, since you could look up more information on a particular variety... I think that it would lead to more descriptive listings in the Yearbook. I will be communicating these ideas (as well as a few others) to the staff during my visit in September.
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Megan, To list something as "Has," one should have enough for at least four full samples. A full sample of seeds is 25 seeds. A full sample of sweet potato slips is 3-4 slips. I more often try to send a small sweet potato, and let the person sprout their own, and get more that way. I do get more than 4 requests for some things. Been receiving several requests a day, for a couple weeks now, and joked with my wife, yesterday, "Wow! Here's a request which doesn't ask for Red Wine Velvet Sweet Potato!" (Slight exageration) I believe four samples is the guideline for offering as "Has." Less should be offered as Limited Quantity. If you have something really rare, and in need of propagation you label it as "Must Reoffer." That cuts way down on the requests. I respect all the opinions expressed above. Each is making some good points. Dawn, I am completely uninformed about whatever Amy Goldman may or may not have done. Nor do I know why George DeVault left. Actually, I don't read the other yearbooks very much; just the winter yearbook. There are some good articles in them all. I just get busy and don't get around to it." Perhaps they have mentioned something in one of these. While we're on the subject, I'd also like to add another disclaimer. The SSE has been a little, ... well, I don't know just how to describe it,... liberal, or "left leaning," as an organization; and that, for as long as I've been a member. That is not my personal leaning/persuasion. I just live and let live. But as a member, I hope no one every things I simply believe everything the organization puts out ;) George
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George, I haven't followed the politics closely either and just felt the whole Kent Whealy episode was very unfortunate both for the family and for the organization. I hope this latest transition is a smooth one. Too much turmoil too often can shake people's faith in a group and I'd hate to see the legacy of SSE tarnished. I wouldn't expect you to stop saving/offering seeds. Far from it. SSE needs for its members to keep on doing what they do and have done so well for such a long time. I just wanted to post this info when I saw it so you and others familiar with SSE wouldn't be blindsided by the news. The fact that it has not thus far resulted in the same type of communications put out last time is a hopeful sign that this is a positive move and that no one wants it to be a disruptive thing, right? Ideally, SSE members and customers won't have to endure the transitional problems that occurred last time. SSE is a fine organization with an umblemished history. (I don't hold the KW thing against them because they aren't the ones that went public and made a big issue of it--he did). SSE is the heart and soul of the heirloom movement in this country and always has been. I hope that never changes. Dawn
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bonechickchris
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you Jack Benny and Carolyn!
Carolyn, Are you the Carolyn that wrote the 100 Heriloom Tomato book, right? I just realized after reading your page! I have your book and love it!
A funny thing, at the end of May, beggining of June, I had a bunch of extra heirloom tomato plants, which I always give away for free to people. So a Lady Joyce replyed, and her and her husband ( I cannot remember his name off hand)came to pick up the tomato plants and the husband starting talking about you and your book and how you are good friends and send him all types of interesting tomato seeds! I live on a lake, and they do work around my area with cleaning up and preserving the land here around my lake. They are part of the Sierra club in county. Do you know who I mean of?
So I just thought I should mention that to you! I told them to please keep in touch so I know how the varieties are doing that I gave them. If you speak to them, ask them how the plants are doing!
Ok, back to the post! I started planting tomatoes since I was a very young girl with my father, and I have planted mostly tomatoes ever since. So I do think that Joining the SSE would be benificial to me. Oh, I have had their public catalog for a long time. I just wanted to know a little more about the "inside" group. I hope I am worthy of joining.
In the past, I use the bagging method to prevent cross polination because I do not have enough room to separate each variety. I hope bagging is an acceptable preservation technique to the SSE. Thanks again for the info! Look forward to hearing back from you! Christy
carolyn137
15 years ago
Christy, I'm sorry but I don't know who you mean when you refer to that couple.

If you know where they live or remember his name or their last name please send me a message off of GW and I'll think some more.

I've offered seeds online and here at GW in the past I've offered about 300 varieties, and I still make modest offers, but that's at another place where I post. I also list varieties in the SSE Yearbook.

So I don't know what their contact with me might have been. I don't sell seeds and send them out unless it's part of a seed offer and then they're free for a stamp.

And yes, I'm the Carolyn who wrote the book about heirloom tomatoes. ( smile)

Carolyn

Could you answer some questions about the Seed SAvers Exchange?

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jackbenny

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Could you answer some questions about the Seed SAvers Exchange?

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jackbenny

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