Seed Exchange

[Eugene]

Open for discussion. Exchanging seeds from heirloom vegetables.

From a previous post: "Eugene!!---go ahead and start another thread on the subject and add a poll to see if there would be enough interest!!---It is a very good idea!---We try to plant as much op (open pollinated) varieties as possible and save seed,(always save a ton too much)--have saved seed for years!"

Still thinking about the topic.

Right now I'm thinking that this should take place on a rather informal basis. For example, I have some saved pumpkin seed and ornamental gourd seeds. Enough saved seeds to send to one individual and keep some for myself. Both types are unknown as to quality. By the time someone paid the postage for two envelopes - that would almost equal the price of the $1 seed packets in the grocery or hardware store.

Open for discussion.

[SONNY]

Some varieties are NOT available locally so in order to get a start of them you have to order them from some other source!!!---that is our problem here!---We are NOT in a garden/agriculture friendly area,---in fact it is ANTI-AG. so seed/chems.(unless its for lawns)/fert. etc. buying is very scarce!
I know some of you have the local feed store,--and that makes me jealous!! thanks; sonny

[Miss Farmall]

Eugene, just a thought but if you dont want to exchange via the mail service you could always do a sort of "swap" at your cub get togethers. Might not work out for everyone to plant the seeds they swap and receive for that current planting season but it would be good to have seeds for next season in case you are too late for planting by the time you get them. I know I would love to swap some seeds with other folks at our gatherings. It would be another fun thing to look forward to and would be interesting to see what you could collect. I would mostly be interested in swapping flower seeds myself. http://www.seedswaps.com/ or http://www.garden.org/seedswap/ <<are swap sites where you might find some heirloom seeds?

[DanR]

I've been thinking about this seed swap thing. Yesterday I got out the new catalogs and looked for seeds marked 'heirloom'. Not surprising I did not find many. Seems that the big companies have some, the organic and specialty company's have less, and the AG focused folks seem to have the most. Genetically engineered seeds are the hot thing now. So, if you want to go the heirloom route a seed exchange would be a terrific idea. Only problem I can see is getting the USPS and Homeland Security folks stirred up. I sure don't want to be labeled 'terrorist.'

[SONNY]

I think as long as the package isnt glowing in the dark, they probably dont say anything!---I have sent/received a few seeds over the years and I am still on this side of the vertical bars!--lol!!----Might be something to check on though, as to what or if there are regulations and what they might be just be on the safe side!

I would just send them in a common envelope.
Virginia saw somewhere that you can legally send seeds as long as its within the USA borders!---UNLESS you have state or local area regulations regarding this I dont see a problem!! thanks; sonny

[smigelski]

as long as you send inside the continental US it is fine, once you cross borders then you need to have the seed tested for other weed seeds in your batch.

[Miss Farmall]

Smig is correct. USPS does not mind if seeds are sent locally in the USA.
I get/have gotten seeds in regular mail.

[Boss Hog]

Smig is correct. USPS does not mind if seeds are sent locally in the USA.

It does depend on the type of seed also


we have 3 good seed sources close to me Of course you cant get a milkshake in 30 miles

[Miss Farmall]

It does depend on the type of seed also

Who you kidding? You know you will keep those for yourself!