Seed Network News January 2009

Lots of seeds, more gardeners needed!

Consider getting some or all your garden seeds from the Bloggers Seed Network (blog not required), rather than buying them.  There are thousands of varieties available for the asking!

Of course if you have seeds to offer, you’re also very welcome to join the seed network and share them!

It’s important to understand people have one overwhelming reason for offering their seeds to other gardeners, they really, genuinely, want to share them and see them grown in other people’s gardens.  You aren’t imposing on anyone by asking for seeds.  Of course you should offer to send a self addressed stamped envelope if you live in the same country, and/or offer to send a small payment to cover the costs of sending the seeds.  If you don’t have enough money to afford to pay for the seeds, ask anyway, because some people are willing to send them for free.

The expectation usually is however that the person receiving the seeds intends to save seeds themselves and reshare them with others.  You also need to understand what you want.  Don’t just contact someone in the seed network and ask them to send you some seeds!  You have to ask for specific varieties you want to grow.

Different from Public Seed Exchanges

Please understand this network is different from most public seed exchanges.  See my last post as an example of this.  In general people offering seeds via this seed network are not allowed to share half used packets of commercial seeds.  Nearly all of the seeds offered are homegrown and self saved.  All of the seeds you get from this seed network are suitable for growing and resaving!

Commercial seeds on the other hand are generally not accurately labelled, and you won’t know for at least two years if they are in fact suitable for saving because you will have to first grow the plants and save seeds, then try regrowing those seeds and seeing what happened. It’s the intention of most commercial seed companies to cause confusion over the suitability of their seeds for saving, because they would like gardeners who try to fail and become discouraged!  Seed companies make more money when you go back each year and buy more.

Never believe a seed company is selling you seeds suitable for saving unless they have a conspicuous and unambiguous public statement saying ALL of the seeds they offer are suitable for seed saving.  There are very few companies like this around, and you have to hunt for them!  See the links section of this blog for some ideas.

While it’s possible a few members of this seed network may have commercial activities alongside of offering seeds, most are just gardeners offering to share seeds from their own garden.  You won’t be encouraged to spend money on other things, and you don’t need to pay an entrance fee to participate.  Nothing but no-frill seeds, delivered to your door!

Newest Members of the Network

There have been several new members this month.  Lots of people offering tomatoes!

Gardening Fool has a mix of ornamentals and edible plants, but if you read about the stuff being working on, there are more edibles in the pipeline.

Agrarian Grrl’s Muse Located in the Annapolis valley in Nova Scotia, Canada.  A great blog too!

Crazytomato Almost a neighbor of mine, here in the Netherlands, has a great looking collection of vegetable seeds including many tomatoes!

Paquebot Located in Wisconsin, USA, has loads of tomatoes!

Saith Ffynnon Farm Located in north coastal Wales, UK (!) is offering a number of seeds collected from the wild in his area, including a number of edible plants.

Blue Ribbon Tomatoes Located in kentucky, USA, Maria is offering a number of really exciting local heirloom tomatoes!  She also has a great blog.