SASE How-To

This time of year, folks are busy swapping/requesting seeds for this variety or that variety. The mailing costs can add up, especially if you've got "the fever".

So, I thought I'd share what I do when I need to send a sase/sasbe for just one or a few varieties of seeds. It's the easiest, and cheapest, way I've found.

Just send a regular envelope (approx 3.5" x 6.5") with a "bubble" insert.

Here's how I make the the insert:

Scavenge a used padded envelope from one of the express package companies (you know who they are lol). Their padded envelopes are padded, but are not quite as thick as your standard "bubble" envelope. Thickness is important for USPS 1st class mail. Your envelope can't be over 1/4" thick.

Draw an outline of your envelope onto the padded envelope.

Cut inside the lines. You want the bubble insert to be a little smaller.

Trim the excess from the edge.

Insert the return envelope, stamped and addressed to yourself, along with your labeled small zip baggette or coin envelope for the seeds. Also include a small slip of paper with your GW id and any other pertinent info. ("Thank You" is always nice *smile*)

Insert the bubble insert into the mailing envelope and seal.

That's all there is to it. Easy for you and easy for your seed giver. Plus, you can use the bubble insert over and over.

Just keep in mind the restrictions for a USPS First Class letter. Maximum of 1/4 inch thick and no more than 1 ounce in weight.

This works well for flat seeds, like peppers, tomatoes, etc. Peas, beans, etc - not so good lol.

Rick

Then cannibalise it doing the above posted method.

One guy I trade with often had a white envelope that is still going from here to there for a couple seasons now.

A few times it never stopped for more than a day before it got refilled and sent back.

We trade a little bit.LOL

Stack too many on top of each other and you crush them no matter how much bubble wrap you put over them in a too small of an envelope.

I don't see why some people worry about saving a few cents when they are getting several bucks worth of seeds that a lot of times you couldn't buy in a store or online.

A lot of the seeds I get for peppers are only to be gotten if you are lucky enough to run across the few people who have the seeds to trade.

I can see not wanting to spend $10.00 on 5 seeds but I trade for a lot of stuff at a time all over the world.

It all works out to be pretty cheep in the long run.
I trade a LOT of seeds and fill a LOT of SASBE offers for people.

For example , C. Galopagoense seeds went for $5.00+ a pack of 5 or 7 seeds from some venders.

It cost me about $2.00 to send seeds to someone who traded 30 varieties of seeds with me at a time.

Thats 30 packs of seeds for $2.00 plus the recycled bubble envelope.

The exchange could have included rare stuff like the C. Galopagoense or Yellow Bhut Jolokia seeds ($1.00-$1.25 a seed)or anyhing else.

Seeds you can't buy from most venders for very cheep...

Worrying about saving a few cents on postage shouldn't compromise seed safety.

Postage is cheeper than buying the seeds from the start or people wouldn't do it.

To me the safety of the seeds comes first.

If I have to pay $1.00 more to send seeds so be it.

Trying to send 30 packs of seeds in a 3X6 or whatever envelope is asking for trouble-crushed seeds.

I see it all the time and after getting cracked seeds from some people I won't trade with them anymore no matter what they have.Cracked seeds don't grow...

Heck,just to avoid standing in line at the P.O. I'll put $2.00 or whatever I think is too much postage on an envelope and stick it in my mailbox.

The half hour of time I'd spend at the P.O. is worth the extra $ I put on the bubble envelope.
My time is worth more than a couple bucks an hour.
So are the seeds most of the time.

There is being frugal and being cheep.

UPC codes aren't fragile like seeds.

If you are sending seeds the same way as the UPC codes your probably going to have powder arriving at the other end.

Also coin envelopes need more padding than zips.

They suround the seeds with 2 solid surfaces that can crunch seeds easier even in bubble wrap.

Zips bend etc. and are able to flex when the mail truck runs over your seeds on it's way to Alaska en route to the guy across town you are sending them to.

Sometimes saving a few cents isn't in your best interest.

Just some things to think about when you pinch those pennies till they scream. LOL

Use common sense and you'll have nice viable seeds comming in and going out.