If you'd like to view the rules from the 2013 swap it's here... forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roundrobin/msg1015274322333.html.

Gary

The way it is now you get a free pack of every single variety. You can not possibly grow them all so there is a lot of waste. from a psychology standpoint I would rather send in 11 packs and get back 10 then send in 10 and get back 9. getting back 10 I feel whole. getting back 9 I feel short changed.

now on sending in in the 11th pack as a gift for you. You might decide that certain groups you are not really looking for so you can say ahead of time to not send you random crosses or dwarfs or whatever that you will not grow. or you might say you really want the big tomatoes or cherry or what ever. or better you can simply say you have a ton of seeds from previous years and will only ask for the 11th as a freebie gift for your work. I would certainly be happy to send you free seeds and even extra packs of them. I have lots to share.

so the psychology is that everyone will feel more whole if they get back 10 packs. even if they send in eleven. Anyway I think it more important that people get back 10 packs than that they send in 10 packs. In fact I would be happy to send in 20 packs and get 10 back if you allow the extra 10 packs to be in other groups. i might do one or two from each group just for you.

Anyway You are the boss and put me down to participate what ever the rules. I guess I just was reading over the rules and thought this an improvement for all my fellow gardeners including me. there should be no extra cost as I would expect the shipping to remain the same with one pack of 5 seeds extra. I hope the other participants would be OK with getting back 10 new varieties than only 9 at no extra cost or inconvenience.

Don't worry about it! You will get back so many packets of seeds that you won't be counting them, or feeling the least bit deprived. Instead, you'll be trying to decide which ones to eliminate from your next year's list!!!!

Linda

There are two parts to the swap. Priority goes to me (us) trying to find the #1 variety on people's wish lists. Wish lists this year have been increased to 15 varieties. Also, there is going to be a small scale pepper trade (wish lists of three varieties). The categories are an optional part of the swap.

As for being made whole, the 2012 swap averaged about 40 varieties sent in by those in the swap. They all received about 60 different varieties back. The 2013 swap was about 60 sent in and about 100 different varieties sent back. With 100+ participants, that's 10,000+ packs of seeds. It's probably best to consider the number of packs you get back as maybe a 3 to 5 year plan on what might go into the garden. Seeds should be good for that many years.

How did this happen? Bonuses. While they are not counted toward number of packs sent in and number expected back, bonuses make up a good part of the swap. All bonuses are divided equally among participants, whether no bonuses are sent in or 100 are sent in. I cannot make any predictions on how many bonuses will come in this year, nor on the number of participants. Sign-ups to the swap, after I post it will be about Oct 1st to about Nov 1st. Anyone who's participated in the past knows that rules are so flexible as to be almost nonexistant.

Gary

forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roundrobin/msg091257401968.html

A correction to an above post, you have until November 10th to join.

Rules will be posted in a few days. For now, it's emailing me your wish list of up to 15 tomato varieties and 3 pepper varieties.

Gary

Gary

Nevermind...disregard this post...I think this isn't the swap that I am in!

I might just participate in this exchange also.

So if it was your list, it will be included with all of the other wish lists in one Master Wish List of many hundreds of varieties all in alphabetical order. I will start posting the MWL in a few days. It will be in the Round Robin Exchange at...Incredible Edibles Totally Tomatoes 2014. The last posting/update of the MWL will be about November 1st. Joining and sending in seeds goes to about November 10th.

Gary

Gary

I read somewhere that you want the wish list in order of priority and also in alphabetical order.

What is the most convenient format to make your work of copying and pasting all these wish lists easier, and can general wants ("category") be on it (like, one of any yellow currant, for example)?

Thanks for this!
PC

As I understand it, something like this:

Alphabetical order with priorities in brackets.

Anna Russian (3)
Black Krim (6)
Brandywine (4)
Eva Purple Ball (1)
Indian Stripe (5)
Reisentraube (2)

Linda

"Any Yellow Currant"

Note, that is different from joining categories like the advanced swappers have, especially if no category exists. It is just a shorthand way to want to get just one variety of some type to grow. Listing e.g., all these in a want list in hopes that someone has one:

Microgroseille
Yellow Marble
Yellow Currant
Gold Rush
Bolivianische Obsttomate
etc., etc.

PC

The Master Wish List (A to M) is now posted in the Round Robin Exchange (NEW: Incredible Edibles Totally Tomatoes 2014). It is missing A to M's of the wish lists that I've received in the past several days.

would it be possible to just include your mailing address in the OPENING POST (by editing it) ?
This way there won't be a need for exchanging emails.

Seysonn

A 3 oz. "small package" (which can get free delivery confirmation when purchased online at least) costs $2.32, and to make things easier for Gary to stuff envelopes sounds like the way for returning the seeds we receive from the swap.

But, you can send it as a "flat", if your envelope is:
...Not rigid (e.g., cardboard is rigid*)
...Under 3/4 inch thick
...between 6 1/8 inch and 12 inch on the short side
...between 11 1/2 inch and 15 inch on the other side
...Not lumpy

Recommended for appearance, but not official... use a manila colored envelope.

rigid? Put it on the edge of a table with half of the long side flapping (extending) into the air. Bend the tip 2 inches higher/lower than the table surface....no problem? It's definitely OK for a “flat”!

lumpy? Regular fine bubble wrap is not lumpy. This refers to something irregularly shaped which won't go through the automated sorting machinery. If your packets all collect into lumps sliding around it could suddenly get lumpy so this is something to pack in a way it won't happen, and respect Gary's time by not putting things that will get sticky and then cause a mess inside.

There is much training to be done in the postal service and the above are the specifications. Many postal employees simply do not understand but act like they do. Unfortunately this can lead to problems and it sounds like most people are paying the package rate of $2.32 for 3 ounces of a small package “just to be safe”.

Advanced bureaucracy: Actually if the mail piece does not break one of the rules: i.e., is not rigid and not lumpy and under ¾ inch thick, it needs to be padded or stiffened or lumpified to qualify for package class (if you really want to pay more for no reason, or if you want to make it qualify for delivery confirmation). You can put foam packaging peanuts or extra bubble wrap, etc.. Mine broke no rules, so the correct postage to pay is either "flat" if you don't want delivery confirmation or "Priority Mail" if you do want DC. Currently, a three ounce "flat" costs $1.40 to mail. It is now my decision whether I want to pay that, or $2 to $3 for my first class mail piece by turning it into a small package.

Note: "Flat" and "Large Envelope" are synonyms. "First Class Parcel" and "Small Package" are also synonyms.

PC

Most participants received 100+ packs of tomato seeds back last year, along with beans, flowers, and all kinds of other "donations". Hmm, I haven't mentioned the donations yet at the Round Robin thread. :)

If anyone wants seeds other than tomatoes and peppers, a bubble mailer may be the easiest way to go. Also, sending things to me in a flat is fine, and if you want to pay postage for a bubble mailer back, I have many left over bubble mailers from previous swaps, and have no problem recycling them.

Gary

PC wtote:
A 3 oz. "small package" (which can get free delivery confirmation when purchased online at least) costs $2.32, and to make things easier for Gary to stuff envelopes sounds like the way for returning the seeds we receive from the swap.

Probably that is the one I need ?

First Class small packages, with optional delivery confirmation can be envelopes or boxes. They must be between 3 ounces and 13 ounces. Over 13 ounces uses the priority mail class, and is obviously not most peoples' situation in the swap. You may be 2 ounces, but since you are using a box, that is the correct rate and it can weigh under 1 ounce for that matter, but will still require the $2.32 3 ounce minimum rate.

In seysonn's case, he may want to participate in only a limited way with what he sends in, in which case a "flat" would cost $1.19 for the 2 ounce rate First class flat has a 1 and 2 ounce rate. The small package class charges the 3 ounce rate for any package weighing 1, 2 or 3 ounces, if he chose to use a flat envelope. Since what gets returned may weigh more than what is sent, it is in our benefit if we want more seeds to use the $2.32 return small package rate and send an envelope/package that can hold what is returned, though Gary mentioned he has a few extra bubble envelopes he can recycle if a few people want to send flats. If you just wanted to swap 5-10 packs seysonn, (but not more), you can use a regular first class envelope as Gary mentioned and just put napkin on each side of the seed packs. If it passes the "looks like a first class envelope to the USPS" that just a first class stamp each way,and you would expect to only receive a small amount back.

Got to love this. Swaps are all about the pure packaging of the seeds. 1000 seeds, more than most will get, actually weigh 0.1 ounce ;-)

PC

I need them by Friday, as the last update to the Master Wish List will likely be Saturday. You can either email me your wish list, or easier at this time, post it in the Round Robin Exchange at the "NEW:Incredible Edibles Totally Tomatoes 2104" thread. Sign-up will be until November 10th, and that's about the time packages should be sent to me.

Gary

I cannot open my email today.

Gary

So far, no luck on sending or receiving email. I'll try sending, again.

Gary