Herb Swap??? (Herb in the Hat)

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

I have been a part of several forums in the past for the varying hobbies that I participate in and one of the things that I found really cool was a swap of sorts.

I was wondering if anyone would like to head one up for this forum? The idea is this...

We all take some of our rare and cool herbs (or regular ones) and take some cuttings and root them. All who are interested "sign up" and the "moderator" puts all the names in a hat. When the time is up for the swap to be over the moderator chooses names at random in two's and those who are drawn together swap the herbs that they have rooted. Thus everybody gets a new herb.....or a bigger plot of an existing one.

I thought that it might be interesting if anyone is interested. If we are worried about the heat in shipping we can do something like this two times a year when it is cooler....spring and fall.

Let me know your ideas on this...if nobody is interested then I will just drop the idea.

Take care!

Chad

[dirtundernails]

That's something I would like to do. I think twice a year is good, like April and October, so cuttings have a good start. Herbs are a nifty and important part of gardening.

OK, folks... who's interested? Step right up and join the greatest swap on the net.

dun

[wuukiee]

I'd be totally interested! Although, I'm just getting my own herbs started in teh past month or so, so I don't think I"ll be able to cut/root until fall (although I have plenty of herb seeds, including some fairly exotic ones I could swap anytime sooner.)

[lovetogarden]

I would like to participate, but have had bad luck shipping live plants. I tried shipping some mints I grow but was not sucessful. And thats pretty bad as mints are hard to kill.

[flowerpower]

Sounds interesting, but I am weary about shipping live plants.

[Brook]

FWIW, here is how to ship rooted cuttings or other bare-root plants:

1. Remove the cutting from its growing medium, gently shaking off as much of the medium as you can.

2. Dip the roots in plain water.

3. Take a damp (not soaking wet) paper towel. Roll it around the roots and part of the stem.

4. Put the cutting in a zip lock or other sealable plastic bag. Leaving the crown exposed, seal the bag around the stem.

5. Package for shipment, using adequate padding. Mark it "Live Plants---Hand Cancel."

6. Ship via priority mail at a minimum. Overnight is better.

[dirtundernails]

Thank you, Brook. I always did something similar when shipping plants to my mom. Usually in a box with other stuff for padding. Any other people with suggestions please post -K-? I've never done this before, and need all the knowledge possible!

So glad you'uns are interested!!

dun

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey cool....

We got some feedback...

Dirtundernails expressed desire to handle and "moderate" this so I will be turning it over to her.

As for the shipping...I shipped Mrtomatoexpress a bunch of tomato plants and peppers not to long ago and they did fine. The method that brook described is the method that I used....You can also tape the herbs to the side of the box so they will not flop around. This will decrease the size of a box needed and will reduce shipping cost.

Most wont have herbs ready till fall anyway....will give everyone time to save a few bucks for shipping and get their herbs ready. Even with shipping this should be cheaper for others to get new herbs without having to pay for purchase and shipping.


DUN you set the dates so everyone can start preparing! If you are interested in doing this send Dun a private message with your address and phone number and when the thing gets going she will let everyone know who they are to swap with.


Dun, to keep shipping down you might want to see if there are enough participants to draw by state. If not then just a regular drawing will be fine.

Anyway, this should be pretty cool!

Looking forward to it!!!

Chad

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi creations sounds good hay it reminds me when i went to school we had box lunches :) :D :p 3 tomatoe and 2 pepper plant made it but doing great

[bluelacedredhead]

I think that Chad's suggestion of State or Regional matchings is an excellent one.

I've organized a couple of Christmas swaps in the past. So here's my thoughts based on past experiences.

DUN, maybe you could ask people for preferences? As in Culinary herbs vs Medicinal herbs? And match participants up that way, if possible.

Have you given any thought to whether you will match (for example) Chad with Charlie? and Charlie with Chad? or will you mix it up a bit and have Chad send plants to Charlie and Charlie send plants to Wuukie? It can work both ways.

Set a limit to the number of plants so no one feels that they've contributed more than their partner or that they are embarassed that they didn't give enough.

And of course, participants need to pass along to the organizer (DUN) their mailing address..In a Private Message of course so that it stays private between DUN and the people who are swapping plants. It sounds silly now, but I've actually had people that didn't want to divulge their personal info..Well how on earth can someone send you a package in the mail without a mail address? ???


You will require an even number of participants. Set a deadline to sign up, and ask again just before that deadline to make sure that everyone has a chance to sign up. There are new members joining the site on an ongoing basis, so maybe they won't have seen the earlier announcements.
I always involved my husband when I needed an extra person. It didn't matter that it meant we were paying for two gifts and two shipments..Just made it twice as much fun for us. But hopefully you will be able to find enough participants that you won't need to do that (unless of course you want to).

[flowerpower]

I think that going by region is a good idea.

Now are we only going to swap plants or are we doing seeds also?

[bluelacedredhead]

Flowerpower, If it's plants, I can't participate. But if it's seeds, then I could. And since I'm really close to NYS....Let's wait and see..

[dirtundernails]

Now I see why Chad foisted the moderator joboff to someone else! ;)

I think it will be fun. Good suggestions, thank you. I was thinking the along the same lines as far as pairing up. I thought a list of "wants" would be helpful, with the agreement of no guarantee, just pair up the matches and hat up the rest. Geographical is good, too. And so far as even number, there is myself to add or not. I'm going to start a website for seed swapping that I'm considering actually doing this plant swap on. Nothing is set up yet, so again, no guarantee (yet). I'll probably ask Jere if there is a problem using this site.

How about the middle of the month, 15th of October? And April.

dun gotta run

[Brook]

Wen, I hate to tell you this, but you can't legally participate even with seeds.

From the U.S. to Canada, seeds can be sent but no other plant parts.

From Canada to the U.S., no seeds, plants, or plant parts can be sent without a phytosanitary certificate.

All this means, on a practical level, is that you have to develop smuggling techniques. Certainly not a problem for anyone living in the Great White North.

[bluelacedredhead]

Thanks Brook. Okay. I'll just have to be a Bystander..and think happy thoughts for everyone else.

[onmyknees]

would like to join the swap i have a gardening buddy that loves to raise herbs so if we need to do it in pairs we will be one.

[flowerpower]

There is no one else from Canada on here? You gotta be kidding? I am sure we can figure something out for Blue. ;) Can Jere send seeds to Canada?

Seeds are OK with me. I would prefer by region or at least zones if possible. DUN if you need help with anything, let me know.

[dirtundernails]

Onmyknees, the original idea was to draw two names out of a hat, and those two people sent herbs to each other. Pairing up doesn't mean you have to have a partner. You and your herb buddy could participate separately.

I have some details to work out, here. I want to work on the number of plants. I wonder if anyone knows a general survival rate? Would three be a reasonable number? input, please...

When I had plants shipped to me by a company, they made a little cardboard sleeve to enclose the pot and plant. They stuffed newspaper to keep the dirt in, but should have taped the stuffing to the pot before the cardboard sleeve was fitted on. My plants fell out and lost the dirt around the roots, killing two. (They did replace with no hassles) These were little rooted cuttings BTW. Also, possibly helpful is the flat rate box obtained from the post office. Of course, I found out about it after I shipped a brick from the old cobble streets of Deadwood to my friend in AL.

I got to thinking (ow, my head ), putting names in a hat and drawing means you get a surprise. If I want to trade for what I want, then I go to the trade/swap area, but I'm willing to match up as much as possible, especially geographically.

:D dun

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Dun,

I may be young but I aint stupid!!! :D (Thought I would come up with the idea and let someone more qualified do the work!!! :p )

Naaa...I'll help however I can.

As far as survival rate I think 3 to 4 is adequate. If everyone makes sure they have good strong roots it should not be a problem. The method Brook described works well and if it is cooler in the season it will work.

As far as types of herbs??? Maybe we can do culinary in the spring and medicinal in the fall??? That way it stays pretty unified? Or do two cuttings of medicinal and two cuttings of culanary????

Personally I like the idea of being surprised and not knowing what we are getting....this will help our knowledge grow as well. If you send me something I have no clue how to use then I am going to have to get off my duff and learn not aren't I??? :eek:

Dun,

You tell us the dates.....and it is a good Idea to keep reminding everybody and giving the new people a chance to enter as well. The middle of the month is fine with me. I think that the date should be the shipping date not the "Is everybody ready date".

You all have some really good ideas....this should work well with a group like this!

I am excited.

Chad

[flowerpower]

We are not going to ship until mid Oct? That's kinda late for me to put anything in the ground. It would never have time to get established here. How about mid-sept?

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Sounds good to me....


Chad

[dirtundernails]

September is OK. Good, in fact.

Chad, I'm gonna need some help... oh, wait - I'm beyond help! More complicated than hard goods, huh?

Seeds. I need input as to whether seeds swapped for plants is OK, or if they should be separate. These can be shipped any time, and might be better in a third swap.

dun

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi chad ducttaped the plants he sent me they all made it great everyone was in there pots and no soil came out great job packing by chad i think chad works at ace hardware so i guess ace is the place :D :rolleyes: ;)

[winter_unfazed]

Well, I'm interested, so don't drop the idea. Will seeds work too? I have bergamot but it doesn't ship well. It would have to be traded as seeds or seedheads.

[dirtundernails]

Looks like seeds are a popular part of this hat drawing. Still want to know about seeds for plants or separately.

I won't drop the idea. There's enough interest.

dun

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey all!

I am ok with whatever....but I do think that plants for plants will be a more enjoyable trade...it will give those who are not very good at rooting things practice and we will be able to see what makes it and what doesn't. Prove the hardiness of it all.

I do think that annuals should be done in the spring and the perenials should be done in the spring or the fall.

If say person "A" trades with person "b" and person "B's" plants do not make it alive to person "A" I will be more than happy to have some extras rooted to send to person "A" in compensation that way everyone gets something.

I figured since there was a seed trade already established on the forum it would be fun to do something a little different. BUT! If someone wants to participate and does not have cutting but only has seed then they can trade with someone who does not care what they get. Like me for example. I would be happy to send cuttings to all those who only have seed to trade. Or whatever.

Like Charlie mentioned....I sent him tomatoes and pepper from Arkansas to New York and they made it fine. Tape the container or the bag to the side of the box so it does not flop around.

Honestly I think shipping won't be that big of a problem. JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT SHIP OUT ON A FRIDAY OR SOMETHING.

Dun,
You might want the shipping date for everyone to fall on a monday so the plants do not sit over the weekend in some hot facility.



Later!

Chad

[bluelacedredhead]

As someone who is wise to the ways of shipping live birds and insects for Integrated Pest Management, Chad's suggestion of Monday or even Tuesday as shipping days for live plants makes perfect sense.
As they say "things" happen and even the best laid plans end up with packages sitting in a warehouse over the weekend...Best to plan ahead...

[flowerpower]

Chad, that is really nice of you to start a few extras "just in case''.

Seeds or plants are fine with me. I think a plant for seeds can be an even exchange.

[dirtundernails]

HOD ordered bees and they arrived dead. Every package the company sent out that day was dead. So sad. Now the Post Orifice won't give back the money, either. Nobody can fill out the paperwork in the correct handwriting, or something. grrr I will set dates according to Mondays, around the middle of the month. September has the 11th on a Monday. Maybe that's a bad day - anyone superstitious? We can have it as a remembrance, or change it to the 18th.

That is nice of you to plant extras, Chad. Very thoughtful, and the recipiant is lucky to receive your nifty plants.

Let's try it this way - is anyone opposed to swapping seeds for plants?

dun

[onmyknees]

no opposition for seeds for plants trading will need to start cuttings and gather seeds. I don't have many herbs so the chance to add to the collection sounds really great to me.