Even though I have been around a bit it's been a while since I've been on too. I'm not too sure on the do's and don't myself but thought I'd put a note in so you know you are not alone and maybe we'll both get some answers. : )

We can OFFER plants for postage - just can't ask for them for postage.

I seen your unfriendly message, I I feel you could have been informed in a nicer manner. I am new here as well, so I won't say too much. I just want to say "Welcome!" back to GW.
Maybe someone that has manners, can lead you in the right direction and help get you started!

Carrie

I also wanted to add that I have "met" some very nice and generous people here. I would say there are more friendly people here than not!

Good luck!
Carrie

I really didn't mean for it to come off so unfriendly.
I have already and do apologize for that.
I have also sent heartholder143 an email.

Next time I'll leave it up to the wonderful chemocurl who knows how to word it right. :)
Kristi

I was just coming back to say that I seen your very nice post on the plant exchange. :-)
I do understand how you took her first post! You was just looking out for the best interest of all us seed and plant addicts!

Carrie

Heartholder,

There are many generous offers for SASBE (Self addressed stamped bubble envelope) which people post for newbies. If you are interested in growing seeds, check out Bakemom's newbie offer on this forum. E-mail me as I have some basic seeds which I could send for postage. Also check out wintersown. org. It is a very informative website on wintersowing and has a nebie seed offer. the wintersowing forum on GW is a great source for learning how to sow seeds in winter and increase the size of your garden for little money.

Amy

Couldn't be anywhere NEAR as caustic as the jerks who post on Craigslist. Holy cow! What a nasty group of vile, unhappy people!

Hello Heartholder,

I am new at seed exchange myself, and let me tell you: these people are VERY nice from my experience. Generous, giving, welcoming. Give them a chance - you will see.

Anyway, glad to see you here, and welcome! It's a great place to be.

~Natalie

Please understand that it was a little disconcerting to find someone who had registered in 2004 posting that they were new to the site and requesting seeds/plants for postage.

People here at GW are very friendly. They have shared plants and seeds with me very generously -- often for postage. However, there are people who take advantage of their generosity. As you spend more time on the site, you will come to realize that these very generous people have been forced to become wary. There is always someone ready to take advantage.

Just keep an eye out for the many offers of seeds/plants for SASBE, SASE, or postage.

If you are interested in a some pepper seeds, e-mail me.

The strong language was not because of you. They just found a real jerk on here who was asking to KEEP the extra stamps people sent over and above the stamps needed to return an envy to traders. That is what is forbidden.
Read the post: 'rules for trading', and you will learn how to send someone an envy with your return address and some stamps so they may send you seed. Look for posts reading: 'seeds for sasbe', or 'seeds for BEAP'. There is a great number of friendly, generous people here. I just did my first 2 trades in one week and had a blast. And yes, I sent seeds to a lady who was just starting out and had nothing to send. Good luck, and welcome.

Heartholder,
I have several extra seeds I can send you for a BEAP, (bubble envelope with address and postage inside. Send me an email and I'll let you know what I have available. Welcome to you! : )

Cindy

Post on my thread - send me a mailing label adn four stamps and I will set any of you up with seeds. I will provide the bubble mailer. Join us on Winter Sowing.

heartholder14,

I think the confusion and hence the responses that you received where based on the wording of your initial post.

"I am new to this site" when you actually are not new at all.

GW is the site that you registered to in 2004. What you are actually new to is the seed exchange forum.

There are various forums on the site which is GW.

It's unfortunate that we have had various numbers of scammers arrive on the seed exchange forum that has made many of us, especially old timers like myself, wary of posts that are asking for seeds and have nothing to offer.

When you post appeared and stated you where new to this site and a member page check showed you have been a member since 2004, the red flags popped up. Thoughts where of another scammer arrived on the scene.

The instruction link for the seed exchange forum has not worked for some time now. So a couple of old time members got together and recreated the instructions and posted them on the seed exchange. We keep the post going for all to read.

Instructions are there for a reason and it is best for those that are new, not familiar with the instructions and rules of the forum and even us "oldies" should always read them when new, re-check them every so often to remind us of those rules and stay familiar with them.

I'm sorry that a few responses where "not worded" more kindly to you, but the questions and information posted where fair questions to you.

Those of us that post for trades and SASBE/BEAP seeds are a wonderful group of people that want to spread our extra seeds to others.

There are many, many posts that are offering free seeds for postage. Just respond to those until you build up a seed supply.

AND, welcome to the wonderful world of seed trading, seed exchanges and obtaining seeds for SASBE/BEAP.
Once you start, you will be addicted for life.

Fran

To find help, look at the top of these listings and click'conversations' and scroll down till you see 'Rules for trading'.
Sorry, forgot to mention this before. Good luck.

Just one more! I needed a refresher as well, but it was really uncalled for, the way ot was put out. I just hope we all can just see it for what it was, just informing us in what we are to do. no trading "yarn" for seeds, which I happened to see, and offered seeds! so I don't know how that is going to work.

I did learn as well. Mary Grether

Hi again heartholder143,

Boy your post has spawned a pretty good discussion here...a good thing.

i failed to read the instructions and rules for the forums
It certainly does not help that the link to the Special Instructions for this exchange is broken and has been for some time. Those new to the forum have missed seeing the thread with the instructions in the past, and I'm sure they will be missed in the future too. I've found that on other forums where the instructions are listed at the top of the page that they are even often missed. No biggie, really.

As you said If you have nothing to offer at this time, please wait until you do. (taken from the actual instructions) " please let me know what IS allowed
IMHO, the actual instructions are very confusing, but GW does not update much here. The instructions are worded very poorly and I think sound quite cold and uninviting to anyone new with nothing yet to trade. That is why, with the help of other members, we came up with some additional info, which I added in red within the Special Instructions link

Posted by bakemom:
Post on my thread - send me a mailing label adn four stamps and I will set any of you up with seeds. I will provide the bubble mailer. Join us on Winter Sowing.
Newbie Seed Project

and here is a link to The Wintersowing Forum There is a link to the FAQ at the top of the main forum page. The FAQ are great and explain about all one would ever need to know to get started. Watch out...Wintersowing has been compared to a cult, and is very addicting!

i registered in 04- but did not use the site
Lots of folks just glance at a member's join date and kind of assume they have been here a while. A quick search on a member often shows that though they may have been a member for a while, they still might be a newbie to the forum. Welcome Newbie!

Harold100 wrote:
To find help, look at the top of these listings and click'conversations' and scroll down till you see 'Rules for trading'.
hmmm...I don't know what you are seeing or where there are posted the 'Rules for Trading'. The only place I know of here on the Seed Exchange are on the thread Special Instructions thread which we try to keep bumped up on page one....btw...bumpers are welcomed to try and keep it up toward the top 1/2 of page one so they will best be noticed.

mary_grether wrote:
no trading "yarn" for seeds, which I happened to see, and offered seeds!
I missed seeing that one. As oldies know, it is allowed to offer other things in trade for seeds (or plants on the Plant Exchange)...ie, seed envelopes, sharpies, books, etc. What is 'not' however allowed is posting misc 'stuff' for trade in the Subject of Posting Line. As one member put it after I explained things to her...if anything and everything besides seeds was allowed in the Subject line, our exchange boards would soon look like a big Flea Market...which I thought was a great analogy. So...trading yarn for seeds would be fine (imho) so long as the mention of yarn was kept to just the message box, or listed on one's member trade page.

Well dang wordy as usual, and the coffee pot is dry, I'm heading off to see what I can maybe get accomplished today.

Sue...resident busy body

I had dealings with someone who had a poor pitiful me story and sent her seeds. only later did I see her trade page and she had many more seeds listed than I have ever thought of having...was even wanting to trade the same seeds I had sent her...all the while still using the poor pitiful me story to get more seeds from generous and caring gardeners. Should have checked her out before sending seeds, but did not think anyone would do that. Saw her post for many months after that asking for free seeds.

So sometimes we are wary....but there are also sometimes NEWBIE offers on the plant exchange. I have participated in several of those although not for a couple of years.

Welcome, heartholder143!