Most traders leave chaff in with the seeds. I know this because I don't, and I used to clean the seeds I got in trades. I've collected a bundle of various gauge strainers, screens etc., and have learned how to effectively winnow seeds so I can clean just about any kind of seed.

I don't trade any longer, but still completely clean the seeds I collect for myself. It's an affliction! I've even developed tables of seed-counts which help me determine how many seeds I have, based on actual counts of small measures (1/8 teaspoon, etc..), done under a magnifying lamp.

My seeds will always contain chaff, but when I offer them in a trade, there will be lots of seed in that chaff. Butterfly bush is one I don't even bother removing the pods. Just crush and sow. Same with echinacea and many salvias. The downside is that you have to be really REALLY sure it's dry before packaging. This will be my last year using plastic bags. I've gotten too many moldy seeds from some trades.

I'm using paper plates and coffee filters to dry my seeds. A small fan on the table keeps the air moving.

I always leave some chaff... I also make sure I let people know that. In addition I usually put lots of seeds in a pack so most people seem to be ok with the chaff.

I figure when the seeds fall to the ground naturally there is chaff around them so it cannot hurt to plant chaff.
Karen

Great! Then I will probably leave some small chaff in some of my seeds when necessary. Hope everyone is OK with that.

Donn... that sounds like a serious affliction you have there. Seed cleaning disease? OCD? I sure don't want to catch it what ever it is! Hope you dont go cross eyed. lol

I am packaging all of my seeds in paper envelopes after they have sat around on paper plates and in brown paper lunch bags. No fancy baggies for me. I am to new at this to have all of those supplies.

To avoid going blind, go to the dollar store and buy a pair of reading glasses that are stronger than your current prescription. I.e., if your prescription is +1.50, try a pair of +2.50 or +3.00 glasses. Makes working with tiny seeds really easy.

Even the 3.00 glasses are not strong enough for me for the really tiny seeds so I use a jewelers' loupe and a pair of tweezers for those babies, but in a pinch I think a strong magnifying glass would work too. I thought the most challenging seeds I have ever worked with are Astilbe and Buddleia. This year I actually was able to see Astilbe seeds so no more Astilbe MOABs like I sent to Donn a few years ago LOL. He was merciful and forgave me.

Mary

I bought a "Daylight" flourescent task light which was on sale at JoAnn Fabrics.

{{gwi:437712}}

I also bought two accessory lenses for it; a 2.25x main lens and a 5x swing-arm. That gives me a boost of 12X when needed.

The circular daylight flourescent tube is 7" diameter, and really helps out with seed work.

Tis is my first year harvesting seed,so far,the hardest for me to harvest is Mexican Sunflower,man, them buggers can really Bite,i sure would appreciate some advice on this one,they are MEAN!
cAROL

on the cone flowers what is the seed? the yellowish long thing or the little black thing? I'm thinking the little black thing but i've never collected them before. I'd hate to send the chaff and not the seed.
thanks
:)Laura

Laura the only reason I knew what the seed looked like was because I had a store bought package of purple coneflower seeds. The seed is a small white or light tan thing. about 1/4 of an inch long. It is hard and one end of it is kinda flared out looking and sort of looks like it has a hole in that end. They are way down in next to the ceter of the flower head. It sounds stupid but that is the best I could describe it. Good Luck:)

Laura, here's a site that will help you identify seeds. There are other sites too but they're not in my bookmarks, maybe someone else can add other sites.

Mary

Here is a link that might be useful: The Seed Site

Thanks Girls,
I think I harvested too soon. they look nothing like that.
luckily I didn't harvest from all of the spiky heads
:Laura

Just wait until the stem and cone turns black. If the goldfinches are on them, they're ripe. :)

If the Goldfinches are on them, they are gone!! LOL!

So True!! This year I'm leaving the chaff, it seemed the chaff packages sprouted better than the ones that had less chaff-most of the time.
-B

I clean the ones that are relatively easy- which usually most of them are- but the ones like 1-2" zinnias- no way. I take out the big stuff, but separating that paper-like tiny silvery seed from paper-like silvery chaff is insane with certain zinnias.
I do try to shuffle the bowl some to 'float' the chaff to the top, but sometimes it's just not possible. A trade from me will be chuck-full packet with hundreds of seeds, but yeah, often will have some chaff, too.