Thanks for sharing this!!!

Hi Steve, he didn't share the link with so you, et al, could see the list. He shared it so 'I' could see the list ;-O

WinterSown.Org has an open-to-the-public tomato seed list, as well as another generic seed offer which provides packs of annuals, perennials, a tomato, a veggie and/or herb/ornamental. WinterSown is the name of my non-profit and my website, I own it. I am responsible for it.

Thank you DF for giving me the link. I appreciate very much you brought this to my attention.

This blogger didn't share the link for the required form which has a calendar widget--when it's printed out the day shows on the calender. I also clearly state on the form that the calendar date must by within a week of the cancellation date on the exterior envelope or the offer is void. I require that dated printout or the offer is void. I wish that the blogger had only linked to the list, that way her readers would see the 'full monty' which has grown to 150 varieties and is updated almost daily. I do plan to make it 180 varieties before the end of the year. Her loss, well no, her readers' loss.

A year ago I would have been up in arms and been making strenuous emails or phone calls to get list and address pulled off of that blog. If someone uses the info on that blog they're A) Looking at a stale list, items come and go and some remain the same. B) There will be no printout. This list is like a snapshot of what was there in August, and now it's really just an advertisement of sorts. If any of her readers send in a handwritten list--no printout--they get a default pack with a little note that says I need a printout. It has the URL for the current list and they proceed to resend or not. And I have done that--I have little trays of default packs taped to notes that say I need TWO first class stamps on a SASE or I NEED a printout.

Last March I put in the required printouts--I was getting raided by freebie sites who would just publish the address without my permission, people would get the seeds and they wouldn't learn about Winter Sowing or the website, etc. They weren't even visiting the website. It all came to a head when a newspaper garden-writer in the midwest published the SASE address without my permission. That was the straw that broke the camels back. I am a very generous person, and I am very patient person, but do not USE me. (I do work with organizations and groups--if they want to do a SASE for their association they contact me and I give them a very specific address with their name in it and it's an offer that expires after a certain date.)

So rather than stop the SASE programs, I did things a little different. For the generic SASE one has to go through an education gateway, which is a set of simple quizzes which show the principles of WS, what's on the site and the aspects of why people save seeds. go through the gateway and tada--there is the address and printout for the generic SASE. The USDA has been a very good friend of WinterSown--they are the wind beneath my wings; their top wordsmith rewrote my notice of copyright and disclaimer. We had to pump it up--the website has grown, Winter Sowing has grown, and a larger and more definitive statement was now needed.

The gateway was made with 'Hot Potatoes', an educational quiz-making software program from University of Victoria. And it has worked like a charm. More people know how to WS, site hits have increased and I don't feel used anymore. I am deeply considering putting a gateway in front of the tomatoes, I don't have a feeling of abuse because the online community has been mostly very good. Yet I am still sharing a lot of donated varieties, and out of respect for the donors, I should make sure that the recipients will have some minimal information about what to expect when you grow toms from seed. On Wednesday evening I did an heirloom tomato discussion at one of our NYS arboretums, so I might let the tomato gateway mirror those lecture notes. I dunno yet, it's a lot of work to build a gateway. When it's the right time to do it I will know it.

I've put in the gateway link, I just went through it myself, and fortunately I still know all the answers ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Click on the Gateway Link to Proceed

Trudi, you know that for many years I did seed offers here at GW and offered up to 150 varieties at a time and differing in part from year to year. Never once were those seed offers here moved to another site.

But all it took was my annual free seed offer I do elsewhere for that to show up elsewhere, which someone alerted me to, before I changed the wording of the instructions that go along with the offer.

I say that the offer is open to all members who are registered at the site prior to a specific date and that date is the day before I post the offer. I know most of the user names, but not all, but can check when they became registered members if I need to.

I also remember one seed offer that Craig Lehoullier posted, I think here, that was moved to another message site, but since I was a Moderator there I put a stop to it ASAP.

Craig was not pleased, I was not pleased and I can understand why anyone who has posted free seeds for an SASE would be upset. We think we're doing good and someone has to take it upon themselves to tinker with the good intentions.

if I ever have problems again, I like your idea of asking specific questions and will think about that for the future.

As it is I have about 350 packs of tomato seeds to do now to send back with the SASE's, and this with the Australian Tennis Open starting Monday and I'm a dedicated tennis fan. LOL

Carolyn

So Trudi you aren't going to post a comment there or call the inappropriate action to the attention of the blogger? You are too kind. ;) Free advertisement, true but I sure would at least email her.

Dave

I hear you Carolyn, it's a wonderful to share with people, it's good for the receiver and it's very good for the giver too. But that goodness slips away and becomes harmful to your soul when you turn into a doormat. Q & A does do some filtering--the people who are sincere go through the quizzes--the instant-gratification freebie crowd takes a hike, the acquisition of something free is their goal, not the items they're requesting, it's the acquisition which is their fix.

Originally, I had to give folks seeds just to try WSing, and later on get them to try WSing tomatoes, but now that it's all established I give away seeds because it's become a life-long mitzvah--it's what I do. And that has spread beyond individuals mailing in SASEs, the majority of the seeds go out to worthy organizations. Next week I'm sending seeds down to a community garden program that's attached to a foodbank in a mid-atlantic state. After verifying that this is a real working project (not something on paper or in someone's head) then I had to assess the needs of the clients--it doesn't make sense to include hot pepper seeds if the clients are seniors--they don't digest them well. This is a group that needs leafy greens and salad garden veggies--tomatoes, cukes, common herbs, frying peppers, etc. They have low skill level and a tight budget, so hybrids and tried and true OPs (less troublesome) suggested for that region will be a big part of the donation.

I think that my program is important to the public because it's just as good to give as receive...it's a venue for folks who want to share their seeds but don't have the time, know-how, or where-with-all to get it done. The list is extensive, and there's lots to choose from, but it's that 'wild card' choice that I like; when someone sends a small batch of tomato seeds I can divvy them up into a few packs and make them wild cards, which are always labeled for content--I do choose wisely from them, if someone lives in zone five they're getting a short-season wildcard, and same for zones nine and warmer--they all need short season maters.

It's a hugely interesting endeavor, there's usually a flavor of the week--being that it seems all SASEs have one or two requests that are on each list. Last week almost everyone wanted Paul Robeson and this week almost everyone has asked for Black and Red Boar and/or Cherokee Chocolate. I'm not sure what the new flavor will ever be, it happens when it happens, but sometimes if I read a current online post discussing this or that variety and it's on my list, I know I'll see an increase in requests for it within a few days--I can count on human nature to be what it is.

I pasted in the link for the Hot Potatoes software, I don't know if you'll ever need to go that route, but if you are starting to feel like a doormat then doing questions and answers (however you want to deliver/present them) will weed out the recipients of your generosity. You'll have folks that are sincere in wanting to grow your tomatoes and if you tailor the questions, they'll know what to plan for in germination and growing. We had a big dialogue at my lecture Wednesday about being prepared for problems. It's terribly humid here and fungus happens--buy the products you expect to need when you plant the tomatoes--you have it on hand and can use it properly from the beginning to prevent or stave off a problem rather than trying to cure one later on.

I've never been able to get into tennis, but my Mom loved to watch the games. She had lessons and played when she was much younger--she loved it. Enjoy!

T

Here is a link that might be useful: Hot Potatoes Home Page, U of Victoria

Dave, if I can find a private contact link I will contact her. PR being what it is, I try to maintain a good public impression--it's really rare that you'll see me doing any public griping nowadays. Once in a blue moon something makes my head explode, but that would be something very serious and needing more than me putting my foot down, the response would be more of a public a-kicking with me wearing my heavy-duty army boots.

Hell knows no fury like the Good Seed Fairy scorned ;-)

Well, Ms Trudi... I'm so glad I checked back here before just mailing away. I understand what you're saying, and must confess you're probably a much more patient soul than I am to keep doing what you're doing. But I appreciate it. So you know, I'd found your website before this in my winter surfing, and am in the process of figuring out how to try the winter sowing process. With the electric bills so high this year, I was going to give it a try in hopes of learning enough to keep the lights off next winter altogether. I've "scrounged up" enough cups and rubber bands to give it a go. And I'm heading over to your site to find that form as well. The envelopes and stamps are right here! Watch your mail box... and THANK YOU. Blessings...

Pastor,

Go visit the Winter Sowing forum here at GW, just say you're new. The folks there will help you along with good advice and caring concern. They really do embrace beginners--ti's a wonderful place to learn about WS from WSers. I could talk to you about it until I am blue in the face, but hearing from others is very confirming.

T

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing Forum