Hi Frances, I threw in the towel and bought a freezer :). The bean seed I kept for myself from last years crop is now stored in glass jars, number on lid and label with variety name stuck on the side are now in the freezer with the exception of a few I kept out to grow this year. I keep a corresponding list on the computer (easier to look for a # on the lid when digging around in the freezer). All the spare seed I had left from last year was taken to our Seedy Saturday March 2nd.

I have a master list, variety name, source and columns for what year I got/get them and which year I grew/grow them, also kept on the computer and I have a separate bean folder in my photo album where I have put photos of all the varieties of bean seed and photos of some pods I have in my stash :).

I still have to wade through all the beans stored in the fridge and the plastic totes stored under the bed, eventually they will be going in the freezer too, only keeping out the ones I plan on growing the following year.

In the fall all the bean seed other than what I want for myself will be up for grabs, what's left will go to our Seedy Sunday, the seed I keep for myself will be good and dry by then, into the freezer it goes.
Annette

Thanks, Annette. Do you keep a printed copy of your master list, maybe taped to the freezer? How many varieties do you think you will eventually be maintaining? How do you know where to look for a given variety? The only record I have is a list of varieties but need an easier way to find out which year I grew what than searching through bags for each year. Yep, need help.

Last night I dreamed about spreadsheets, oh boy!

LOL, Frances, for the freezer the list is on my computer which is just opposite my computer desk all I have to do is stand up and turn around. In the crisper drawer in the fridge I have several large zip locks with a list of the variety names taped to the outside, these are numbered, also kept on the computer. The totes under the bed are numbered, lists of what's in them are also on my computer. Eventually the only beans not in the freezer will be the ones I'm currently growing.

How many you say, I think I'm over 200 and then some. I've given some of the beans I've collected away, mostly bush beans, the ones I knew I wouldn't be growing again. This system has worked pretty good so far. It only takes a few minutes to track down whatever variety I'm looking for. And yes... I do have a printed copy of my master list in fact I just did it last week.

Hey did you notice we no longer have a Canadian Exchange and Trade page, it was there a couple of weeks ago and now it's missing, several of us have inquired as to why they took it down but nobody has had an answer back :(.
Annette

I am chronically unorganized. But I do keep a word processor document with with I have. Starting this year, with all vegetable seeds, I am also keeping a running record of what batch (usually what year) seed I plant. That way, when I run across crossing, I can revert to an earlier year's seed.

I keep a gallon jar in one of our deep freezers, with small samples of most everything. It truly is wonderful to have such a back up. It relieves me of great pressure to grow some things out every four years.

George

OK, yesterday I started a bean record spread sheet. It should work for me and don't see a need to include location of seed because it will be stored by category. I'm using information and photos from online and will substitute my own in time. Still have to cross reference with my records to get the years grown and planted but for now just getting the varieties input. Will begin keeping track of harvest dates too. Here's a screen shot of the project so far. It's time consuming but if I do a few varieties each day . . .

Frances