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Technical Help for Newbies

PLEASE GO TO YOUR EDIT PROFILE PAGE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED CORRECTLY.

Then go to ADVANCED SETTINGS (<<--click here)

(located under “Account”on the left side of the “edit profile” page or at-

https://www.houzz.com/settingsAdvanced )

Scroll down to "Privacy settings"

and select the option of “ALLOW ANYONE TO MESSAGE ME” under "Who can message me".

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To add your growing zone:

Go to ADVANCED SETTINGS

Look for - Climate Zone for Garden Forums - and fill in your zone.

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To make/edit your wants/have list:

Go to ADVANCED SETTINGS

-Then click on the box under “My GardenWeb Trading List”

-Type/paste in your seeds in a vertical list

(much easier to read than a horizontal list with commas between).

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To access these settings:

if you are currently logged in, click on your name anywhere on the site, or the “Your Houzz” button at the top right of any page.

Then go to ===> Edit Profile ===> Advanced Settings (located under “Account”on the left)

also, this page can be accessed by going directly to the web address -https://www.houzz.com/settingsAdvanced

this is the page where you can edit your preferences, allow people to email you, list your growing zone, and fill in your have/ want lists.

(THANKS LEILA for putting this together!)

Hi Val!

Wow, this is really amazing. Thank you for putting this project together, and being so generous in your support of beginning gardeners!

My Houzz name is Rita G-K (I will send you my real name and address in a PM-I'm totally new to Houzz, so I'm not sure how this all works.) I am a new gardener-I have done some container gardening in the past, but this will be my first year to try to really garden. I live in zone 6b and we have a small yard, where the garden will be placed. My husband and I are planning to build a small raised bed in a part of our yard which gets about 8-10 hours of sunlight a day (on days when it's not raining/snowing, obviously.) I live in one of the rainiest locations in North America, so the plants will get a lot of rain water, even in summer, and moisture control/adequate sunlight is a possible issue that we will face. However, we have a very sunny yard for this part of the country. I'm very excited to see how the first garden goes!

I am primarily interested in vegetable and herb seeds, but would love some flower seeds as well. I cook a lot and love food, so part of my interest in starting a garden is to be able to have fresh herbs on a regular basis. I am looking forward to becoming a part of the seed swap community, which I am just beginning to discover as a part of my research on gardening.

Thank you again! I'll be following your other instructions as soon as I post this. :)

Rita, thanks for introducing yourself -- looking forward to having you join us here! I sent you a message w/my address

Hi, Val! I am interested in the newbie seed swap! I am not new to garden web, but I haven't participated in the swaps (I just found out they existed this morning!) I would love some flower seeds (I plant a vegetable garden every year and I have mums and daylillies in my front yard,) but I really want to make a nice border flower/veggie garden along my fenceline in the back yard. I also want to start an "Alice in Wonderland" themed garden in the backyard (see here: http://skiesrgray.blogspot.com/2015/02/hiatus-is-over.html)

I also started a swap list, but I'm not completely sure what kinds of plants and flowers I want, lol. I love the idea of a partially edible landscape but I don't have the first clue of what plants to mix/plant here in North Texas.

This is an idea from Lowes website, but I would prefer something with fewer bushes/trees (I have a lonely 3 year old Rose of Sharon in one corner of the backyard, lol.):

Edible Landscape: http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/gardening-and-outdoor/edible-landscape/article

A. 6 sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus), zones 5–9
B. 1 weeping mulberry (Morus spp.), zones 4–8
C. 3 blueberry (Vaccinium), zones 2–8
D. 7 daylilies (Hemerocallis), zones 3–10
E. 1 rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa), zones 2–9
F. 2 chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), zones 3–8
G. 1 purpleleaf plum (Prunus cerasifera), zones 5–9
H. 1 rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), zones 5–9
I. 1 serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora), zones 3–7
J. 1 choke-cherry (Prunus virginiana), zones 3–8
K. 2 filbert (Corylus americana), zones 4–9
L. 2 apple espalier (Malus spp.), zones 5–8

Hi val, I am interested. I will send you a PM with my personal information.

Thank you so much for offering to help newbies like myself get started.

Shan, Interesting that they included a rose of sharon in an "edible" garden ??

Private Messages sent to Shan and Jennifer

Val, Just getting started growing for the first time on a rooftop deck. Looking forward to full sun. I'll be sending you a PM. Thanks.

rose of sharon, like all of the hibiscus/mallow/malva/hollyhock extended family, is entirely edible. root, stem, flower, and leaves, the entire plant, of each member of this family, is edible. mostly people only eat the flowers of hibiscus, but wild mallows are commonly eaten as greens.

all of the members of this family are medicinal as well.

its an interesting list, seems very permaculture - y...all perennials, super easy, hardy and drought tolerant mostly.

you could get similar results substituting a lot of different types of perennials, especially looking out for the easiest ones for your climate, hot and dry. many "Mediterranean" type plants would do well for you...herbs, oregano, thyme, sages, rosemary, lavender...or onto figs and olives and etc...although actually you say your in zone 7, which seems cold for texas.not sure if you could plant olives...but fig might work for you.

most of the stuff on that list would probably work out for you , shan. you may not be able to keep blueberries happy though, not without a lot of irrigation. the rest is more drought tolerant.

Leila, I learn something new every day ;0)

Hi! My name is Cat. My brother and I are trying to start vegetable and fruit beds in our backyard. We live in SoCal and are trying to take advantage of our sun. My mom has an extensive front garden with tons of flowers, and I would love to trade some of those seeds, but I have no idea how to harvest them. Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you!^^ I'll look at it.

Thanks, Jensyen for posting that very helpful article.

Catherine, I'd say also, if you have a question about collecting seed from a specific flower, like balloon flowers, or zinnias, to google that "collecting x seed" and you'll find specific info to that particular flower, often with helpful photos!

Messages have gone out to everyone I've heard from as of last night; Mike, got your paypal and your packet's being mailed tomorrow

Thank you Val for helping new gardeners succeed. I am interested in the seed project, just sent you a private message.

Hello. I would like to thank you for even offering this incredible starting point for beginners to gardening and seed trading. It seems that the GardenWeb forums 'grow' extremely nice people. I finally joined GardenWeb last month after loitering quietly in the background, reading thousands of posts. I am more than ready (not necessarily prepped, so much to prepare!) to get dirty and see what grows. I'm pretty sure that I have my profile set up correctly, but time will tell. I'm going to try to send my first PM now. Again, thank you for this generous offer.

Rayann, messaging you now...

Everyone who has posted should have heard from me as of this a.m.

ALL: Work has been brutal lately, I come home feeling"braindead" and exhausted and I have not been posting when I receive stamps and send the last batch(s?) of packets out, but I am hearing from you all by posting here or messaging that you're receiving them. Just trying to keep up, so please bear with me! My priority is getting your packets in the mail as soon as I can!

thank you for running this project. getting started again is very expensive. I will send you a private message shortly.

Israel, Message sent.

Pkgs went out to Shan G, Lucia/Rita GK, Lbrahim & Kim D today

Stamps received from Eva V

AVAILABILITY UPDATE

I am running low and will no longer be offering veggie seeds after this point in time. I have more flower seeds, and will continue to offer until posted.

People who have received my address to send stamps should do so within 2 weeks or the offer expires. I cannot hold seeds for you longer than that.

Hi Val,

I am new to seed swapping, and you've inspired me to take the plunge. I enjoy growing both veggies and flowers. I'm in the process of building new raised beds and flower beds. I have seeds to swap and I'm looking for new varieties to put into the new beds. Thank you for your coordinating such a nice service.

Michael L-Message sent. Your messaging is not set up for others

Eva V - stamps received; your package is going out tomorrow along with

Rayann's

^dancing to "I'm So Excited"^ LOL Just kidding. Thank you so much.

I'm really excited to enhance my green thumb!

Hello, Val! Thanks so much for doing this! I was given seeds in a newbie seed giveaway maybe 10 years ago and it was such fun. It was right after a death in our family and I remember it as such a blessing as I received packets from multiple people.

I am/was an avid gardener who has let the garden become severely overgrown and weedy 7 years + because of health problems. My garden was really overplanted to begin with (new gardener at the time and love cottage gardens), but everything is gone now except the trees, shrubs, a few rosa rugosas, a few other roses, and a lot of different hardy geraniums! Most everything I planted (and it was a lot!) has died or been overtaken by the hardier items (ahem, weeds).

Right now, I have a small patch of pulmonaria and a few beautiful hellebore clumps blooming next to a pretty camellia so that makes me happy! And I know I have a beautiful peony that will do her thing in a few months. I am looking forward to planting more flowers and different foliage as that is what I really love. Also, maybe some container tomatoes, or container flowers.

I will message you with the hope you can spare some seeds for a returning gardener. Thanks!

Fairweather - message sent

Jennie, so sorry, we dont mail outside the US. Maybe you can find some traders here on GW in canada!

I have received my seeds and THANK YOU SO MUCH! Incredibly kind and very generous. I appreciate it!

I received the seeds today..thank you so much!!! I am super happy!

Received stamps from someone in UT today...no name. Pls message me

Newbie Seed pkgs went out to Melissa S, Tracy L, Michael L on Wed 3/23

Thanks Israel, will get your seeds out early next week, prep this weekend. Sent you a PM also.

Hi Val, I am very new to gardening and of course to this exchange. My husband and I are excited to start a garden and to get any help that we can get. We will definitely need it. Thank you! ( also sent a pm)

I got my seeds today and it was a beautiful sunny day! Thanks to all the contributors and to Val for the distribution. Great way to start my spring :) Thanks again!

Amber, your package went out in today's mail

hi Val,

I sent you a houzz message but here is my reply here. This is our first spring in our new house so I'm hoping to start some flower seeds to beautify some natural spaces we have. I have plenty of shade and sun so would be happy with any flower seeds. Thanks so much!

Dave

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I tried sending it yesterday but I didn't do it right. I hope I'm not too late!

Hi Denise,

Your messaging is not set up. Go to the top of this thread and see the post with instructions, and the 2nd post is "techincal" help so you can set up your messaging, etc. You are not too late. I only realized this morning that March is over.

UPDATE FOR EVERYONE:

I have a limited number of packets. Some people who have posted/requested have not sent stamps, so if I dont get them soon, I will not hold them. Looks like April will be the last month for newbie seeds, then everyone will be busy growing and planting for this season's garden :) I have really enjoyed helping out the newbies (and must give much credit to the seed donors who have been SOOOO generous this year!) I hope everyone has enjoyed their newbie packets!

I thank the donors for getting me started and want to thank Val for taking the time to make the project possible also if it was not for all of these members one of the best newbie projects would not exsist.

Thank you all

Hi Val, Denise Here, I think I finally put in the correct settings! Let me know. Thanks for the fast reply. Best Wishes to you and your Family.

Looking good, Denise...please message me. One of the reasons we ask you to do this is so that you test out messaging...you'll want to communicate w/other GW gardeners, so you want to be sure you know how it works. Please read the "rules" above. Tell me a little about yourself (your garden, your plans, what type of seed youre looking for). You do not have to do this publicly, you can do it in the message. THANKS and WELCOME

Val,

I've been out of touch with Gardenweb for a while. So, I'm tending to get lost on it since Houzz took it over. I know this not part of your posting. But, if anyone wants any Red Apple Ice Plant, I'd be glad to send some for postage.

Where do I post this these days? I'm puling up postings that are nearly 10 year old. Forgive me.

Xtal - hello! First, welcome back. I'm fairly new myself but navigating does get easier. Val's first post under the start of the thread has very helpful info. To answer your question about posting your Ice Plants (I'm interested! Please tell me how to send you postage. PayPal, money order, etc...), under the Advice tab, you should find a tab for Exchanges and Trading. When you click that, it should take you to a page full of state/regional and plant specific exchanges. At the bottom of that page will be the Seed Exchange, Plant Exchange and others. Have fun!

Xtal,

Specific info to get to plant exchange thread: go to gardenweb.Com

Brings you to latest topic threads...on left, click garden forums

This brings u to alphabetical list of topics

Then choose round robin exchanges ...

At the top there, you will see 'seed enchange' or plant exchange

This is where u want to post

It can be confusing but don't give up..email ma at newbieseedproject@gmail.Com if I can help.....it gets a lot easier as u use the site more

Rayann is right...see the top of this thread for tech help like setting up messaging if u need