Steve2md
Well-Known Member
Cool, thanks
Don, I've had pretty good luck by putting a couple of cig filters in the coin envelope. That way you can still USPS them.
I like the idea of the SASE with the coin envelope included, but also agree that it should be required to be a padded envelope. We should make sure the person making the request understands the cost for mailing a padded envelope.
Don, I've had pretty good luck by putting a couple of cig filters in the coin envelope. That way you can still USPS them.
John
The seeds are currently stored in coin envelopes in a refrigerator. I suppose the envelopes can be stored in an air tight container and achieve the same thing...no?
My cup runneth over, at the moment. The database that I've designed (and the website that is partially complete) will track individual seed batches by individual holders, and be capable of generating an email request to the collection holder when a registered user is in need of seed. Each seed batch can be individually made available for distribution, or flagged as not available. Hopefully, late in the fall, it will be up and running.
Some single site (with a duplicate) must hold clearly identifiable pure-strain seed. Otherwise, we will lose all but the "popular" varieties. There are already several on-line sources of excellent seed for those popular varieties. At $2 to $4 per pack, it's nearly free from those commercial sites (e.g. New Hope Seed), when compared to the price of power shredders and power injectors.
I will not send seed in a non-padded envelope. I've received seed crushed by postal machines. Bummer.
In comparing the storage requirements of 100 seeds vs. 10,000 seeds, the container itself is all that takes up space. In the past, I've sent tablespoon quantities of seed to the seed bank in small plastic jars. In the future, I will send 1 gram quantities (7000 to 10,000 seeds), enclosed in a tiny Zip Lock, within a paper 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" envelope.
I volunteer to maintain the second (duplicate) seed bank site, in addition to maintaining the seed bank website. I will store the seed between 35-40ºF, within several layers of vapor barrier containers. It won't require more than a large size 3" x 5" plastic card file, held within protective layers. The grow-outs of seed bank seed should be scheduled (by the software) so that each of the two seed bank sites grows-out at least 10% of its holdings each year. So, with two sites, 20% of the varieties will need grow-outs each year. That should come to fewer than 40 varieties per year--a manageable number for a forum with the present active membership.
Bob
If you're going to sell more common seed as part of your business, it's just that, part of your business. A seed bank that represents the combined efforts of it's members to locate and grow out seed that would be of interest to more serious hobbyists would be like this forum.... nowhere else to be found. Small quantities shouldn't be a problem to someone with enough real interest to get them through one or more growing seasons to end up with enough seed to plant out an entire county if that's their wish. The seed bank already exists, in a distributed form, so two centralized collections would make it in triplicate. With GRIN being of little or no interest to this hobby, it's all we have left, except for the perseverance and luck of it's members. I'm glad we have the internet, it's better than a once a month get together at the library, it's like a global club. Amateurs can bring a dedication that professionals don't need to have. I don't have much to contribute, but I wish I did.