How should I offer my seeds in a trade post?
I think it would be best to explain what a "good posting" is by showing an example, and then breaking it down and showing "why" it is good.
Let's pretend that "Gardener_Jane" has made a post that she has seeds to offer for trade. The following is her post:
"Here's my list! All these seeds came from plants that were Winter Sown or reseeded in my garden. They are all hardy, beautiful, and easy to grow".
*Perennials*
Aquilegia (Columbine, grape colored flowers)
Aquilegia mix (Columbines, nice selection from my garden)
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed, pink flowers, prefers moist soil)Campanula latifolia (Giant Bellflower, purple flowers)
Campanula medium (Canterbury Bells...nice mix)
Coreopsis Mix (1'-2' mix of deep golden flowers)
Hibiscus militaris (Halberd-Leaved Marshmallow, pretty pink flowers)
Inula helenium (Elecampane has gold ray flowers and long, broad leaves)
Pennisetum alopecuroides (Chinese Fountain Grass)
Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew)
Tanacetum vulgare (Common Tansy)
Vernonia gigantea (Giant Ironweed)
*Annuals*
Cerise Celosia (Celosia...candle type, cherry pink flowers)
Cosmos sulphureus (Bright Lights Cosmos)
Daneborg Lace poppy (Papaver somniferum, red and white flowers)
Morning Glories (Lavender colored)
Nicandra physaloides (aka Shoo Fly, Apple of Peru, Black Pod)
Nicotiana rustica (Aztec Tobacco, greenish-yellow flowers)
Nigella (blue flowers, nice for drying...weird pods!)
*Veggies and Herbs*
Italian Parsley
Bok Choy
Ruby Queen Beets
Bright Lights Swiss Chard
Soldier Beans (12 seeds per pack)
I'm looking to trade for other flower varieties I can Winter Sow in my zone seven garden. I am also interested in growing oriental veggies, ornamental grasses, and roses from seeds.
I usually mail seeds out within 48 to 72 hours after making a trade, and I send my seeds protected with bubblewrap. I'd like you to do the same for me please. If you need to make other arrangements all it takes is an email...I'm very flexible.
Thanks for looking at my list!
Gardener_Jane
Okay! Great post Jane ;-)
Let's break it down to see exactly why Jane's post IS good:
Here's my list! All these seeds came from plants that were winter sown or reseeded in my garden. They are all hardy, beautiful, and easy to grow.
Jane gives some vital introductory information. Her seeds are hardy for Winter Sowing, and she says they're lovely and easy to grow.
*Perennials*
Aquilegia (Columbine, grape colored flowers)
Aquilegia mix (Columbines, nice selection from my garden)
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed, pink flowers, prefers moist soil)
Campanula latifolia (Giant Bellflower, purple flowers)
Campanula medium (Canterbury Bells...nice mix)
Coreopsis Mix (1'-2' mix of deep golden flowers)
Hibiscus militaris (Halberd-Leaved Marshmallow, has pretty pink flowers)
Inula helenium (Inula, has gold ray flowers and long, broad leaves)
Pennisetum alopecuroides (Chinese Fountain Grass)
Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew)
Tanacetum vulgare (Common Tansy)
Vernonia gigantea (Giant Ironweed)
*Annuals*
Cerise Celosia (Celosia...candle type, cherry pink flowers)
Cosmos sulphureus (Bright Lights Cosmos)
Daneborg Lace poppy (Papaver somniferum, red and white flowers)
Morning Glories (Lavender colored)
Nicandra physaloides (aka Shoo Fly, Apple of Peru, Black Pod)
Nicotiana rustica (Aztec Tobacco, greenish-yellow flowers)
Nigella (blue flowers, nice for drying...weird pods!)
*Veggies and Herbs*
Italian Parsley
Bok Choy
Ruby Beets
Bright Lights Swiss Chard
Soldier Beans (12 seeds per pack)
Jane's list is organized well, it's in alphabetical order, and she has included both the common and botanical names of the plants.
Soldier Beans (12 seeds per pack)
Jane lets us know that this seed pack contains only a dozen seeds because the count is under the GardenWeb.Com suggested minimum seedpack amount of 24 (two dozen) seeds.
I'm looking to trade for other flower varieties I can Winter Sow in my zone seven garden. I am also interested in growing oriental veggies, ornamental grasses, and roses from seeds.
Jane has suggested what she would like to trade for. She does NOT state that she is ONLY LOOKING FOR THOSE SEEDS so she may be open to other suggestions....you can still initiate a trade even if you don't have what Jane is looking for and she'll either say yes or no. Never take a trade decline personally. Jane may have a small garden and she only has room for her favorites.
I usually mail seeds out within 48 to 72 hours after making a trade, and I send my seeds protected with bubblewrap. I'd like you to do the same for me please. If you need to make other arrangements all it takes is an email...I'm very flexible.
Jane is letting us know what she does and what she expects.
Thanks for looking at my list!
Okay....Jane is friendly and she seems to know how to trade. Initiating a trade with Jane will be a good trade experience.
