This thread is for all of our new-this-year members to share a little about themselves. If this is you, please tell us a little about yourself. (What brought you here? Are you new to seeds or have you grown a few farms-worth of crops in your time? Green thumb or brown thumb?...) Don't be shy, share what you're comfortable sharing, and let us get to know you! Remember, we've ALL been new to this before, so you're in good company. ;)

Veterans, please feel free to post in here, too. I know you'll want to post words of encouragement to our newest members, so feel free to do so!

I'm new, tripped down the seed rabbit hole and haven't found my way back out, as of yet. Lol.

I am on a collection hunt of vines, and hummingbird favs.

I have not had the best of luck with starting seed and cuttings, but I've gone from zero to 100 specimens in less than a year. My hummies better appreciate my efforts.

I also started a blog, feel free to wander about

Howdy
New here, too!

I'm a nerdy gardener that is crazy about all things propagation.

Like Mdntnmtgmy I, too, have been trying to get all the hummers to come to me and vines have played a big role, especially cardinal climber this year. I'm so envious of places that have more than one species. Only Ruby Throated for us, but they are still endlessly fascinating to me.

I have a home garden with less than full sun everywhere, but I have happily discovered that it's enough to get a lot of things blooming. Also, I am always experimenting with things to keep the deer away. Now have a yearly reminder in July to keep up the stinky stuff when the babies start nibbling.

In addition, I rent a community garden plot 10x20 (which is defended by a female hummer) plus have access to the greenhouse over the winter. We're dealing with infestations, so I'm teaching myself all about pest management, too.

Seed-wise, I love to try new things and move on from old things. Would love to have some fast-growing perennials for 6b. In general some old faves are anything viney or red, salvia, phlox, and coleus, which I find fun to interbreed (well, the birds and bees do most of the work).

Also, I'm moving away from houseplants and making room for overwintering annuals these days.

Very excited to be a part of this swap and this community!!!

Mdntnmtgmy said: I'm new, tripped down the seed rabbit hole and haven't found my way back out, as of yet. Lol.

I hate to break it to ya, but there's no escaping once you fall thru that rabbit hole. How else do I explain the fact that my seed stash has grown from one shoebox to three under bed storage totes? And we are a bunch of unrepentant enablers. Trust me, when you get your swap packet back, you'll be asking "where am I gonna plant all this???"

okieheart said: I hate to break it to ya, but there's no escaping once you fall thru that rabbit hole. How else do I explain the fact that my seed stash has grown from one shoebox to three under bed storage totes? And we are a bunch of unrepentant enablers. Trust me, when you get your swap packet back, you'll be asking "where am I gonna plant all this???"

That is so true! I was a brand new gardener in Jan 2019 with literally 0 seeds. 5 summers later I have over 2000 types of tomatoes, almost 1000 types of peppers, and 400 types of beans and I STILL find new things in each swap. The rabbit hole is real and we are all absolute enablers!

feebean said: 5 summers later I have over 2000 types of tomatoes, almost 1000 types of peppers, and 400 types of beans

That's amazing!!! I don't guess anywhere in there you have white bell peppers, black bell peppers or Bulgarian Old Sort tomato?

I stumbled upon a tomato swap. Well, mostly tomatoes, but also peppers, flowers, herbs, beans.... Anyway, first year I participated I got 142 varieties of tomatoes. At the time I had space for 12 tomato plants. Now we have 4 acres and I've (mostly) jokingly told my husband if I want to plant 4 acres of tomatoes, by golly I'm gonna do it.

okieheart said: I hate to break it to ya, but there's no escaping once you fall thru that rabbit hole. How else do I explain the fact that my seed stash has grown from one shoebox to three under bed storage totes? And we are a bunch of unrepentant enablers. Trust me, when you get your swap packet back, you'll be asking "where am I gonna plant all this???"

Please send help!!!! Hahaha. I'm in trouble

okieheart said: I stumbled upon a tomato swap. Well, mostly tomatoes, but also peppers, flowers, herbs, beans.... Anyway, first year I participated I got 142 varieties of tomatoes. At the time I had space for 12 tomato plants. Now we have 4 acres and I've (mostly) jokingly told my husband if I want to plant 4 acres of tomatoes, by golly I'm gonna do it.

You do it!

okieheart said: ... there's no escaping once you fall thru that rabbit hole.

So very true. It's terminal, I'm afraid...

feebean said: ... I have over 2000 types of tomatoes, almost 1000 types of peppers, and 400 types of beans

Okay, I thought I had had it bad with a library of about 2000 things after finding this site's swaps after covid started, but you put me to shame!

Word for newbies, check in with the vet as you grow for best storage ideas. Some folks have some very creative and effective storage methods. I definitely borrowed from this community as I decided what would be the best way to organize as I expanded and it's saved me a lot of hassle.

I'm totally new and a cousin told me about this swap! I'm excited to participate, but have mostly common seeds at this point. I'm hoping to get a few exotic things to try…Montana is not known for long growing seasons, but I'm trying!

So glad you're here, pattilemmon!! You should find some great seeds in this swap.

pattilemmon said: I'm totally new and a cousin told me about this swap! I'm excited to participate, but have mostly common seeds at this point. I'm hoping to get a few exotic things to try…Montana is not known for long growing seasons, but I'm trying!

Montana is a wee bit on the shorter-growing-seasons side of things, it's true, but there is still plenty you can grow! And, if you're adventurous, you might get lucky like some of the zone-pushers in this group. You might be surprised what you could grow that you didn't think you could....and you might learn a lot about or simply have fun with trying things you can't!

Glad you're here with us!

@pattilemmon even "common" things are great to offer in this swap. I mean, it's nice getting all these unusual plants, but I also try to pick up all the lettuce, radish, and carrots I need, too. Also, I'm in Oklahoma with a long frost free season, but our summers are brutal on plants so I like planting a few fast maturing varieties, too.