Anything about how to do something with the swap needs to be asked here.

Am I correct in my understanding that I must have 20 different varieties of seeds available or is it 20 packs total to swap?

Hi Myra!
It is variety. As this swap progresses, we'll all be adding wishlists and seeds along the way. By the time we are done, each of us will have over 20 varieties to list. :)

I reread this and decided that some newbies may not have that many in variety but may have a few with multiple offerings. You may add 20 packets of seeds to stay in the swap. They may be 20 different varieties, they may be 5 varieties of 2 each, they may be any combination as long as it's 20 packets.

I hope this helps. We are not going to turn newbie swappers away. However, we also have to be fair to everyone else in the swap

I thought it might be handy to post a seed count guideline. Please be reasonable in your offers. A small note about listing packets you've traded somewhere else for. When you list a traded packet, please make note of it being a trade in the comments.

seed counts for packets:
from your garden: 25+
commercial: minimum 10, 25 if reasonable to give
rare: someone might want that 1 or 2 seed packet

Karen, so many things listed have 0 availability, is there a chance the numbers will be updated if I 5 star it? How can I see what other people like of my list? Sorry I am new have a lot of questions, want to do this correctly. Also I see very little Veggies, are they not popular? Thanks in advance, Andrea

Maulwurf,

People who have listed seeds that you can see but there is a zero availability, it is because of one of 2 reasons I can think of: DnD's Last night swap took alot of my available seeds, so if you're looking at people in that swap, alot of their seeds went and they will need to update their lists. Once I have packed the swap seeds and have time, I will be updated my availability of seeds, adding more or quantities before the Red Barn Swap begins. Another reason might be that they have listed something previously, in other swaps, too, and are not keeping their list current til they join another swap. The second reason...In order for you to see what's available in the RED BARN SWAP, people have to not only add their seeds to their available list, but must also if they might have to go back into their lists and make it available to the specific swap. Otherwise, I'm not sure if you can see, or if you just can't bid on it. Does that make sense?

If you create your list, but dont go in once you sign up for a swap and check off the left hand column to make items available to that particular swap, no one can bid on them, so this is a very important step!

Your rating something 1 or 5 stars (or anything in between) has no bearing as to whether it shows up as available or not. that is something only YOU can see.

I list both veggies and flowers. we have a good mix of people on NGA, but it all depends who is in what swap and you never know who wants flowers and who wants veggies. It's usually both.

You can't see WHO is interested in your seeds you list, but you will be able to see how many people wishlist each of your seeds AND the seeds others are offering(ie your wish list, it will appear under the star rating you have given it and above the name of the seed as "(7 wishlisted)" Now, that number is BIT arbitrary because it means 7 people have shown interest, but you dont know if they have given it a 1 star or a 5 start; and if they have wishlisted 200 things and only have 50 tickets to use, it doesnt mean it's going to sell. It's just an indicator of interest.

Please DONT EVER hesitate to ask questions! We want you to know what you're doing, and be able to participate and feel as confident as possible. The first one is the most "daunting" but really....you'll look back and say "gee, that wasn't bad!" The first time set up is the most work :D

HAPPY to have you here - along with any other new to NGA swaps!! As well as the "old tried and true" who keep coming back for more!

Thanks for answering her so quick Val. Yes, my items will definitely be updated from 0. It was due to the swap last night. Everything is gone, lol. But I will adjust the numbers as we go. As long as I have it listed, please feel free to wishlist it.
As long as your items are getting wishlisted, it's wanted. Those wishlist numbers will go up and down right up until the swap. Veggies will be getting added. Val will list a great deal of them if I know here and I will list a few. Not much as we tend to like tried and true here and not so much on the wild side for veggies. My biggest foray into that area is herbs and that is few and far between. There will be others besides us that list veggies too. The closer we get to the swap, the more that will get listed. We had quite a few in the swap last night that didn't get their seeds in til the last day.

I sold so many seeds, over 350 packs, in the Lightning Swap I took out all of the things I'd offered here until I get the first one mailed out and then see how many packs I have of what's left.

Thomasjones2266 will be listing veggies.

I'll also be listing some veggies, when I manage to get my list posted.

Erica,
List some of your herbs too girl. We have an herb lover in this swap. :)

Leslie, I was wondering why all the removals, lol. I'm trying to add some of what I had in the lightning round and different for those of us that did it and need something new to bid on. We do have folks in here that were not a part of the lightning round so list what ya can. We'll be happy.

Karen -- You know it! I'll be listing a bit of everything, once I finally get my list sorted.

Lol, I'm so happy. I cannot lie, Erica. I'm thinking, please don't be pooped out from all this swapping we're doing. I just know she's going to like your offerings.

Karen -- I have someone interested who is asking about the seed counts. Is this a general suggestion or is it firm (because I know that I don't pack all my seeds at 25 -- tomatoes, peppers, squash, large seeds, etc I usually do 15):

from your garden: 25+
commercial: minimum 10, 25 if reasonable to give
rare: someone might want that 1 or 2 seed packet

This is copy/pasted from Libby's (DogsNDaylilies) Lightning Round Swap. There is a lot of invaluable information here for new swappers. Hope Libby doesn't mind.

**How to Use Swap Features**

Before swap starts:

How do I add seeds to my list for trade?
Once you register and you're ready to start adding seeds to your list, go to "My Profile" (look for the green bar with links below it) and click on "Manage Your Own Swap List." From there, just fill out the boxes appropriately and click on "Add This Item to Your List" (green) at the bottom. (You can also 'View and Manage Your Primary Swap List' from the seed swap home page.) NOTE: Do not forget to change the "Availability" for each of your seed listings! You may create a seed entry, but if you forget to change the availability to "Show it and make it available for trade", no one can bid on it!

When adding a type of seed, it asks me for quantity-how do I fill this out?
This is sort of open-ended on purpose, because different people measure things differently. Typically, members will state an approximate number of seeds in the package (ex: "about 10 seeds"); but in cases where that is impractical, members may use different measurements (ex: "about 1 TBSP" or "about 1 gram").

How do I create a wishlist for myself so I remember what I want?
Within the swap, next to the "Your Profile" section, you will see a section labelled "The Swap" with a link that says "Access Your Wishlist for This Swap". Keep in mind that this list changes frequently as members add more and more seeds, so make sure to go back and update your list accordingly. TIP: Once you have gone through the list the first time and marked your favorites, you can keep tabs on new additions to the list by going to the "View Recent Events for This Swap" link.

What is a ticket?
A 'ticket' is a virtual ticket that you receive that allows you to claim dibs on a single packet of seeds. Please note that the system only allows each member a maximum of *ONE* packet of a particular seed. (If you want extra, you can always contact the 'seller' to see if they have more they are willing to add to your packet, though this is rarely necessary.)

How many claims will I be able to make each day?
This depends on the day. The system uses a 'multiplier', meaning that the number of tickets you receive each day goes up from the previous day. As of the time of this post, the host has selected a multiplier of '3', which means that the first day you will be able to bid on 3 seed packets, the second day you will be able to bid on 6, the third day you will be able to bid on 9, and so on... You can also earn extra tickets when people claim your seeds. Each time someone claims one of your seed packets, you receive a fraction of a ticket. The amount varies with each day...you earn larger fractions of a ticket for each item you 'sell' the earlier in the swap it is. (ex: The first day of the swap you may earn 0.5 tickets for each packet you 'sell', but the second day it might only be 0.25 tickets for each packet you 'sell'.) This is added incentive to offer seeds that other people want because the more of your seeds they 'purchase', the more tickets you can get!

Do I lose my tickets if I don't use them?
Tickets are rolled over from day to day. If you're gone a day, or don't bid for some other reason, those tickets will still be there for you later. Tickets, however, do NOT roll over from swap to swap. (Once this swap ends, any remaining tickets you have will be deleted and will NOT roll over to the next All Seeds Swap.)

Can I request seed types to be offered?
Sure! Get a discussion going in the threads about what you'd like. That doesn't guarantee you'll get it, but often if you mention that you want a particular seed, and someone else has it, they'll make sure to add it to their 'available seeds' list.

Why did the swap start early? / What time zone is the swap running in?
The *swap* runs on the website's server time. If you're like many members and want to be ready the moment the swap begins, you can use this link to convert the start times to your local time (Dave may have also updated this since the last swap): http://time.is/GMT (Or use this handy time calculator tool: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.c... )

How do I know what the plant will look like?
Many seed listings will have a picture right there in the listing; but if one doesn't, NGA has a wealth of information in the database and the forums, so I would recommend opening a new tab or window in your browser, go to the plant database and search for the plant there, or go to the appropriate forum to ask the experts!

After swap starts:

I accidentally claimed a seed pack I didn't want, what do I do?
Once you click on a seed pack, your ticket is non-refundable, so please bid carefully! If, however, you bid on a seed packet that you really don't want, you may return the seed packet to the bidding pool, just look at the item on your list and select the appropriate button.

I thought I had more tickets left, but it says I'm out?
The system doesn't 'reset' your ticket count unless you go to the main page and click the refresh button. My suggestion on this is to keep track of what you claimed as you go, either in your head or on paper. If you claimed a seed pack and click the back button, it may appear as though you did not claim it even though you did. (This may have been fixed since the last swap.)

How did I end up with fractions (decimals) of tickets?
Each time someone claims one of your seed packets, you receive a fraction of a ticket. The amount varies with each day...you earn larger fractions of a ticket the earlier in the swap it is. (ex: The first day of the swap you may earn 0.5 tickets for each packet you 'sell', but the second day it might only be 0.25 tickets for each packet you 'sell'.) This is added incentive to offer seeds that other people want because the more of your seeds they 'purchase', the more tickets you can get!

After the swap:

How do I know where to send my seeds?
Once the swap has ended, you will be sent a Tree-Mail with the host's address (as well as a seed checklist).

What is the best way to keep track of who I owe seeds to?
The system will do this for you! At the end of the swap, you will receive a Tree-Mail with a list of the people who claimed your seed packs and exactly which seeds you owe them. Please check and double-check this list carefully so that you are sending the right seeds to the right members. Please organize these seeds in some way (typically a zip-loc baggy for each member) and send them in, along with your fee/payment by the designated date.


Other Tips and Tricks
• get (reliable) friends to sign up - the more the merrier
• purchase small, re-sealable bags online or at a store prior to the swap (use these to put your seeds into)
• find appropriately-sized labels for those bags prior to the swap
• divide your seeds prior to the swap so you have accurate packet/seed counts
• pictures help 'sell' seeds
• ...so do database links (I don't advise changing/breaking the database link to your item unless necessary)
• don't use permanent market on plastic bags - it rubs off
• know your top 5 favorites before the swap begins
• once you receive tickets, keep track of your remaining tickets in your head or on paper, the system (currently) doesn't update it properly until you have run out
• remember this is for FUN...you might not get everything you want, but you're almost guaranteed to get at least several things you *really* like
• after the swapping is finished, send your seeds in ASAP - the sooner they are all received, the faster everyone gets their seeds back
• use Zip-loc bags to organize the seed packets by swap member when sending seeds in

Karen -- Me again. Lol. I have someone else asking if the swap is open to Canadians.

Erica, it's just a guideline. I truly think that as seasoned swappers, we know what is fair. Just a help for those that don't. Plus, I know fb swappers don't use our guidelines so I'm good with it.

Lol so funny you ask... Val has 2 that want to join. If everyone is ok with the delay in seed mailings, I will do Canadian.

Ya know what.... Bring her in Erica. This is a swap in feb and everyone will have their seeds by the end of Feb. Let's let em in!

Karen,
I decided to start "fresh" with your swap after I get all my lightning swap seeds sent off. I sold twice the usual number in the lightning swap so I want to make sure of inventory before I put things in for The Red Barn.

Thanks for doing this. I'm really trying to get my mom to join us. She's recently moved into a new house but hasn't ever grown things from seed and when I told her she would need 20 packs she said she'd look when she was out shopping today but they were expecting a 3 day blizzard (she's in WY) so she wasn't sure her stores would would be stocking seeds just yet.

I may send her 20 packs of mine just to get her started.

Aww, send her your 20 packs. They don't HAVE to be 20 different varieties either. These are just guidelines to help newbie seed swappers. I'd be tickled pink for her to join and I'm thrilled your still with us. :)

Don't feel bad about your listings. We all thought Dnd's was really going to be it for the season, but Val and I could not stand it, lol. We all love swapping so why stop now?