" meth distributers must shop at Walmart "

I am learning so much from you all!

"I am surprised they didn't send security after me to the parking lot!"

LOL, Andi -- that's the way I felt when I was buying the gallon of hydrogen peroxide to bathe the 2 skunk-sprayed collies... although I have no idea if there is any possible illegal use for H2O2

I just used an address label template in WP8 -- when printed on plain paper and cut apart there is room at the top of each one for the recipient of the seeds

of course, the sticking point here is that I have to hand-write the name... I might just print out all the names on another sheet instead !

Dave is going to think the programming part was a breeze compared to sorting thru hundreds of little packets full of little seeds with little labels on them. So generous with his time....

Have to at that thought!

We were shopping at the "nice" country Walmart not the "going downhill" Walmart in the neighborhood "in transition" so I thought that there wouldn't be so many people buying seed bags! Besides, I ride with my neighbor who is typically carrying, and his dog, Hershey the black lab/pitbull mix was in the car, so we were pretty safe.

I am about as straight laced as you get - not they typical customer for zip lock bags at Walmart.

LynneHTx said:Dave is going to think the programming part was a breeze compared to sorting thru hundreds of little packets full of little seeds with little labels on them. So generous with his time....

Well everyone could make it a lot easier if they bagged multiple packages going to the same person in a single ziploc sandwich or snack size bags. That way he would only have to handle a maximum of 19 bags per package he receives from us.

I was using the avery template to print on paper. I thought it would be easier to bet multiple items per page.

We could print out the names on different paper and slip them in the bag to read from the other side....maybe using different colored paper...

I'll try the word templates and see if they print better.

Word uses some of the more common Avery templates (not all, though). They're the same.

Horntoad said:

Well everyone could make it a lot easier if they bagged multiple packages going to the same person in a single ziploc sandwich or snack size bags. That way he would only have to handle a maximum of 19 bags per package he receives from us.

So, @Dave -- if we put packets for each person in a separate baggie with the name on (or in) that, does that work for you?

Previous swaps, I put each person's seeds together with a hand written strip of paper (from the part cut off the printer paper from the printed labels) and a rubber band.

I am big on recycling and not big on plastic - but I am odd that way. Living for over a year in the country without garbage pickup made me aware of how much plastic I use - I don't eat processed food, so I use less plastic than the "average" American. I arranged for garbage pickup two weeks ago. There is finally a responsible, affordable garbage pick up company with recycling pick up.

I feel guilty throwing away tea envelops now, but my seeds are easier to pack and look better....now the printer is jamming. I'll have to brush it out and clean the rolling rubber thingies again.

I picked the wrong size label. I'll try a different size. This is my first year with zippie bags. I have to get the label system down.

Weedwhacker said:So, @Dave -- if we put packets for each person in a separate baggie with the name on (or in) that, does that work for you?

That would be outstanding. In fact, we should make it so that all participants in this and any swaps in the future are encouraged (or even instructed) to do that.

The ziplock bag works, but banding the packets together like GardenQuilts described would work fine, too.

This would really make things easier for the host.

I like the idea of using the "banding" but I'm thinking the little plastic seed baggies would be liable to slip out of it?

Anything that holds them together will work. If you're using paper envelopes, then banding with a rubber band would work (use two of them in a cross shape.)

If you're using thin plastic envelopes, then putting them in a sandwich bag, or wrapping them up in paper to make a little package of multiple seed packets would work.

This is my first year with the zippies, so I will do what works.

GardenQuilts said:

I am big on recycling and not big on plastic - but I am odd that way. Living for over a year in the country without garbage pickup made me aware of how much plastic I use - I don't eat processed food, so I use less plastic than the "average" American. I arranged for garbage pickup two weeks ago. There is finally a responsible, affordable garbage pick up company with recycling pick up.
.

I planned on using envelops for my seeds, but read an idea, or maybe someone just chatting in a thread that they struggled with storing seeds in paper envelops, losing the seeds or some such. So I bought zippies just for this.

We live out in the country too. We burned everything we thought burnable, but learned styrofoam and other things put toxic fumes in the air, so we got a once a month trash pick up. We continue to burn unrecyclable paper, dirty cardboard, etc. And haul every minute recyclable thing to the bin that sits outside an old township school. If it has a triangled number, they take it, except styrofoam. We've cut back on boxed cereal, making homemade granola instead, but still have some boxes with the inserted plastic bags... I use those for trash. People who visit have no idea where to put trash because I have such a crazy system for it all.

I don't drive, I was injured in an accident and have lingering vision problems. When I turn my head or stand up quickly, my vision blanks out or blurs for a bit. It is 10- 20 seconds of blur, but that could be dangerous driving. I ride with neighbors to stores and take buses to appointments. Of course, I can't haul garbage on the bus!

Many of my neighbors pay a yearly fee and take things to the dump. Some sort and haul their recycling to a recycling center. Most have trucks, etc. It isn't practical when I don't drive, but I am thrilled to have trash pickup now. I have two big cans - general garbage and mixed recycling. Now I only need to cans side by side (instead of 4) and a bin in the kitchen for compost. Easy peasy!!!

Before I had garbage pickup, I put plastic, glass and non aluminum cans in small excess grocery bags and threw them out clandestinely in the public trash cans at the grocery store, pharmacy, etc. The plastic came from there but I still felt guilty.

I had a shelf of bigger things - old computers and parts I couldn't give away for free, broken flowerpots, and assorted junk waiting for me to beg a ride to the dump or the dumpster. Now I can get rid of it all without asking for favors!

I still compost everything compostable. I try to balance leaves with the cuttings and clippings. I have a stretch of grass about a yard by 30 feet near the road. That is the extent of my planned lawn. The rest of the lot is gardens or future gardens. I have woods along the back border of the property for excess leaves.

The town recently outlawed "trash" burning, but it isn't enforced. Fire pits (like mine) and grills are still allowed. There is no leaf/grass pickup, so I believe leaf burning is allowed (or at least practiced).

I am a chemical engineer. I worked for a pharmaceutical company before the accident. I never burned plastic or other things that release toxins. I only burned paper or kindling.

I am originally from NYC. My city friends get a kick out of my fire pit! They send their garbage via mob contractors to barges to be dumped into the ocean. I think my method is better for the planet!