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Dec 27, 2015 10:45 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
Swappers who have already used the system can pretty much ignore the following because you all know how it works. I need to go over the mechanics of how the swap starts so that everyone has plenty of time to ask questions before active swapping takes place.

The first thing we need to discuss is the time, which is currently pre-programmed into the swap system. Somewhat borrowed from Horntoad: The start and finish dates for active trading listed on this page are based on UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) which I will henceforth refer to as official ATP time. ATP time is several hours ahead of the US time zones, so the actual start is actually on the date before those listed. Active swapping will begin at 7pm EST, 6pm Central, on January 5th and end at 7pm EST, 6pm Central on January 12th. I think that puts Jonna at 11pm start on January 5 for her location. Dates regarding sending and receiving are exactly correct.

This is important because the system will send you your first 4 tickets to choose seeds at precisely the ATP start time and if you are competing for seeds speed can be of the essence. (Think of the annual piggy stampede for seeds or lining up at WalMart on Black Friday to get a toaster for 5 bucks, elbows locked and determined look loaded.) When trading starts if you have earned extra tickets those will appear as you earn them. You can see how many tickets you have at any time by looking at the opening swap page. The first few minutes of selecting is a frenzy of activity that will subside once tickets are spent. The next automatic ration of tickets will come at exactly the same time the next evening. Every day the number of tickets you receive will increase. The number increases rapidly over the next few days and by the end of the time period you will likely have a number of unused tickets. That's fine. They are non-transferable so if you don't want to pad your return with seeds you are not enthusiastic about they can languish unused forever. Smiling

Once you have selected seeds two new links will appear on the main swap page. One will tell you what you have "sold." Very helpful because if you want to start sorting seeds by recipient you can get started. You will also have a list of what you have "bought" so you know what you already have coming. You can also look at the "recent events" link to see who bought what or if anything new was added, if you are interested in the details.

One more point. If you accidentally use a ticket to request a seed by mistake, (hard to do but possible), or you change your mind, you can rescind your request. However, you lose the ticket you used and the person who originally sold you the seed keeps credit for it, even if that item is put back in circulation and is chosen again.

I think that's enough to chew over. If anyone has questions, don't hesitate to ask for clarification.
Last edited by poisondartfrog Dec 28, 2015 9:34 AM Icon for preview
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Dec 27, 2015 2:30 PM CST
California (Zone 9b)
Region: California Cat Lover Herbs Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader Vegetable Grower
Wow. Thanks for the time clarification. I think that one would have got me.
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Dec 28, 2015 9:32 AM CST
Name: Ronnie (Veronica)
Southeastern PA (Zone 6b)
Count your blessings, be grateful
Region: Ukraine Organic Gardener Keeps Goats Zinnias Dog Lover Morning Glories
Annuals Bee Lover Dragonflies Butterflies Hummingbirder Birds
Thanks for the info Alana, and I had a hard time getting that in the beta swap. I have it on a sticky note on my desk nodding
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
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Dec 28, 2015 9:33 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
Erica and luvsgrtdanes have responded so far.
Everyone, especially new to the system traders, a thumbs up is sufficient to let me know you are ready to go next week.
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Dec 28, 2015 9:35 AM CST
Highlands Ranch, Colorado (Zone 5b)
Colorado Zone 5
Container Gardener Herbs Plant and/or Seed Trader Vegetable Grower Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Thanks, I understand now!
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Dec 28, 2015 10:33 AM CST
Name: Susie
MI (Zone 5a)
Life Can Throw us curve balls , l
Charter ATP Member
well I'm Guessing that this means we need to stay up 24/7 to be able to put tabs on special seeds we are looking for Smiling Kidding , guess i need to look over my wish list & pick the most wanted ones Smiling

will we be able to see who has ask for what ? from our Have list ?
sorry if this has been answered somewhere . ty
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Dec 28, 2015 10:41 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
Ask all the questions you want Susie. It takes a little getting used to but it does gets easier once things get started.

If you want to be in line to pick your favorites on opening day you need to be here at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 5th, ready to pick. You will receive your tickets for the day at precisely 7:00. (I'm assuming you are on Eastern Time.)

After someone picks something from your list there will be a new link on our main swap page that will lead to all you have sold and who to package it for. That will be updated constantly throughout the swap. You will also have a link showing you what you chose and from whom.

Our main swap page: http://garden.org/apps/swap/vi...
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Dec 28, 2015 1:02 PM CST
Name: Jonna
Belgium, Europe (Zone 6a)
Winter Sowing Sedums Organic Gardener Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Belgium Region: Europe
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader Salvias Herbs Cut Flowers
I think I understood everything. If not, you'll notice that later Rolling on the floor laughing
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Dec 28, 2015 1:12 PM CST
Name: Susie
MI (Zone 5a)
Life Can Throw us curve balls , l
Charter ATP Member
starting to sink in here ty
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Dec 28, 2015 1:33 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
Another bite.
When the swap opens if you have your wish list ready you can go directly to it for selecting your seeds instead of wading through the big list. Just don't forget to check the big list or the 'recent activities' link now and then as the swap goes on to see if there is anything new you want to add to your wish list. Your wish list will appear in descending order with your 5 star picks at the top of the list. Alongside and just to the right of the stars for each seed there will be a treasure chest icon that only shows up when official trading begins. You click on that icon to request seeds. If those seeds are still available you will be asked to confirm your choice. Once you confirm it the seeds are yours and will appear in your 'bought' list on the main swap page. If the seeds have already been claimed you will know immediately so that you can move on to your next favorite choice. The system keeps track of what is left in real time so you will never leave wondering if you were successful. Nor will the system allow you to choose seeds if you have exhausted your tickets for that day. Tickets earned because you have had seeds chosen from your list will show up in your main page for this swap and you can use them as soon as they appear.
Although there is no minimum for this swap, the more seeds you enter the more opportunities that your seeds will be chosen and that you will have extra tickets. From a practical standpoint the most ticket earning potential is on day one when you will receive an extra ticket for every two packs you sell. After that the reward diminishes and after 4-5 days is negligible, so if multiplying your buying power is your number one goal, better to list sooner rather than later. There are a lot of seeds and there will be a lot of tickets, so even people with smallish lists will have a chance to get great seeds and probably more than they offer.
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Dec 28, 2015 5:57 PM CST
Name: Jay
Nederland, Texas (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Region: Gulf Coast Charter ATP Member I helped beta test the first seed swap I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier Tip Photographer Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Hibiscus
Here is what the swap lists will look like when the treasure chest icon appears.
Thumb of 2015-12-28/Horntoad/d72fbb
wildflowersoftexas.com



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Dec 28, 2015 6:09 PM CST
Name: Susie
MI (Zone 5a)
Life Can Throw us curve balls , l
Charter ATP Member
ty for that info that helps
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Dec 28, 2015 6:42 PM CST
Southeast OK (Zone 7b)
Thanks poisondartfrog. I am new to this swapping here and was wondering how this was actually going to happen.
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Dec 29, 2015 1:59 PM CST
Name: Mary
Lake Stevens, WA (Zone 8a)
Near Seattle
Bookworm Garden Photography Region: Pacific Northwest Plays in the sandbox Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader
Winter Sowing
I think I get it. My plan is to keep entering my seeds up until about a day before it opens, so folk have time to see them and put them on their wish lists, so they are ready to go when the gate opens!
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Dec 29, 2015 2:00 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
You are doing great Pistil. If you need anything just post. I tip my hat to you.
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Dec 29, 2015 7:39 PM CST
Name: Patricia
Waco, TX (Zone 8a)
Charter ATP Member Region: Texas Cat Lover Dog Lover Vegetable Grower Irises
Daylilies Roses Hummingbirder I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level
Thanks for the info! I believe I understand, but I will read it all again before the swapping starts.
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Dec 29, 2015 8:37 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
That Iris is stunning, Patricia.
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Jan 5, 2016 6:39 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
Tonight's the night! It pays to have a plan and start the swap from your wishlist instead of trying to manage the big list right off. Your tickets will be available at the second the swap officially starts. If you refresh your wish list and there are treasure chests on the list, you are ready to call dibs.
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Jan 5, 2016 8:39 AM CST
Name: Ronnie (Veronica)
Southeastern PA (Zone 6b)
Count your blessings, be grateful
Region: Ukraine Organic Gardener Keeps Goats Zinnias Dog Lover Morning Glories
Annuals Bee Lover Dragonflies Butterflies Hummingbirder Birds
Can't wait nodding
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
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Jan 5, 2016 9:31 AM CST
Name: Lisa
Boston, MA. (Zone 6a)
Birds Dog Lover Foliage Fan Hummingbirder Seed Starter Winter Sowing
Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I have nothing but exercise my trigger finger all week Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing

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