I like the idea and although it could be a bit complicated to add it, I will give it serious thought.

As for slipping it in with the trader's other seeds, I don't see how any host would have a problem with that. In fact, the host wouldn't even really know unless she opened up your bundle and inspected the packets to ensure they match the paper list of what should be present in that bundle. But why would anyone object to that?

I don't object, in fact I encourage it. I've never, here or elsewhere, had anyone do that to the point that it was a problem. By not broadcasting it no one has to wonder why Swapper A chose to send those precious seeds to a specific person, especially if more than one person has expressed interest in the same seeds. And when hosting, I would much rather it be slipped in without a lot of fanfare than start a back and forth of negotiations outside the perimeter of the swap, creating a bunch of little side swaps that the host is expected to be responsible for processing. I do try to count the packs to make sure they match the total number on the list, and spot check here and there, but if I encounter a bundle with more than the expected number of seeds and the extra pack(s) are marked "For Swapper A" it is not a problem.

I have no problem with slipping a pack of seeds into someone stash, but I don't like the idea of pre-dedicating swap seeds. If I put one pack of seed "A" into the swap and someone says I really, really want those seeds, I think it would be wrong of me to pull them and offer them to that person. Now if I put one pack and they were picked, but I still had some that I didn't put into the swap then I would see no problem in offering them that the person that really wanted them, since they weren't going to be part of the swap anyway. Or if as Rick said there was a seed you didn't put in the swap but you saw it on someone want list, I see no problem in "digging deep" and finding those seeds as a gift. But once you put seeds into the swap then everyone should have the same opportunity to bid on them.

I'm with Alana. I see no harm in adding in an extra packet or two in a bundle of seeds.

The cost of a flat rate envelope is the same no matter what. I have crammed 1000 seed baggies into a flat rate envelope. They were empty but it was 1000 of them.

So where is your wish list rick?

I think the outside dedications would be too cumbersome. I'm new to swaps but since you can just tuck it into that person's bundle why change it?

It would really be great to be able to sort by scientific name vs common name and vegetable vs tree, shrub, perennial or annual. The way it is now the same type of seeds could be listed in 3-4 different places depending on what comes first in the name.

If we could see how many other swappers *starred* an item we were offering (ie indicating an interest in same) pre-swapping, we could add more packets or reduce the # per packet to create a few more.

I like to learn the sorts of items people are 'looking for' or might be interested in trying, so a wish list appeals to me.

MariposaMaid said:If we could see how many other swappers *starred* an item we were offering (ie indicating an interest in same) pre-swapping, we could add more packets or reduce the # per packet to create a few more.

I like the idea of knowing which of my offerings were starred on wish lists and how many of each one, but I would not like to know by which swapper(s).

Alana, as a newbie I'd be glad to know that anyone wanted any item I might offer!!

I believe I have seen identical items offered by two or more swappers but only one swapper get all the play. One 'sells out' and others have left overs. When we have used the Seed Swap tool for our live plant swap we get to bring our homeless plants to the swapmeet to find them a home. Don't know what happens to unchosen seed offerings. I suppose each host could designate what will be done with any seeds sent in but not promised...donated to a community garden/school, etc? Maybe some swapper would take any wildflower seeds not claimed for a local restoration project?

@MariposaMaid any seeds that aren't claimed don't get sent to the host. The swapper just keeps them for another swap. The only seeds you send are the ones that get chosen, not all that you offer.

I have added the number of wishlists to each item. It's public information and you can see it for all plants in the swap list. This will help the "seller" see how well their items are doing, and it also gives everyone else a hint of what might be really popular (and thus worth trying to get yourself!!)

I see my F2 crepe myrtles have 7 wishlisteds!!

Love the wishlist info! Thanks much, Dave!

What a great new addition

Dave, this is fabulous! Thank you so much. It will absolutely make a difference on how I plan my dibs.

Maybe a way to keep track of our sold items that have been packed before the final list. Maybe a check box on the sold list. Or list in the order they were sold rather than alphabetical.

Referring to the thread about a week ago, I agree now that an extra feature in the software to dedicate certain seeds to certain people before the swap is not needed.

It sounds like everyone is OK that we occasionally "slip in" something from someone's wish list, "under the radar" of the star-bid-ticket-dibs system.

I like being able to "see the stars".

To give added credit where due, I don't know if it was in here or elsewhere, but Rick had mentioned the idea about seeing how many people wanted an item and what star ranking they gave it. It's a good idea and would be fun to see. I was glad he brought the idea up.

...however, after consideration, I realized that it might take some of the fun (and maybe even some of the strategy) out of the game. If people can just add more seeds in later in the game, my concern is that two things could happen:

1) the fun of 'dibbing' an item would be compromised because if there is enough for everyone of that particular seed, there isn't much feeling of victory in getting it. As I understand it, this was a large part of why my initial idea of how the swap setup should go was discarded in the beginning stages of the seed swap movement here on the site...it was more fun to simply go 'all in' with your seeds and offer what you have....and that quantities would be somewhat limited so that people were motivated to make choices about what to bid on first and get excited about being able to 'win' it.

2) if the additions are added later (i.e. on the third day of the swap, someone adds more packets of calendula, for example), the people who thought it was a scarce item and used one of their early bid tickets on that item might feel cheated in a way since they could have used those tickets on items that were truly scarce.

We had that feature during the last swap and I loved it. It allowed me to dib where the offerings were more scarce. It something was offered later I was glad someone else could have it too.

This happened to me, actually. Duane was offering only one offer of a very special milkweed. I wanted it badly and saw that something like 10 people had it in their wishlist!! I was there on day 1 and within the first couple minutes of the bidding started, I dibbed it first and got it!! He later added more offerings and I was happy for the others who also got some.