I like to use the list for my own reference but I don't want others to contact me frequently asking for plants. By others I mean new members or members I am not that familiar with. I don't mind trading or selling/buying from the site, but I do sometimes get requests from people I think just signed up to ask members for free plants! There might be extended periods of time my garden may be in renovation or my list is needing updated and I'd like to set it on private for a few weeks while I update or work on it.