This month I moved into a new house, in a new state, with a new zone. I was excited and hopeful, but also a bit overwhelmed, as my old homestead was less than 1/4th the size of my new one, and not only I am having to start beds, etc. from scratch, but I have to learn to garden in a brand new climate.
Last night overwhelm turned to despair as I finally had a chance to unpack my garden hoard after 1.5 years of being in storage while I was displaced. Some had been in a paid unit, the rest in the sheds of very patient friends.
1/3 of my seed stash is obviously ruined with mold throughout. Half of what is left is expired, and w/ the obvious humidity damage, I'm not optimistic about the health/germination success of even the seed I purchased or carefully saved from my old gardens just before having to pack it away.
While exploring how-to sites for my new garden zone this morning I landed on a link to garden.org to get my new frost dates, and bunnytrailed to the seed exchange, which landed me here.
I've never been in a seed swap, and don't know when I'll be put together enough to participate in one, but wanted to peep at the message boards and figure the process out.
What I found here was a BUNCH of folks with HUGE hearts being very generous and supportive with their time, energy, and seeds. I also found a few who were starting fresh and out of sorts from the changes, yet were boldly plugging onward with hope.
When I say reading through y'all's interactions brought me to tears today, I mean it literally and joyously. Thank you to those of you being vulnerable, anxious and hopeful. Thank you to those of you boosting up the newbies and the empty handed. Both camps have made me feel like I'm not alone, and that my situation isn't impossible.
Expect me to be lurking in the future. ;-)
