I've just discovered this thread and I agree the wheel has already been invented. Look over on Cubits (sister site to ATP); check on the Hog Wild Piggy Seed Swap.
This can be fun. Here in ATP we need to have a place so others can view our lists.
This could work if we have two (2) threads dedicated for the ATP Seed Swap...one thread in only to be used to display our lists of available seed packs - no chit chat; the second thread is for claiming seeds, chatting, asking questions about cultivation, etc.
People participating in the swap will be actively posting on the 2 threads, but both threads will also be visible to ALL the people, members and non-members alike and can be a source of entertainment and education for a huge number of people. Doing the trades via Tree-mails...well, just not as much fun.
It would be nice if there were some uniformity in the way we post of offered seeds; perhaps each participant could make one post listing all their available seed...here is one seed for an example:
Talinum paniculata/Jewels of Opar - ornamental and/or edible; leaves can be cooked as a spinach substitute.
More information here:
Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum)
1-
2-
3-
4-
5-
That shows the botanical name/common name - a bit of information and a link (hopefully to our ATP database) so viewers can find more detailed information and possibly photos of the plant. The above list also indicated that there are 5 packs available.
As the seed packs are promised, the "vendor" would (by using the edit feature) add the screen names to the list until all the packs are spoken for. So after several days of trading, the list would look like this...and it would be visible that only one pack remains:
Talinum paniculata/Jewels of Opar - ornamental and/or edible; leaves can be cooked as a spinach substitute.
More information here:
Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum)
1-RickCorey
2-greene
3-Sharon
4-tuckersmom
5-
The idea being that not everyone has the time to read through dozens or hundreds of chatty posts to see what's still available.
After the last of the 5 packs has been promised, the "vendor" would use the edit feature to strike out the name of the plant so even latecomers could read all the information but will know they need to jump in earlier next time there is an ATP Seed Swap.
Talinum paniculata/Jewels of Opar - ornamental and/or edible; leaves can be cooked as a spinach substitute.
More information here:
Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum)
1-RickCorey
2-greene
3-Sharon
4-tuckersmom
5-Trish
I don't like to see too many rules but it seems that if a person offers 10 packs of seeds, they should be able to request 10; if they offer 150 packs, they can receive 150 packs. If only 2 people participate that would be the equivalent of a one-to-one trade, but with 20, 30, 40 people participating it would be a barrel of fun.
As for postage and packaging...each participant should send their seeds by a set date to the central person in a well padded bag or a box and include a Postal Money Order for either a small or medium priority USPS box depending on how greedily they requested seeds; tracking must be included on the packages as some packages can go off on a side trip and the tracking will help the seeds find their mark.
That's all I can think of to help this go smoothly.
