6th Annual Canadian Autumn Seed Exchange

Nickyn · Post by **Nickyn** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 11:36 am

Don`t know if any of you would be interested, as I am pretty new around here & unsure how many have gardens.... But just in case you are into seed exchanges, I run one every fall. Here are the guidelines on my blog:

https://nickysgarden.wordpress.com/

It is a swap just for Canadians. I usually end up with about 50 participants. It is a lot of fun, with a lot of crazy varieties of all sorts of seeds - expecially edibles. There are quite a few herbs & chicken friendly things too!

If you are interested, just let me know.

Thanks,
Nicky

Post by **Killerbunny** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 12:27 pm

Very nice and I like the blog. I will keep this in mind for next year!

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 1:27 pm

Yes, interested! I've been seed saving like crazy this year because I used up almost all my old seed. I love swaps like this! This group had it's first annual meetup in July and we did a swap of eggs and crafts for anyone interested...SO much fun.

Post by **WLLady** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 2:22 pm

What a great idea! alas, i have not been keeping seeds this year because I probably won't have my garden next year, but I will keep this in mind for coming years!!!!

Nickyn · Post by **Nickyn** » Thu Oct 06, 2016 8:08 pm

It has been a great swap over the years. We get a bit of everything - last year lots of garlic bulbils and herbs. Lots of veggies, especially unusual dried beans and tomatoes. It is a really good bunch of regulars that make it a fun swap.

Please feel free to join in, even if you only have a couple of things. Last year a lady sent in 2 kinds of basil seeds and with all of the bonuses, she ended up with 20 packets of seed :)

Nickyn · Post by **Nickyn** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 10:24 am

A quick update for anyone curious...

We have over 50 swappers signed up this year. A few packages have come in & everything looks great. Garlic Bulbils are very popular this year. We have about a dozen varieties in the swap already. Lots of Tomato, Bean & Pepper varieties (as always). A bit of everything in between from Artichoke to Zucchini!

If anyone else is interested, just let me know.

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:25 am

Looks very interesting, will have to read the blog when I have time, just scrolling doesn't do the job :)

Nickyn · Post by **Nickyn** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 2:11 pm

Its a long page of Guidelines - but it saves me from answering a million email questions :)

Still a couple of weeks left to sign up.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:28 pm

Got my seeds today. I'm absolutely tickled pink at the varieties. Early holiday gift for meee!

Nickyn · Post by **Nickyn** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:32 am

Thank you so much for joining in, windwalkingwolf!

For the curious; this year's info...

59 people signed up, 41 ended up sending in packages. Facebook groups are less committed than gardening forum members!

No one from the territories, PEI or New Brunswick. At least 1 gardener from each of the other provinces. One accidental joinee from California (who made up for his lack of Canadianess by sending in an extra package of tomatoes from wishlists).

1665 total seed packages, not including my additions.

The breakdown, not including my additions to the swap:
Approx 480 tomato seed packages
28 packages of cilantro sent in by 11 gardeners, so everyone ended up with Cilantro for next year,one way or another, except the flower only requests!
21 packages of mallow sent in by 11 gardeners, so ditto!
116 packages of pepper plus 25 packs of Sweet bell, sent in as a bonus.
87 packages of beans
Only 3 packages of Zucchini, with 11 people asking for some!
Tons of carrot and basil requests as well, but not many of either sent in.
General package Requests;
22 veg only
11 veg mainly with a few flowers
5 flower only
2 flower with a few veg
1 herb only (incredibly difficult - just not enough different types sent in)
Prettiest flower variety that I checked out: Majorette Double Champagne Hollyhock
Hottest Pepper: Carolina Reaper, but I'm looking forward to the Cappucino Naga that I swiped 3 seeds of to try!
Seeds that I had to look up: Ashwagandh
As always, herbs and greens were popular requests, as were peas this year. Edible flowers seem to have gained a lot of popularity of the last 5 years.

That's about all that I can think of.
Cheers,
Nicky