Seed Trading

For the past few days I have been eagerly looking and sorting through my seed selection for this coming season. I did manage a few days of work outside in the yard this week when it got warm enough but as I impatiently await springs official arrival (-8 and snowing with a windchill of -19 this morning?!?!? No we're not quite there yet!) I have to do something that is at least a bit more springlike than sledding and skating. Don't get me wrong I do love sledding and skating but as the end of February rapidly approaches I am finding myself itching to get outside and start some gardening.

For many years now I have grown open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. I save my own seed from as many varieties as I can and rarely have to buy new seeds. I usually end up buying a few packets of something new that I want to try each year but this year I have discovered the wonderful world of trading seeds! For the past few years I have received several different tomato and bean varieties from a wonderful, generous fellow in the USA who has been sharing his seeds for the past ten years for free, with only a request that we send him postage. I have taken advantage of his offer again this year and plan to send him a package of seed envelopes in exchange. I also found an amazing forum a few days ago that is strictly a seed/plant exchange list! You list the seeds you have to trade and a list of what seeds you want to aquire and then start looking for another member to trade with. I managed to find several people who have something I want and have arranged a few trades already. It so much fun!