ALERT; update of Carolyn's seed offer

[carolyn137]

First, everyone received their first choices.

The last of the seeds go out today, right into a possbile predicted blizzard.

But the main reason I'm starting this thread is b'c I've found in the past that once someone sends me their SESE, or e-mail if non-US, most never go back to the seed offer thread to check on updates and read that thread.

If you haven't,please do so since there have been some changes that were made as to more proper names for some varieties, and alerting folks to items such as I listed Joe's Pink Heart, but it should be Joe's Pink Oxheart, for example.

I tried to correct some stuff on the coin envelopes I packed the seeds in, but could have missed some, and I know I didn't write the proper original name for Raspberry Miracle on the packs, and that correction is in that seed offer thread.

I used a bit over 500 coin envelopes. Most asked for 6, a few less than that, and last night I almost wept with relief when the last two I did wanted only ONE and the other TWO.

Yes, I've been a bit later in getting the seeds out this year, but then I also posted the offer later than I normally do.

Many folks I knew,some followed me here from AOL of years ago, some from GW, lots of repeaters from when I first started doing seed offers here at Tville in 2006, carry over from GW, and many who were new to me, so a warm welcome to the newcomers as well..

No one sent me SASE's with mint flavored glue this year, everyone had the correct postage and one person stands out for me b'c each year the combo of old stamps used is beyond belief. A couple of folks sent some new varieties, and I'll get back to them as well about those.

Lastly, when Mischka set up this site in Jan of 2006 it was envisioned as being a community. I also know that many just read here and never register, so can't access seeds or read the off topic forum, but for those of you who did request seeds, and all of you are registered here, my hope is that you might consider posting a bit more, in addition to requesting just seeds.

Many of you have had extensive experience in gardening and I know your contributions would be most welcome.

And now to relax a bit, read some good books, watch some Olympics while nibbling on some good snack food, and of course that includes dark chocolate, and wait now for the possible blizzard headed my way, if one believes each and every weather site and the local weather on the TV.

All for now, oh, if you don't see your seeds in the next week, for those who have not yet received them and non-US will take longer, usually, please post here and I'll look through the outer envelopes/e-mails for non-US, I save them all, to be sure your request did get to me.

Thanks,

Carolyn, also noting that she still has some seeds to send out to a couple of her seed producers, a few others, and then to certain seed sites for trial, and needs to contact the latter to see what they might want or if they want me to choose.

[PaulF]

Having taken advantage of Carolyn's offer several times over the years (but not this year), this is one of the best parts of being in the Tomatoville "family." Thank you Carolyn! If you are a visitor to Tville, join the family; if you are a non-posting member, post as often as you can. Don't be shy, we very seldom bite and then it is only a friendly nip. And thanks Mischka, too.

[RobinB]

Thank you so much for all you do Carolyn! Your offers are always so exciting (partly because you offer unique options and partly because they come at a time of year when I am starting to dream of Spring) and I have participated for three years now. Tomatoville is and has been a fantastic experience for me. Nobody else in my "real" life understands my tomato obsession, but the fine folks of Tomatoville do! Thank you too, Mishka!

[paulgrow]

Carolyn
Thanks so much for the hard work, the seeds are greatly appreciated.

Paul

[taboule]

Hi Carolyn, I haven't taken advantage of your seed offer yet -had enough already this year and couldn't commit to growing more. However I do appreciate your advice like everyone else here.

Coin envelopes, I never thought of those when I fashioned small ones out of paper when I sent some seeds to another member.

[FarmerShawn]

Echos to the thanks for Carolyn for doing this. I did not participate this year because Tormato's trade over-overwhelmed me with new-to-me varieties already. There were a few on your list I'd like to have tried, though. I'll just have to hope for next year.
I hope you got to send out a few Aunt Sophie seeds this year. I am curious to see if anybody has luck with them, and how they like them. I didn't see much feedback on them last year.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by FarmerShawn

Echos to the thanks for Carolyn for doing this. I did not participate this year because Tormato's trade over-overwhelmed me with new-to-me varieties already. There were a few on your list I'd like to have tried, though. I'll just have to hope for next year.
I hope you got to send out a few Aunt Sophie seeds this year. I am curious to see if anybody has luck with them, and how they like them. I didn't see much feedback on them last year.

I think I did send out a few of your Aunt Sophie seeds, hard to remember, and of course I always send back the request list after someone complaining a few years ago that what I sent was not what that person requested.

What I do know is that there were quite a few folks who requested only heart varieties, and I invited them to become a member of the HLA (Heart Lovers Assciation).

I've been waiting for my meals on wheels to come, but it looks like no, so soup and sandwich for lunch, so I came back here to the computer, was sorting through some stuff on my left, persons I need to contact, seeds received, etc. and found two more request letters from:

Alexander in WA
Scott in OK

both postmarked Feb 3/

Usually I keep some plastic bags in the LR, so when my mail is delivered I ASAP put the seed request letters in that bag and then wheel out to the backroom and file them in the order they were sent. But with these two no bag needed I just put them in the walker basket and stopped off here by the computer before filling more coin envelopes/

So I'll fill those requests this afternoon , but if we get all the snow they predict there might not be pickup tomorrow.

Almost forgot. IF your seeds are in clumps, please unclump them. I'm now licensed by NYS to visually determine how many seeds in a clump, from 2 to 20, but no one will get less seeds than promised and many will get more, simply b'c I'm not going to sit there and unclump seed clumps/

And onward we go.

Carolyn, just noting that she forgot to note in the seed offer instructions for folks to put the age of the seeds next to the variety name, no problem with the 2013 seeds, but then she would sit there and say which box does she go to to find variety M. Thank heavens she deleted the 2010 and 2009 seed offer varieties, or she may well have been sitting there , thinking, for longer than you can imagine. When she was working with seeds of 5 different ages it was not good since it takes a lot of time to go from one box to another to fill a request. I'd much rather offer ONE variety, that would solve the problem, but that's no fun at all given that there are so many brand newones to deal with.

[Patihum]

Carolyn - I sure hope the blizzard doesn't drop a ton of snow on your doorstep.

This was the first time I've participated in your offer and I was one of the few you mentioned who asked for just one. I've already put a note in my grow records to be sure and provide feedback. I'll be starting them this next week.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to do this.

Keep safe and warm!
Pat

[Labradors2]

I have to echo Farmer Shawn's words.

I had been looking forward to participating for several months but, just like Farmer Shawn, Tormato's swap seeds overwhelmed me with too many choices, and I knew that I couldn't swear to plant Carolyn's seeds this season.

Thank you Carolyn for your seed offer and for all the hard work that you do, both with the seeds and in helping us with questions on this forum.

Hopefully, I'll be able to join in next year.

Linda

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Patihum

Carolyn - I sure hope the blizzard doesn't drop a ton of snow on your doorstep.

This was the first time I've participated in your offer and I was one of the few you mentioned who asked for just one. I've already put a note in my grow records to be sure and provide feedback. I'll be starting them this next week.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to do this.

Keep safe and warm!
Pat

Pat, I'll be putting up the germination thread in maybe a month or so, as I explained in the seed offer instructions, so those of you who are in the south and sow seeds way before those of us in the tundra, please do keep your results until I put up that thread.

Carolyn

[greyghost]

Like Lab2 and F. Shawn, I didn't participate---I just have so many great
varieties and so many I need to go back to... Also, I'm a compulsive seed
buyer! It was so much fun the 2 years I did participate in your offer.

You had such a great offer this year---thank you so much for introducing
and making available so many great varieties. I honestly don't see how you do it. It is so time taking to pull out seeds and fill those little envelopes and all
the while taking great care not to have a spill or mix up. Sometimes, I think
it takes me half the morning to do a couple of mail outs.

I think we all owe you a debt of gratitude for all that you do for us as well
as all that you've taught us!

A warm "thank you". Darlene

[paulgrow]

Got mine today. Carolyn thank you again.

Paul

[Father'sDaughter]

I wasn't going to participate because of the 100+/- varieties I received in the swap, but then you went ahead and threw in an elongated paste...

Thanks again and I hope you don't loose power as a result of the storm.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Patihum

Carolyn - I sure hope the blizzard doesn't drop a ton of snow on your doorstep.

This was the first time I've participated in your offer and I was one of the few you mentioned who asked for just one. I've already put a note in my grow records to be sure and provide feedback. I'll be starting them this next week.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to do this.

Keep safe and warm!
Pat

TWO FEET of new snow here and it's still snowing.

No AM Paper, no mail pickup today, I don't even hear the town plows going by, just perfect quiet, and all I can hear are the snowflakes softly wafting down , however, winds to pick up soon to 30-40 mph, so blowing snow into drifts that will confound all of us here in my area, about two miles from the Vt border.

Carolyn,who, when those winds start also can also hear $$$$ going up the flue from her super efficient kerosene fueled, computer controlled, vented to the outside Monitor heater.

[Patihum]

Oh no! I hope you have plenty of supplies on hand including the important ones - chocolate and cigarettes.

At least in your neck of the woods they know how and have the equipment to deal with that much snow unlike down south.

Hope the snow stops soon and everything returns to normal quickly.

Pat