Welcome to Garden Web and the Seed Exchange!

Since you are just starting out, I suggest you maybe reply to some of the many more recent sase/sasbe offer threads. Look for threads that say SABE, SASBE, or FREE

You might want to respond to those that are offering more than one variety, to get the most bang for your postage cost.
Read the �Offer� and post to the thread per the offerer�s instructions.

You will then likely be asked to mail a BE (Bubble Envelope). These can be found at WM, the Dollar Store, CVS Drug Store, Office Supply places, etc. Depending upon the size of the envelope, you may be able to cut a large one in half and make two envelopes. Be careful though that you do not make them square, as opposed to rectangular, as that will cost extra postage when mailing it both ways.

Include in the envelope whatever you are instructed to send by the offering member.
It usually includes
A list of the agreed upon seeds (if they were agreed upon) or whatever the offering member requests of you.
A note with your member name, and your real name
A label of some sort with your name and address to be used when the envelope is mailed back to you.
Postage STAMPS...NO POSTAL TAPES as they are only good for mailing from the PO where they were purchased
The amount of the postage should be the actual amount the offering member thinks will be required, considering what they will be sending you and in what quantities.
There may be other instructions as well thathave not been addressed above.

Please send the envelope out in a timely fashion, or let the member know if it is going to be delayed. Please let the member know if you have changed your mind about the SASE/SASBE offer. Often seeds are put aside for these sasbe offers, and if members don�t follow through with mailing out their bubble envelopes, those are seeds being just tied up, when they �could� have been shared and enjoyed by another member.

Once you receive your goodie package please let the member know that they arrived at their destination.

Last, but not least, try and take a moment to post a review for the offering member at the Rate and Review Forum. I have included a link to the forum below. Instructions for using the Forum are at the top of the main page there. Please be sure and do a search to see if there is an existing review for the member. If there is, please post to it. If there are numerous review threads, please post to the one that has the most replies.

Happy Gardening!
(signed)member name, member name abbreviation, real first name

Comments welcome! Suggestions for improvement welcomed! Spelling? grammar? Better wording? Additions?
Once it is refined, I hope to get it in the FAQ, so it is accessible to all in helping newbies.

Sue...rbb

Here is a link that might be useful: Rate and Review Forum

Welcome to Garden Web and the Seed Exchange

I thought you might like to know there is no email link on your member page, thus no way to email you.

To set up your email link, just go to the bottom on any page here, and click on Member Pages
Then click on Edit your Personal Information, Page, and Preferences
You will then probably be asked to login in again.
Then check the box Allow other users to send you email via forms at our site.

That will place an email link on your member page, making it handy for members (potential traders/sharers) to easily reach you in the future.. There is no need to hunt up a post to find an email addy.

(Optional)While you are there editing, you might want to place your state abbreviation in the one box provided for the garden zone (and Location). You will find it is often beneficial if members know where you are located......even more so, if/when you maybe want to do some plant trading. It is a postage cost, days in transit, temperature/climate thing to be considered.

Happy Gardening and trading.

(signed)member name, member name abbreviation, or real first name

Suggestions?...comments

I will be adding other things here in this thread addressing sase/sasbe/BEAP as well as the importance of putting up a trade list and how to do it. I think Mother Earth News may have sent us a whole bunch of future seed addicts/enablers.
Once these are refined some, I will try and see about getting them in the FAQ here. Then they will be easily accessible for members to get, copy, and paste whatever needs addressed to new/newer members on the board.

SEED REPRODUCTION

Seed pods will develop on most wild irises. If pollinated, each pod will produce from several to about 60 cork-like seeds. This method of increase is very important to iris hybridizers in developing new forms and colors but is slow. All the seeds in a pod may not germinate the first year.

Gardeners who desire large quantities of plants for mass plantings may be interested in using seeds also, if trueness to variety is not important. Most Louisiana irises are hybrids and their seedlings will vary in color, size and form.

If iris seeds are left on the stalk to mature fully and harden, they germinate very slowly. The fully matured, late harvested, dried-out seeds will go into what is known as a "rest period" and it may take several years for all of them to spout. However, you can hasten germination of iris seed by harvesting them when the seed pod is still partially green. Planting at harvest time (June and July in Louisiana) will produce a higher percentage of seedlings by fall and early spring.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.louisianairis.com/louisiana.native.iris.htm