On 16 Mar 2004 15:03:24 GMT, (Helen J. Foss)
wrote:

For several years now I have posted 'FREE SEEDS - POSTAGE PAID' on
rec/gardens and received multi requests for tomato seeds.
I filled the requests for what folks asked for. Took the time to
label the individual little 'baggies', insert the seeds, secured them
between cardboard sheets and mailed them off at my own expense. I didn't,
and don't have a problem with this.
I put together over 300 packets last fall alone and enjoyed doing
it. The ONLY thing I asked in return was that the recipients of my labors,
notify me when they received the seeds....I don't think that was too much
to ask for.
A few offered me some different seeds, which I though was a nice
gesture on their part, and I accepted the offer. To this day I have not
received any seeds, but that doesn't really bother me as much as the fact
that a few of the ones I sent seeds to, didn't have the common courtesy to
sit at the keyboard for one minute, and tell me they received the
seeds....how long does it take to say 'I got them'?
I have sent seeds to many States, Alaska (I know it's a State),
Australia, United Kingdom and Wales and received reports that the seeds
have done well in their area.
Now suddenly I'm receiving further requests for seeds, and have
already maialed out over 150 packets, for which I have received replies of
their arrival.
To the folks that sent me messages telling me of their arrival, I
say a BIG THANK you, and hope I'll be able to send you some new and
different seeds next fall.
To the folks that were too busy to spend a minute on the
keyboard, I say THANKS FOR NOTHING, and there will be no further shipments
from this source.
To those who want to flame me, just want to say that I had to vent
my disappointment in certain people that have no time to show a little
common courtesy to a fellow gardener.
Hope you all have a great growing season and abundant crops.
I think she has a perfect reason to be up set she does not have to
share her seeds with any one and she gives freely of her time ,
money , and garden and asks only that she know if her gift arrived
ok.
Just to drive home the point.
I was thining out my bulb garden and moving bulbs from one bed to
another when a girl who was about twelve came up to me an asked what
I was doing , maybe she was ten well whatever , I told her I was
moving plants from one spot to another and she kept asking questions
like what kind and where i was going to put the new ones I liked
her so much I gave her a few fulbs she could plant at home her
mother stoped by a few weeks later and her daughter was with her .
she was so happy I had given the flowers to her daughter and they had
planted them in pots and were watching them grow.
I had wondered what the little girl had done with them and it was nice
to know tha tmy little gift was well recieved the little girl said
thank you and said she loved them.
I didnt' expect to ever see her again after I gave her the flower
bulbs and I didnt' know if she would even keep them but to find she
did and that she planted them with her mother an that my silly
little gift made her so happy Well that made me feel like a million
bucks.
it was so great
Just knowing that a gift you send is valued and that the person cared
for your gift and hard work is wonderful
but if you don't hear from those people you feel let down and feel
like your gift was unimportant and no one cared and that feels
awful
I can relate to how she feels to send out her seeds and how good it
feels to do nice things for others
if the little girl had thrown away the bulbs or just didnt 'care I'd
had been a little sad and let down
and that was an unsolicited gift these people solicit the gift of
seeds from her so they do owe her some thanks at least the knollege
that the gift was appreciated
any one who does not agree should read "The Chrysanthimum " It's a
classic tale of just such a gift that was thrown away with out a
thought or care and the hurt it caused a person
michelle