Opportunity For Kindness When Ordering Seeds

Grand Rising Friends,

Have you ever noticed that little box left for comments at the bottom of your ordering form when you shop online?

That's the opportunity, right there in that box you are likely to simply look past while searching for your "Submit Payment" button, to deliver some kindness to people that you are about and want to support - the people filling your order.

This is especially true when ordering from small seed suppliers, because often it's only one or two orva handful of people running the whole operation. Being a seedsman or seeds woman takes a lot of tedious, repetitive, obnoxious work fundamental to the exciting parts.

A little note saying thank you, that you appreciate their work, and even what you're going to use their seeds for and why you bought from them/what you're excited for, will be well received.

Do you know how I know?

I've been doing this, when I remember to, for more than twenty years. The responses have been wonderful, when they come, though often they don't. I'd say 1-in-4 notes gets a response.

I've gotten emails, hand-written notes, free seeds, more information and advice, had custom seed blends put together for me, and I've even been steered away from purchases that wouldn't fit my needs or had less-desirable traits that the sales copy would never have informed me about. Plus, now I have some buddies in the seed trade when I'm ready to make my entrance.

It's not about what comes back your way, though, that's just nice to notice. It's about taking 10-30 seconds to let somebody know they are appreciated from an unexpected direction. It matters, because they matter, and so do you.

Finer Point:

This practice can, and ought, of course, apply to any/all purchases you make which come with the opportunity to leave a note.

The "Contact Us" link at the bottom of most web pages can serve as an alternative route for kindness delivery.

A CHALLENGE!

Try this, and report back here saying that you did it. If you get a nice response in return, I'd love to hear about it.

In that light, let me tell you about Miss Penn.

I've purchased from her three different years. I just ordered her "Bucket Mix" which is one of the best swarm starter packs you could ask for.

Anyway, the previous order I told her I'm working on a direct-seeded landrace tomato project, and some of the details about how I'm approaching it, and she sent me three extra packs of seeds she thought would offer the best chances of success and then stuffed my bucket mix order extra full. I have seed saved from the successful plants which survived the hardship trials and produced fruit.

I mentioned that I was grateful to her for her thoughtfulness last time, and got a lovely email back.

Here's a link to her tomatoes:

https://www.pennandcordsgarden.com/store/c7/Tomatoes.html

See the screenshot for an acceptable search prompt to find her site if you don't like clicking strange links. Heh.

Wow Chance, you are so cool!
Thank you for this. I am a one-woman show here and it is definitely a labor of love. The little note back and forth helps me get to know my customers and it just feels good. Every order gets a bonus packet chosen by me based on your order and location. I do this so more seeds get back in the earth.
I wish you great luck with your landrace project and I am already thinking about more varieties to include that will give you success!

Many thanks, Miss Penn

Miss Penn, welcome to the forum.

Nice to hear ab  out your seeds.

In addition to thanking folks it might be good to add something to spread permaculture something as simple as, “Everything gardens.”  

Penn Parmenter wrote:Wow Chance, you are so cool!
Thank you for this. I am a one-woman show here and it is definitely a labor of love. The little note back and forth helps me get to know my customers and it just feels good. Every order gets a bonus packet chosen by me based on your order and location. I do this so more seeds get back in the earth.
I wish you great luck with your landrace project and I am already thinking about more varieties to include that will give you success!

Many thanks, Miss Penn

See, I told you she's cool.

Also, welcome to Permies. It's a fascinating and wonderful place.

Anne Miller wrote:Miss Penn, welcome to the forum.

Nice to hear ab  out your seeds.

In addition to thanking folks it might be good to add something to spread permaculture something as simple as, “Everything gardens.”  

Careful, you might summon a Chance Rants ™️ about my Garden Everything Philosophy ™️.

Just for you Chance, I'm going to take advantage of those "Leave us a note" spaces to spread kindness going forward.

I do enjoy doing business with smaller vendors, especially if they are permaculture centered, for my seed/gardening needs. It is a nice way to make the transaction more personable, especially when it is done over the interweb.

Also, welcome to Permies Penn! My seed hoarding habits now have a new vendor to give business to.

Timothy Norton wrote:Just for you Chance, I'm going to take advantage of those "Leave us a note" spaces to spread kindness going forward.

I do enjoy doing business with smaller vendors, especially if they are permaculture centered, for my seed/gardening needs. It is a nice way to make the transaction more personable, especially when it is done over the interweb.

Also, welcome to Permies Penn! My seed hoarding habits now have a new vendor to give business to.

🤝

😀

Okay, I won't say who this is from, but let me just say, this is from a man on the Mt Rushmore of American plant breeders and nurserymen. A true revolutionary who has done more for the health and long-term viability of our tree crops than any other person I can think of.

I will certainly be taking him up on his offer to connect. This is a big deal for me, because this is someone who has already done much of what I want to do for Utah, but he's done it elsewhere and has been doing it for decades and decades.

What a wonderful tool the internet can be.

Thanks you Chance for posting this. I'm a true believer in random acts of kindness. It never occurred to me to use the comment space for this purpose. I like it, and I'm definitely going to use the space from now on.
I have been buying seeds on Etsy lately. It's a little scary, but I like the thought of buying from a person, instead of a big company. They always have a comment/special instructions space, and I will use it for this purpose.
Thanks

Funny timing, I just wrote "you rock" in a comments box when I ordered seeds a week ago, before reading this!

Next time I order something I'll think about it more.

Very nice!! I am a big fan of giving credit where credit is due. Slightly connected-- too few people take the time to give positive feedback, which makes things like Google reviews repositories of angry experiences (and in turn mostly useless). As we say around here, it costs nothing to not be a jerk, and yet you'd think it was practically impossible.

(lately I've made myself a second google profile to leave feedback at places, because I enjoy my online privacy. that profile gets a workout.)

Tereza Okava wrote:Very nice!! I am a big fan of giving credit where credit is due. Slightly connected-- too few people take the time to give positive feedback, which makes things like Google reviews repositories of angry experiences (and in turn mostly useless). As we say around here, it costs nothing to not be a jerk, and yet you'd think it was practically impossible.

(lately I've made myself a second google profile to leave feedback at places, because I enjoy my online privacy. that profile gets a workout.)

I'm a genuine, kind, loving person. It's expensive, truthfully, in time and mental energy.

I'm also sometimes an unrestrained, pedantic, loudmouthed jerk. It's expensive, too.

I've worked hard for many years to shift the balance in favor of the former, and I'm winning, but there's still plenty weighing down the side of the scale holding the latter.

Chance Lunceford wrote:I'm a genuine, kind, loving person. It's expensive, truthfully, in time and mental energy.
I'm also sometimes an unrestrained, pedantic, loudmouthed jerk. It's expensive, too.

Ha!! Are we twins? Being human is complicated, but it's also wonderful. I like to believe we're all just doing the best we can.

But I also can't resist a soapbox: I truly believe that right now, when human efforts and intelligence have been made to look second-rate, the most revolutionary and effective thing I personally can do is reinforce humanity. Friendship and human connection are all worth more than ever. Good on you for cultivating them.