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.