Plants on Freecycle

**tiachica** · 08-06-2009, 02:48 PM

Lol...I think I saw your post on freecycle... i was considering taking some of you, but couldn't face the drive... not feeling too well..

and no, that was not mean, just sensible. ;-)

**Hilary B** · 08-06-2009, 03:10 PM

Originally posted by amandaandherveg View Post

I offered a bunch of excess plants on Freecycle at the weekend and had lots of requests. Now, being a new gardener and growing them all from seed, I really wanted them to go to good, caring homes. I was quite miffed when someone sent me this........

'I'd gladly take some of your hands although I haven't a clue what squash taste like as I have never tried them.'

She didn't get them - does that make me mean or an overprotective Plant Mum?

The attitude that "it's free so I'll have that, even if I don't know what to do with it" is one of the drawbacks to the freecycle idea. I would not give things away to anyone who demonstrated such an attitude, unless they were the only one asking (and then reluctantly). While there are people who value what you have to offer (or at least are prepared to PRETEND to value it) why give it to someone who doesn't?
Now if she had said "I've never tried that, it will be an interesting experiment" that would have been so much nicer!

**nilling** · 08-06-2009, 03:29 PM

I had a lot of spare Sunflowers the other year and so offered them on Freecycle. People were only asking for a few so I thought I would offer them to as many people as possible. As was at work I left 18 plants in shuttle tray by front door. Only, the first person round just took the lot of 'em and passed around their friends, the cheek of it

**dexterdoglancashire** · 08-06-2009, 04:29 PM

I know I'm being mean, BUT, Im very proud of my little seedlings growing into plants, and Im lucky enough (I hope) to give them away to family and friends - they are my babies and I would like them to go to good homes - and yes, I know Im sad!

**bluemoon** · 08-06-2009, 05:15 PM

I only give mine away to other people on the lotties. Mostly they go to good homes and occasionally they go to someone who hasn't tried them before. If they like it good, if not then they've at least tried it and it hasn't cost them anything. I personally discovered 'Pottimarron' pumkins that way, prior to that pumpkins had been flavourless, stringy mush, only fit for Hallowe'en lanterns, now they're my second favourite veg. There are a lot of people on free-cycle who genuinely want/need the things being offered and many others who are just out for what they can get. I really don't know how you tell the difference.

**sez** · 08-06-2009, 05:19 PM

I've offered a fair few plants on freecycle and specifically encourage non-growers...ie saying something will grow well in a tub and your kids can help. I figure the growers likely all have too many plants as it is!

**bluemoon** · 08-06-2009, 05:25 PM

Originally posted by sez View Post

I've offered a fair few plants on freecycle and specifically encourage non-growers...ie saying something will grow well in a tub and your kids can help. I figure the growers likely all have too many plants as it is!

You might have a point there, sez.

**bramble** · 08-06-2009, 07:43 PM

I'm afraid once you offer something for free you then don't know who is going to get your "babies"
try to offer them to someone who will be pleased to get them.

**janeyo** · 08-06-2009, 07:55 PM

I was a bit miffed the other day when a friend who I had grown some seedling for (toms and cukes) while they were away asked me if she could have another cuke as they had killed theirs! I was going to say no, but she spotted the spares in the greenhouse.
Made me feel like the effort I had put into them had been wasted

**katep23** · 08-06-2009, 09:34 PM

Someone on my local freecycle was giving away PSB plants so I asked for a couple and offered some butternut squash plants in return, the guy was very happy with the squash as his hadn't made it.

It was only when I got home that I discovered he had given me 8 PSB plants!!! Where am I going to plant them and how are we going to eat that much!

**SlugLobber** · 10-06-2009, 07:45 AM

I tend to use my spares as thank yous, whether it's freecycle or not. I do have a friend whom i've given plants to and watched them die. I gave her a bit of watering guidance and so far they're alive, this year! I do feel guilty 'abandoning' my babies, though!

**MaureenHall** · 10-06-2009, 08:10 AM

I advertised some extra veggies on Freecycle and stipulated that as I knew there'd be a lot of interest, I'd share them out equally amongst the people who asked for them. 1 lady emailed and said "I'll have 2 courgette, 4 tomato, 2 cucumbers, don't want any cabbages or anything like that. Where are you?" No "please may I" or anything polite!!! I emailed her back and said she was welcome to 4 tomatoes but only 1 each of the courgettes and cucumbers. They're still here waiting for her reply after 2 weeks!!!

**WeeGarden** · 10-06-2009, 08:13 AM

It's not overprotective at all... I'm so overprotective, that I have far too many tomato plants but still debating whether to put them up.

All my friends don't want them as they have enough too.

Originally posted by nilling View Post

I had a lot of spare Sunflowers the other year and so offered them on Freecycle. People were only asking for a few so I thought I would offer them to as many people as possible. As was at work I left 18 plants in shuttle tray by front door. Only, the first person round just took the lot of 'em and passed around their friends, the cheek of it

That *is* very cheeky.

I usually put them in little groups with a bit of wood with their names written on it on big fat black marker pen so that there is no confusion.

What about those people who say they'll turn up but don't?!

Rant over!

**SarzWix** · 10-06-2009, 08:17 AM

I don't think "I've never tried them" means that they aren't going to take care of them? More like they're being brave and trying new things, which is a big part of the new interest in GYO and I think should be encouraged! You might have ended up being the catalyst in a new convert to squash eating and growing

You could always send the plants off with a little print out on care of the plants, and a link to the Grapevine on the bottom

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