HOW TO START A BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING!

[americangardener]

Thank you so much Zac.. i appreciate the help. Quirky i know.. but these messages are so much easier to keep track of when i know where to look for them. I think someone else may eventually ask a question in here.. so maybe this will answer those too.

Jul 8, 2009 14:38:39 GMT -5 silverseeds said:

I met american gardener over at idig. he linked me here, and so far seems like a great place, Ive been poking around. So far people and goals here seem great. I sent this to american gardener in a PM but he thought I should post it here. I felt strang doing so as it would have been my first post, but if he sees value to it then I guess its good, have a good time people

Don't feel strange.. we all have our own agendas here. Mine just happens to be i think crazy ideas. Other people have farms and businesses to take care of. They're all good people.. if you ever need any help just ask. If someone here can't find something you're looking for then it just dosen't exist. Jump in anywhere and everywhere a topic interests you. And welcome to the forumn and happy birthday... i always get those confused. Nice to c'ya anyways.

You want to work with and build a bank of seeds with conditions and people who might not be the best growers.

Too late.. already did it... or at least the plan for it.

So I was thinking and possibly have a way around possible cross pollination issues.

Don't care.. i'll grow anything.. if it's possibly crossed tell me.. it's their names going down as grower.. their reputation not mine I'm just a seedbank that's open to the public.

okay the year you start, have them set up an account to order from you maybe.

Excellent idea.. already in the plans... remind me to get everyone heres email addresses that they have linked to their paypall accounts. I'll need to set up debit cards for each of the people who are helping and growing and packing and shipping and all that too.

Make it clear on your site where your seeds are from and how they are being grown.

Absolutely.. my guarantee is there is no guarantee. The packets have the growers name.. contact them.

offer to ANYONE to buy their grown out seed bought from you only.

I'll consider that.. i was thinking of just letting everyone in the world send me a baggie of fresh squeezed tomato seeds.. but your way might be easier.

of each sale. But I wouldnt just buy random seed from anyone personally, they could just get a tomatoe from a store, sure the seeds will be fine but who knows what variety youll be all messed up.

Well.. i have thoughts bout that too.. since i'm gonna germination test them myself... and do the fermenting myself i can have control over quality control. As for variety name.. i don't really care.. they can call it Zacs screwups for all i care. Name is irrelevant. If they want to pay a processing fee for me to ship them a trial packet with say ten seeds or so.. then they know there is no verification as to the authenticity of the seeds yet. When we get it we'll post it on the website.

I'm gonna have to hire someone to help me ferment them though.. Anyone here know how to turn on a hot water faucet?

with growers you trust, sell seed as normal comerrcially grown seed. with ANYONE else sell it as amatuer grown seed, for maybe 1/2 or 2/3 of the other seed you trust.

I trust anyone who can plant a seed. To me the rarer a variety is the more valuable it is.. i'm going the opposite.. the growers who are growing for me are gonna get paid better than the commercial seed companys.. sorry that's just the way i am. Bear with me on this.. but what i want is a $5 price tag for a 1/16th tsp packet size. I'll tell you it dosen't have anything to do with the selling price.. it's just something i want for marketing use later on. The ones i can purchase from commercial souces.. well those are so cheap i can sell those cheaper. So.. that's why i like my way better.. those although it might cost 3-450 per pound to buy.. theres literally several hundreds of thousands of seeds in a pound.. so when you break it down it's still only pennies per packet. Now i just need someone to work for a share of the corporation and i'm all set up. Nothing of my own packaged up yet.. but hopefully someone will want a job.

So when they send seed back, at the end of the year, give them a credit to their account but dont let them use it yet. so now your selling their seed.

Yes.. definately part of the plan.. i want everyone to take a credit for as many seeds as they can buy out of the seedbank. I'd much perfer an even swap.. but i don't have time for trading. I'd have to insist on a minimun amount of say 10 ziplocs in order to even consider listing it. but i could get seeds prepared for after the trials. You know how it goes. it never ends.

Maybe have trustworthy growers sell for 2 lets say, and seed labeled as grown out by amatuer or something sell it for less 1 or 1.5. So anyone whos buys this seed will be told there might be possible crosses, but it is unlikely as saving seed is simple etc etc. BUT if they do have a cross you will gladly EXCHANGE the seed.

Already covered the compensation part.. the feelings why it should be marketed as more valuable than a commercial variety that anyone can buy by the pound And to me it is.. if i can sell em.. i want to buy pounds of seeds from everyone in this forumn. And i wouldn't mind paying double or even triple what the commercial wholesale prices are for similar heirloom seeds are by the pound. I'd love to get to that stage.. but for now it's more like piece work. I gotta start somewhere. For now this is strictly a seedbank in my eyes.. i can't even imagine if i could sell pounds of seeds.. i'd have to hire more help.

So if a new growers seed doesnt have complaints, let them use their credit, they built up and after a couple years move them into the safer seed category.

Absolutely.. if a grower keeps getting complaints for their seed i'll do something bout it. Think of it this way.. you're taking no more risk buying from my customers as you are at buying from the seedsaver yearbook. I'll give the same guarantees as they do.

Offer the same deal to people with named varieties or ones the bred themselves. so you can increase you supply and variety. but if they dont get the credit until their seed is proven then they are mor elikely to take it halfway seriously plus if the seed is bad and you have to exchange it you will cover any overhead charges. obviously this wont attract many commerical growers, but then again maybe you cn single them out and treat them different since you can sell their seed for more anyway. could have a bonus for people who breed or find new varieties you dont already have, So over time theoreticlly you would build a base of people who save good seed, and have amassed you variety list for you, you can build a reputation as a place of good priced wide selections from the good growers, and cheap wide selections for the slightly adventuous or poor. with this system seems to me everyone wins, and if your upfront an honest there not much chance of making people mad, bc if they bought seed at their risk but with you willing to exchange it IF it doesnt breed true to type. but thats all up to you, could just be labeled as from amatuer source, at your risk at bargain prices. But once someone moves up and you trust them to grow good seed, pay them whattever is fair. but like I said dont pay them till you grew their seed out and know if it is good with decent germination. so after year 2 and there seed breed true you could then give them money or a credit or whatever. this should then spread the seed saving skills around ou there. not evryone would want to and obviously thats good because if everyone saved seed youd not have a company. I dont know if this helps but to me seemed like a way to incoproate even first time growers into the fold plus keep yourself with a positive name, just biyng any seed from anoyne wouldnt work, but this could, the right cpu program and a bookeeper to label, number and type everything into the cpu. wouldnt cause to much work to correlate each new grower with a number, which you put on the seed packet maybe,, if there are issues, people will complain and youll know somethings wAs with for that growers seed. You can then take it as you want, cancel their credit, or maybe lessen it and not let them grow for you.
Im not sure the costs involved and if this is even remotely relavant but, It seemed like a way to let amatuers in on the ground floor yet still have good seed, and then cheap seed. also selling in two tiers opens you up to more people. If you start building a little base, wel imagine the idig forum? I think they would line up, then of course your already trying to reach over seas so thats all the better.

I'll get back to the rest of the questions later..i'm taking a break. Anyone else wants to voulenteer 4 hours of their time a week let me know.. if you know how to do something.. i know how to make work. I used to do this for fun. I'll make you all the same proposition i made Jo.. 1 penny for 520 shares at this time next year.. after that the option will expire and i'll be free to sell those shares.

Dave

Wow i'm back again and i still don't know how to answer the rest of the questions or comments yet. Here's what i need from you.. i need an estimate of what you would charge to do that fermenting process and the packaging for as many seeds as it makes. I need to know what to charge for the service and i need to get it ready to be posted on the website when the time comes. I'm not doing anything to lose money.. of course i'm gonna mark up the cost on there.. so don't be alarmed. And i'm set that it'll be an extra dollar for anyone that requests bleach treatment.. that's how much i hate doing it. But that's just a simple little soak after you rinse the seed and before they dry. I'll split that with ya and you can get 50 cents if i ever ask you to do some with bleach. I'll get you set up with some ziploc baggies before october.. i'm thinking perhaps 2,000 to start. I'll just order them and have em sent to your house. In the meantime.. as soon as i can get this template done.. i can have you package about 300 tomato varieties for me into trial packets if you want something to do. That should easily fill up the 2000 envelopes. Then when we get these other seeds from some of my growers i can send em to you to process. It's gonna be slow to start.. but when i start needing hundreds of finished packets a day.. i'm gonna be able to pay you for that too. I'll set up a pay pall account for you.. and after the first one i'll start just sending you the money for the packaging and you can order what you need as you need it. You'll need a copier.. and i'm hoping not a whole lot of paper.. and of course ink cartridges and all that good stuff.

I'll get together a few ounces of bout twenty or so tomatoes i can send you to get started on when we get the supplies set up. The more you can get made ahead of opening day.. the less hectic it will be afterwards. Just so ya know.. and when you get those done.. i'll have someone set up to take the orders and fill em. I'll tell you where to send them when they're done.. just i don't know yet.

And let's see.. what else didn't i answer? Bout the website.. well if anyone else is reading this and is looking for some action.. i need someone to set up a website for me.. i'll get the domain name and you set it up. Again.. all i got to work with are stock options right now.. and we can make a deal for payment when the cash comes in. I want it to have two sections.. one for public.. one for members. Public one you could just copy what mountain valley seeds inventory is.. i have everything they have. For the members only i want a database set up like jay has his. I don't have time to scroll back thru these messages and find his link though.. anyone interested.. let's talk.

OK Zac.. sorry.. just have more on my mind than just you... anyone else wants to help Zac out let me know.. i got tons of seeds i need packaged. We can make a deal i'm sure.

NOW JO.. where are ya gal? I still don't know bout that template.. but i need something soon. Times running short. And as i mentioned.. i want that copy made up for posting on the website and in the newsletter about Fermenting Service.. we'll fill in the fee later. I'm hoping i can get around to writing it up in more detail for the newsletter if i can get some time to do it myself.

Anyways.. how confused are you people now?

Dave

[silverseeds]

yeah I didnt know your whole scope just an idea I had while reading the forum, and I guess it is ture it would be about as good as seed savers, although that might be a little more experienced growers, then you might draw, but I dont know your plans fuilly so I dont know. Either way I hope I might have stirred the pot a little and giving you some ideas. I hope you do well.

and what is this about a pennys for 520 shares? how does that work?

[silverseeds]

You seem to be focusing on tomatoes, did you want those varieties I listed, I never saw them listed anywhere but native seeds.org and they didnt have them listed anymore last I checked...and what is this about a job what is entailed I might be interested, unless it is charity work lol.

[americangardener]

Jul 8, 2009 16:03:19 GMT -5 silverseeds said:

You seem to be focusing on tomatoes, did you want those varieties I listed, I never saw them listed anywhere but native seeds.org and they didnt have them listed anymore last I checked...and what is this about a job what is entailed I might be interested, unless it is charity work lol.

Zac.. i'm focused on all the seeds.. but tomatoes are the ones that need fermenting. They take a little more processing than just drying. Sorry if it seems like they're getting special attention but that's just their time. Next week it will be a different crop.. you know how they don't all get harvested at the same time.

The job opening is open to anyone who can turn on a faucet.. follow directions and devote 4 hours a week to work. After that addtition overtime compensation or some other type of reimbursement can be negotiated... i know it will be necessary.. just not at this time unless you're a planner like i am. Don't know what else to tell you.. i want someone i can ship 20 2x3 inch ziploc baggies a day to.. Is that the job you were thinking bout? Cause if it's not i'm wasting my breath. You put a dab of pre-formed mold into the baggies.. seal em.. stand em in a shoebox for two days.. how long do you consider for that part? Let them ferment till the baggie swells.. and then rinse em in a seive with running hot water. Hot as your hands can stand. I know.. i hate that part too.. but it's only for a short while for you.. imagine doing it 16 hours a day. Rinse em good.. and flip the strainer into an alumimun pie tin. I can supply you with those if you don't have a dollar store near ya.. or i can reimburse you if you do. Spead em.. set in window for three or four hours to dry. Or actually any way you want to dry them.. Seperate all the seeds in the pie pan with your fingers when dry.. they should just seperate easily when rubbed between your fingers.. and don't worry if a couple stay stuck. Dump those into paper plates and dry for at least three more days in a sunny window.

Now that job entails having some supplies.. you need a seive, pie pans, paper plates and fingers. Think you can handle that..

Or were you considering the job of packaging the seeds... you could do that one too if you want. That's just an extra step of measuring the seeds with a 1/4 tsp and then dividing it into quarters and putting it in a ziploc baggie.. you may have to print out the labels to go in there since my printer dosen't work.. but that's it.. just take the seeds from the 2x3 inch baggies and put them into more 2x3 inch baggies.. only in smaller amounts. Should be around a thousand seeds in one 2x3 inch baggie.. how long do you think that will take to packet however number of baggies of 40 seeds each? Cause that's what a 1/16th tsp works out to be.. somewhere around there.

Give me a price or something if you are interested in that.. or doing piecework.. or exchanging time for seeds or anything.

Now.. what else do you do? i can find plenty of work for ya if you wanted to do the other part of helping to get the business going.

Dave

[silverseeds]

Well I am a stay at home dad. My wife has just been hired as a school teacher, and Im left to our 2 year old and the garden. Ive seved tomatoe seeds before, although I didnt know it had to be hot water you rinse them with. as for drying, this is new mexico Id be rushing to seperate them before they dry, lol. well it isnt that dry here but close. Id be happy to try it out see, if I think the pay equals the work, Ive not had much luck securing a part time job, and have been considering trying to grow seeds for a compny, but that doesnt seem to pay to well, I was thinking of trying selling seed on ebay or something, but my guess is the overhead for that place is to much but stll okay I guess since seeds are free once you got the first set of em.
How often would I be needing to get to the post office? I could put up a mailbox, but havent done so yet, and unless I really need to Id rather not,Ilike having the P.O. box. It is on the other side of town. we go once a week, but now that I think of it school lets out early enough my wife should be able to pick up anything after work if I can bribe her, lol. so yeah I would be interested to see the exact detail of what you want, and will give it a go. is that a cost effective way to process these things? I guess youd know your the one running the little show, but seems inefficient to me. But we havent known eachother long so Im not sure youd consider me, but I love anything of this nature, Im pretty quick with my hands, and could certainly use a little extra money. Let me know if you think you might want to take it to the next step, maybe you could call me, might feel better working out details on the phone. Let me know I have unlimited long distance or can PM you my number....

[americangardener]

Jul 8, 2009 15:39:15 GMT -5 silverseeds said:

yeah I didnt know your whole scope just an idea I had while reading the forum, and I guess it is ture it would be about as good as seed savers, although that might be a little more experienced growers, then you might draw, but I dont know your plans fuilly so I dont know. Either way I hope I might have stirred the pot a little and giving you some ideas. I hope you do well.

and what is this about a pennys for 520 shares? how does that work?

I like seedsavers alot.. don't get me wrong.. but what they can't do as a non profit i can do as a for profit corporation.. i just have to make some modifications. Fix it so it works for me. I liked your idea of memberships for the grower/seller/customer/members i haven't determined a fee.. but i'm going that direction now that you mentioned it. I just have to work out some consignment agreements that i can post on the website where i get a fee if i sell their products. They sell em with my name on em all by themselfs.. fine.. i get free publicity. But i can't see my fees needing to be anywhere near as high as ebays.. no auctions.. set prices.. alot less hassle with the database too. Make it where they can exchange packet for packet of any other members seeds or pay a processing fee for us to take it out of the seedbank.. heck.. i'm even considering a fee for putting it in. But that's all just ideas right now. I haven't had time to work that one out yet.

Yes seedsavers are a great customer to have.. but i'm not planning on stopping there either. I plan to mass market some varietites by the pound if i can to people who grow for home markets or farmers markets.. those of course will be well tested proven seeds.. but you can see where i'm going.. i want the whole world to be customers of my seeds. Where actually i'm just the caretaker for em for a little while. I can't see having anything locked away for ever.. i'm gonna try and get what i can out to as many people as i can too. It'll be a team effort for sure.. i'll need all the members to conform to some standard methods of seed processing.. but i think that's just something else that can be taught in a quarterly newsletter. That kind of stuff.. heck.. i'm even thinking of charging some people for growing out and verifying authenticity of plants for a fee.. and then just getting my voulenteers do it while i watch. But there's just a few things i'd like to pick up where SS left off. It's all in the plans.. and i do want all my customers to be able to send in any seed they'd be proud to put their name on. That's just the way i am... if they get listed they get consignments. Simple as that.

And don't worry.. everyone here reading this has already gotten a lifetime membership if that's a concern.

Dave

[americangardener]

Jul 8, 2009 16:50:36 GMT -5 silverseeds said:

Well I am a stay at home dad. My wife has just been hired as a school teacher, and Im left to our 2 year old and the garden. Ive seved tomatoe seeds before, although I didnt know it had to be hot water you rinse them with. as for drying, this is new mexico Id be rushing to seperate them before they dry, lol. well it isnt that dry here but close.

Sorry it's my own patented process.. if i'm ever gonna be able to franchise this business i need everything standardized. i have to insist on the process being followed. The hot water is an adaptation from what commercial seed companies use to do a hot water treatment for sterilizing and disease pathogens on the seeds outer shells. Dosen't kill pathogens in the endosperm.. but it's better than cold water by any means. Sorry for the pain.

Now i'm only limiting you to 20 a day cause i have concerns bout window space. They can't be dryed outside if you have an unsheltered area where weed seeds can blow if from the wind. All i want going on those seeds is the UV rays.. and that label you hear tell about.. well it's wet when you fold it over the pie tins.. but when transferred to the paper plates it has to be attached somehow.. you got any gum? I wouldn't say to do it outside unless you're a hundred percent postive nothing will get in or out of those seeds. But if you weren't limited by window space.. i could see possibliites to do more if you wanted. But we'll see how it works out first. Have you ever fermented tomato seeds before? If so.. forget what you know. you'll be doing it different.

Id be happy to try it out see, if I think the pay equals the work, Ive not had much luck securing a part time job, and have been considering trying to grow seeds for a compny, but that doesnt seem to pay to well, I was thinking of trying selling seed on ebay or something, but my guess is the overhead for that place is to much but stll okay I guess since seeds are free once you got the first set of em.

Well, lets see bout the pay equalling the work.. if i'm doing my job right you could be hansomely compensated for the work you do. I've got to sell em next... If you're considering the offer i'm making to eveyone who helps out in some fashion.. i'm taking on shareholders. That's what the option is for.. i'm only allowed 35 and i'm leaving 5 spots open. So that's only 30 shareholders i can have.. when i get that many that i've promised options too.. well then i can't sell myself anymore. If you work for me i want you to be a shareholder.. it's not neccessary if you don't like gambling.. but i'm betting this company will take off and then we'd all be rewarded for our work.. but it'll be a gamble on your part. I can pay you in seeds.. or on some kind of hourly rate for anything you do over the 4 if you wanted to trade yourself for the option. Or we can figure out a piece work price.. or whatever compensation you want. You want straight cash? I could do that too.. it wouldn't be nearly as profitable to take the cash in my opinion.. but i'm willing to make whatever arrangements to get the work done. Let me know what you have in mind?

How often would I be needing to get to the post office? I could put up a mailbox, but havent done so yet, and unless I really need to Id rather not,Ilike having the P.O. box. It is on the other side of town. we go once a week, but now that I think of it school lets out early enough my wife should be able to pick up anything after work if I can bribe her, lol. so yeah I would be interested to see the exact detail of what you want, and will give it a go. is that a cost effective way to process these things?

Well the trips to the post office might be a problem.. could you do it weekly? I could send a weeks supply and you could do them in one day if you wanted to and had the drying space. the next day make a trip to pickup and dropoff. I think we can work from there.

I guess youd know your the one running the little show, but seems inefficient to me. But we havent known eachother long so Im not sure youd consider me, but I love anything of this nature, Im pretty quick with my hands, and could certainly use a little extra money.

YEah its good to be king.. erhh founder i mean. But i'm willing to listen to anyone who wants to give advice. I can be set in my ways.. but i usually give every action i take alot of thought.. i don't make many mistakes.. and if i do.. i know how to fix em.

It may seem inefficent to you right now.. but that's only cause of your postal situation. I would ideally like someone i can just have pick the packages up directly from my customers if i ever do offer this as a service to the public. Have every package mailed to the person doing the fermenting.. have that same person package em up into small size packets and then pass that along to the person who's doing the selling and order filling.. but i haven't gotten that far along yet. For now it'll just be a trickle coming in.. actually the tomato harvest season dosen't even start for me for another month. I'm just getting things set up for now. Now i can do my own.. but i don't have time to do extras.. well i would if i got paid for it.. but then i'd have to neglect other projects i really need to get done right now. If you give me a quote on how much you'd want to package a pound of tomato seeds that are already dried and germ tested.. i'm looking for someone to do that as well as everything else. Not that you're stuck doing any job i offer.. you can tell me what you want to do and i'll make work for ya.. just that i'll be needing lots and lots and lots of packages premade before i start selling. Like i mentioned tomatoes are oh.. somewhere around 2000 or so small packets of 1/4 tsp size.. so it'd be around 8000 packets per pound i'll need people to package up. I wouldn't send ya a whole pound of one variety though.. i've got maybe 30 lbs of about 50 different varieties i need done though.. but just in say 100 packet at a time batches.. just till i can get the income coming in in october. I know i need to order you the ziplocs if you agree to do it. And it may not seem efficient.. i can't afford to do it efficeintly right now.. i have to pay more for time and labor and packagaing and all the other supplies when i start up.. that's just part of the game. And as i get more set up i can become more streamlined. And for now.. the label i have and the ziplocs will work for the startup of the trial packets. What i loose in efficiency.. i hope i can make up in savings by making my own templates for my own labels and then having other people fill them out. To me it's the most efficient method i can come up with with what i have to work with.

Let me know if you think you might want to take it to the next step, maybe you could call me, might feel better working out details on the phone. Let me know I have unlimited long distance or can PM you my number....

I'll get your phone number later.. and i perfer to talk right here.. i have nothing to hide from anyone .. and i like being able to have a record of our conversations and agreements. If you'd like i can get someone to transcibe the thread for ya.. but this is where the deals are made.. anything private.. of course PM that. I just don't have time for one on one converstations most of the time. I'd rather have answers already here for the next person who reads it.

Dave

[silverseeds]

that makes sense as for having it out in the open, but after that huge long post I am nearly as confuesd as I was prior. I dont know anything about companies or shareholders or anything.

As for sun, its sunny 300 days a years here. I have several large winodws, if If I had a way around the wind a large yard, but the wind would limit that for now anyway. I cant definately get to the post office once a week, two or three times a week is no problem either if I had a reason. I of course would have no problem preserving the seeds any way you wish, its not an issue, it is simpy my seed saving book never said I should. It told me to freeze them I think but I didnt actually do it.

processing 8000 plus packets of seed is certainly a task, but I think id be fine, Ive done piece work in factories and broken their records. Just depends. I dont have time for full time work, but 20 hours a week I could find the time. especialy something like this I could do in between feeding my little caveman. With enough seed I could see I might want another table to put in front of the other window. How long you want them in the sun again?

hmm I dont know what to say really, but I dont get the whole scope I guess. Im th type to understand things completly front and back or not at all, at this point Im at not at all still. lol
I dont even know what to ask exactly so I will just wait to see if your next posts clarifies anything.

[americangardener]

I know i'm confusing everyone.. that's why i like talking with everyone at once.. it helps me to clarify it for everyone at the same time. I know it's hard for you to read minds.. it's not necessary for you to know how to run a corporation.. i'm not inviting you to be on the board of directors or anything.. we can handle that part. Just checking to see if you'd be interested in doing some fermenting and packaging and anything else you can think of to help us get the corporation running. It takes workers to make a business prosper.. and i'm only one. I need more people to join with me. I give out the option of 520 shares because it works out to be 10 a share book price now.. i have no idea how much it could be worth this time next year. The penny is just a token really.. if you want to exercise the option and buy em for a penny.. i'll make ya a gift of the penny. It's no big deal really.. just i'd like my employees to share in any of the profits they brought in.. that's all. You don't have to exercise the option.. but i'll keep it open in case you do.

You do know the planned start up of the website is supposed to be Oct 31st. I really don't know how much you can get packaged before then.. or how much i'll need packaged. I could probably send you down about a pound of different tomato varieties and you could make up a hundred packets or less of each. Get started there.. cause the fermenting won't normally start for a couple more weeks for anyone else.. and i have no idea if anyone will want to take me up on the trade i posted at iDig.. ten of my packets from my selection of over 300 tomato varieties for each of their ziplocs of wet seed. If i can get those lined up.. i may need you sooner. Do you have a place where you can keep a moldy jar? You'll need something to keep a mold spawn in. I use a 5 gallon bucket.. but i do more than most people. If you have any tomatoes to practice with.. let me know.. i can walk you thru the first one and see how you do. It's really simple actually.

Dave

Jul 8, 2009 18:15:25 GMT -5 silverseeds said:

that makes sense as for having it out in the open, but after that huge long post I am nearly as confuesd as I was prior. I dont know anything about companies or shareholders or anything.

As for sun, its sunny 300 days a years here. I have several large winodws, if If I had a way around the wind a large yard, but the wind would limit that for now anyway. I cant definately get to the post office once a week, two or three times a week is no problem either if I had a reason. I of course would have no problem preserving the seeds any way you wish, its not an issue, it is simpy my seed saving book never said I should. It told me to freeze them I think but I didnt actually do it.

processing 8000 plus packets of seed is certainly a task, but I think id be fine, Ive done piece work in factories and broken their records. Just depends. I dont have time for full time work, but 20 hours a week I could find the time. especialy something like this I could do in between feeding my little caveman. With enough seed I could see I might want another table to put in front of the other window. How long you want them in the sun again?

hmm I dont know what to say really, but I dont get the whole scope I guess. Im th type to understand things completly front and back or not at all, at this point Im at not at all still. lol
I dont even know what to ask exactly so I will just wait to see if your next posts clarifies anything.

[silverseeds]

i only have a few tomatoes plants this year, wont be producing for maybe 3 weeks or a month. i know the basic process, and yes I would follow your method but it would still be basically the same. I have two sheds if that is fine for moldy jars, I CAN keep some inside, but I spiled one last year, and would lke to avoid that unless its a problem for you. Im a pretty flexible person and a fast learner its just fourms are tricky. I still have no idea what all this options stuff is. Its certainly curious. are you saying Id own part of the company? are you saying owning part of the company IS the payment? I can do any menial labor without a doubt, and next year could grow out a certain amount of things if it was needed. But Im on a 1/4 right now, and plan to grow most of my own food if possible. Of course besides beans the seeds will generally be left over. In a few years, 3-5 I will have much much more land, I already do actually but not in a posiion to live ther enow. although it is a remote possibility we find someone to do a homeowners financing and get a larger yard before this time, if so that would be this winter.
you said 4 hours a week in one post, I could easily devote 20 depending on the details. you certainly have my interests peaked.

[americangardener]

Jul 8, 2009 19:47:58 GMT -5 silverseeds said:

i only have a few tomatoes plants this year, wont be producing for maybe 3 weeks or a month. i know the basic process, and yes I would follow your method but it would still be basically the same. I have two sheds if that is fine for moldy jars, I CAN keep some inside, but I spiled one last year, and would lke to avoid that unless its a problem for you. Im a pretty flexible person and a fast learner its just fourms are tricky. I still have no idea what all this options stuff is. Its certainly curious. are you saying Id own part of the company? are you saying owning part of the company IS the payment? I can do any menial labor without a doubt, and next year could grow out a certain amount of things if it was needed. But Im on a 1/4 right now, and plan to grow most of my own food if possible. Of course besides beans the seeds will generally be left over. In a few years, 3-5 I will have much much more land, I already do actually but not in a posiion to live ther enow. although it is a remote possibility we find someone to do a homeowners financing and get a larger yard before this time, if so that would be this winter.
you said 4 hours a week in one post, I could easily devote 20 depending on the details. you certainly have my interests peaked.

You only need one jar or bucket or whatever you want to use to make the spawn in.. you don't ferment in those.. that's what the baggies are for. Simple enough to open the top. put a dab of mold in it and seal it back tight and then just stand it up in a shoebox. A shoebox will hold hundreds of em at a time. When they swell up is when you have to get your hands wet. Anything you can find now.. any tomato juice.. go ahead and get started making the mold. Squeeze the seeds out of your first tomatoes over a seive over your jar or bucket.. better yet.. squeeze the seeds out of a hundred tomatoes like that over a bucket.. you'll have some nice mold growing in no time. I know simple little step.. but it saves days of waiting. I don't have time to explain how everything works and what it does.. you'll learn as you go.

But, that's basically it.. and anyone knows how to put dried seeds into a package.. when the paper plates are done drying.. fold up the label.. put it into a clean ziploc.. pour the seeds in and seal it up. Now that's just the fermenting part.. you can elborate on the putting it into the envelope if you want.. you can put it into ten envelopes, 20, however many you can get out of between 800-1000 seeds. Or how ever many you have time to do.. i don't have a copier.. do you? It makes life a whole lot easier.

As i said.. forget what you read.. i didn't write those books.. this is from my instructions instead. I like to do things my way.. sorry bout that.. but forget those books.

Dave

[silverseeds]

like I said I would do it on your termsI have half a tomaoe I was about to throw into the compost lol. the mold took about three days to form if I remember, im guessing you want to cut out that time span, and have the mold do its job. I know basically what it does. Would you be sending whole tomatoes? or just the seeds in that gekl stuff?, because if its just the seeds, I guess I would have to but some tomatoes to get the mold.

Im not worried about that part, because I can follow directions and have no issue getting my hands dirty.

I just want to understand the rest. what is the stuff about the shares, mean. lay it out for a person who never ran a company before. and do you ntend to pay me, or what exactly that whole deal is. I have no worries about the rest, I have time, I have sunny windows. I can get to the post office two or three times aweek, every day IF there was a NEEd. I would happily follow the way you want obviously because Id be doing it for you. no issues there, just explain the rest lol we will get this ironed out before to long

[silverseeds]

Dave Ive been reading your webpage, and I am impressed by your mission. I agree with every wor dI have read so far. I applaud you, and wish you th best of luck in this. Yours is a noble goal sir. Some claim the terminator genes arent so bad because some chemicals turns them on. I dont buy it. this is a genie we need to keep in the botle or fight any way we legally can. I cant commit any given amount of space, to grow seed, but I will be growing seed for you if all goes well. why anyone would throw away a seed in times like these, that is ahlfway aware of whats happening is beyond me. public awareness on this will only grow. Just this year people in my family started growing a few things in their yard. I doubt they are smart enough to save their own seed, actually. but the trends are growing. I decided about a month ago that this was my goal. spreading the seeds as you are. I kinda pictured a seed bank where you send me an ounce of seed A I send you your choice of a 1/2 oz of whatever. Do increases on each and keep it going. funded by a few varieties I would grow myself with the highest profit margin. But I am nowhere near being able to do thia, I have other things to do first.
Im glad your in a position to make a go at it. No matter wha future we face, this is among humanities top issues. as I see it. what is happening to the oceans, the chemicals in our air of course and the seeds. (Im completly convinced co2 based global warming is a myth)

[americangardener]

Thanks Zak.. if you read it maybe you can remind me how much i had in the budget for your job.. i can't recall right now but we'll work out something for the extra 15 hours.. the 5 is what i'm giving you the stock options for.. so however you want that we'll work out either cash payments to your debit card or stocks or seeds or whatever you want.. don't forget to give me a quote as to what you think your time is worth to do the fermenting. Me i can do about 300 2x3 packets a day when i clean them.. but i wouldn't expect that much from you when you're still learning. We'll get you started on a practice batch soon and that way you can get your mold culture started.. it'll last all year. you'll only need the one jar or bucket. For starters though i might teach you how to field process them just for you to understand the process it should go thru before it gets to you. Not something you'll have to do again.. but a bucket of mold can come in handy.. and that's what you'll have from the field processing part of it. So you can just use that.. put some in a jar or whatever. And save that for later. Anyways.. you know the business plan better than i do now.. I'll get around to tearing it apart and putting in more accurate numbers later. I still have other business to attend to. So are you in? We can get an employment agreement made up if it makes you feel better. You'll have to keep records for me too.. but just bout your portion of the work. I'll get someone to write up the agreement as soon as i get my legal dept ready. And i'm just not ready to switch hats yet.

OK INVESTORS!! Where are ya? I need you now.. i had several of you ask me about investing months ago.. well now i need the committments. I'm looking for investors who can committ to investing a minimum of $100 a month for a year. Gotta be reliable.. and you know how stocks work.. for $10 you get one share.. no voting rights.. however board of director postitions are open.. treasureur, secretary, president, vice president, You name it.. they're all open seats right now. Anyone interested i'm only gonna pick three or four people to sit on the board.

I'll give ya all a couple weeks to see this.. then i'm going outside the group for investors. And you all may not like it when i bring in someone just for their money. As i said.. i'm picky bout my shareholders.. and i want shareholders with hands on experience in seeds and gardening or business operations.

Anyways.. back to you Zak.. whatever you want to decide for compensation.. you'll get a 1099 at the end of the year for tax purposes. I can't hire anyone on as an employee right now.. i just don't have the time to do the bookkeeping for wages. Too much tax deductions and stuff to deal with. As soon as i get the accountant on line to take some of this work off my shoulders.. i'll see bout hiring you on with medical benefits. That'll be in the future though.

If you ever want to branch out on your own and start your own side business when i'm not keeping you too busy.. go right ahead.. i'll give you a franchise later. But first things first.. i gotta get the money coming in.

Dave

Jul 9, 2009 0:28:12 GMT -5 silverseeds said:

Dave Ive been reading your webpage, and I am impressed by your mission. I agree with every wor dI have read so far. I applaud you, and wish you th best of luck in this. Yours is a noble goal sir. Some claim the terminator genes arent so bad because some chemicals turns them on. I dont buy it. this is a genie we need to keep in the botle or fight any way we legally can. I cant commit any given amount of space, to grow seed, but I will be growing seed for you if all goes well. why anyone would throw away a seed in times like these, that is ahlfway aware of whats happening is beyond me. public awareness on this will only grow. Just this year people in my family started growing a few things in their yard. I doubt they are smart enough to save their own seed, actually. but the trends are growing. I decided about a month ago that this was my goal. spreading the seeds as you are. I kinda pictured a seed bank where you send me an ounce of seed A I send you your choice of a 1/2 oz of whatever. Do increases on each and keep it going. funded by a few varieties I would grow myself with the highest profit margin. But I am nowhere near being able to do thia, I have other things to do first.
Im glad your in a position to make a go at it. No matter wha future we face, this is among humanities top issues. as I see it. what is happening to the oceans, the chemicals in our air of course and the seeds. (Im completly convinced co2 based global warming is a myth)

[flowerpower]

Dave, I can always package dry seed for you. I have a nice printer, so copies are no problem. But I have no room for fermenting seeds. I have to do mine in stages. lol You can hook me up with a good seed order next spring.