Seed Bags?

barryla61 · February 28, 2012

Where can I find the little zip lock bags that some of you use for sharing seeds?

Tracydr · February 28, 2012

I'm looking for the same thing. I've got to figure out a way to organize my small seeds.
Also, what's a good container to store the larger seeds in?
Finally, what do folks store and organize their seeds in? Do you remove seeds from the original packets and put them in baggies? Then into a file system or what?

tam91 · February 28, 2012

I got the little ziploc bags on Ebay.
I bought trading card plastic storage sheets at an office store, and put them in a binder that zips closed.
If the packet is small enough, I just put it in the pocket. If it's too big, I re-pack them into the ziploc baggie. My intent would be to put them all in baggies, and make labels, etc. So far, I have been to lazy to complete that project

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · February 28, 2012

I think most office supply stores like staples or office max. I also know craft stores that have them but if I remember right the office stores were cheaper.

Craig

kath · February 28, 2012

Walmarts here carry the 2" size 100/$1.99; Michael's carries a variety of smaller and larger sizes but are more expensive than WM- not too bad if you use their "40-50% on one item" coupons and buy one bag a week.

I've gone through a lot of bags in the past 2 years, but never bothered buying in bulk online.

Wi-sunflower · February 28, 2012

I get mine at Hobby Lobby.

They have 2 brands at different places in the store. 1 isn't the cheapest at 100 bags for $1.99. But the other 1 is 300 bags for $3.99.

I recently heard of a mail order place in NY but I mis-filed the link at the moment. Their price on the bags was better but I don't know what the shipping will be. Sometimes the shipping is the price killer.

As for storing the seeds afterwards, many people do use the trading card folders. But if you are saving multiple packets for trading/selling some use the tool type cabinets with 30 or more small drawers.

Personally I have too many larger packs of seeds so I have them in quart baggies in file folders in a large file cabinet. And duplicates in boxes filed by year in an upstairs bedroom. I really need to come up with something better tho.

Carol

Sundrops · February 28, 2012

Uline has every size bag imaginable. My son had a auto restoration retail business and had lots of them left over. I grabbed them when he quit selling retail.

greyghost · February 28, 2012

I also was happy with the selection at uline.com; I have another site
listed in my notes for anyone interested in ordering on line-earthstarproducts.com. The later had a nice selection of plastic plant labels,
too.

Boutique Tomatoes · February 28, 2012

Crazycoolbuys.com was where I ordered from, 1000 bags for under $10 with free shipping.

dice · February 28, 2012

Earthstar: http://www.earthstarproducts.shoppin...m/catalog.html
Uline: http://www.uline.com/Product/AdvSear...able+poly+bags
American Science and Surplus: http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/subsection/7

ljp · February 28, 2012

I get 2"*2" Ziplocs at the dollar store. They are a craft supply item for storing tiny beads.

Alpinejs · March 4, 2012

I posted this elsewhere but this is perhaps a more appropriate forum.

For storing my seed collection, I feel I finally found a rather ideal system. If you know a
testing diabetic, ask them to save the testing strip cartons for you. They are black and
about the size of the old Kodak film cannisters. I put a white glue on label with name,
date and source. Harbor Freight carries little compartmentalized clear plastic trays
probably meant for washers, screws, bolts, etc., but just the right size for the testing
cannisters. The advantages are.....the trays are stackable, viewable and the cannisters
have attached but pop open lids and make seed retrieval far, far easier than the zip
lock envelopes. Having struggled with trying to retrieve a couple seeds out of the zip
locks, I can't be more happy with my new system

On a tougher note, testing diabetics go through almost one carton per week (52/yr)
and usually know other diabetics that also test several times a day and they are more
than willing, usually, to save them for a good cause.

If you can find a source or a similar product, I highly recommend the clear plastic trays.
I keep mine stacked in the garage where it is cool. As for larger seeds, I use prescription
bottles and haven't found the perfect case to hold them yet, but I am sure I will. It is so
nice, also, to be able to locate a certain variety's seeds in a matter of seconds as opposed
to flipping pages or paging through a file drawer or innumerable other systems that I
tried. If you can, try this one as a test, at least. I do still use zip-locks for sharing seeds.

February 28, 2012	#1
barryla61 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bedford, VA Posts: 256	Seed Bags? Where can I find the little zip lock bags that some of you use for sharing seeds?

February 28, 2012	#3
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	I got the little ziploc bags on Ebay. I bought trading card plastic storage sheets at an office store, and put them in a binder that zips closed. If the packet is small enough, I just put it in the pocket. If it's too big, I re-pack them into the ziploc baggie. My intent would be to put them all in baggies, and make labels, etc. So far, I have been to lazy to complete that project __________________ Tracy

February 28, 2012	#10
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Earthstar: http://www.earthstarproducts.shoppin...m/catalog.html Uline: http://www.uline.com/Product/AdvSear...able+poly+bags American Science and Surplus: http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/subsection/7 __________________ -- alias

February 28, 2012	#2
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I'm looking for the same thing. I've got to figure out a way to organize my small seeds. Also, what's a good container to store the larger seeds in? Finally, what do folks store and organize their seeds in? Do you remove seeds from the original packets and put them in baggies? Then into a file system or what?

February 28, 2012	#4
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	I think most office supply stores like staples or office max. I also know craft stores that have them but if I remember right the office stores were cheaper. Craig

February 28, 2012	#5
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Walmarts here carry the 2" size 100/$1.99; Michael's carries a variety of smaller and larger sizes but are more expensive than WM- not too bad if you use their "40-50% on one item" coupons and buy one bag a week. I've gone through a lot of bags in the past 2 years, but never bothered buying in bulk online.

February 28, 2012	#6
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	I get mine at Hobby Lobby. They have 2 brands at different places in the store. 1 isn't the cheapest at 100 bags for $1.99. But the other 1 is 300 bags for $3.99. I recently heard of a mail order place in NY but I mis-filed the link at the moment. Their price on the bags was better but I don't know what the shipping will be. Sometimes the shipping is the price killer. As for storing the seeds afterwards, many people do use the trading card folders. But if you are saving multiple packets for trading/selling some use the tool type cabinets with 30 or more small drawers. Personally I have too many larger packs of seeds so I have them in quart baggies in file folders in a large file cabinet. And duplicates in boxes filed by year in an upstairs bedroom. I really need to come up with something better tho. Carol

February 28, 2012	#7
Sundrops Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 36	Uline has every size bag imaginable. My son had a auto restoration retail business and had lots of them left over. I grabbed them when he quit selling retail.

February 28, 2012	#8
greyghost Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: southeastern PA Posts: 760	I also was happy with the selection at uline.com; I have another site listed in my notes for anyone interested in ordering on line-earthstarproducts.com. The later had a nice selection of plastic plant labels, too.

February 28, 2012	#9
Boutique Tomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a Posts: 1,109	Crazycoolbuys.com was where I ordered from, 1000 bags for under $10 with free shipping.

February 28, 2012	#11
ljp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 189	I get 2"*2" Ziplocs at the dollar store. They are a craft supply item for storing tiny beads.

March 4, 2012	#12
Alpinejs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alpine, Calif. in winter. Sandpoint Lake, Ont. Canada summers Posts: 850	I posted this elsewhere but this is perhaps a more appropriate forum. For storing my seed collection, I feel I finally found a rather ideal system. If you know a testing diabetic, ask them to save the testing strip cartons for you. They are black and about the size of the old Kodak film cannisters. I put a white glue on label with name, date and source. Harbor Freight carries little compartmentalized clear plastic trays probably meant for washers, screws, bolts, etc., but just the right size for the testing cannisters. The advantages are.....the trays are stackable, viewable and the cannisters have attached but pop open lids and make seed retrieval far, far easier than the zip lock envelopes. Having struggled with trying to retrieve a couple seeds out of the zip locks, I can't be more happy with my new system On a tougher note, testing diabetics go through almost one carton per week (52/yr) and usually know other diabetics that also test several times a day and they are more than willing, usually, to save them for a good cause. If you can find a source or a similar product, I highly recommend the clear plastic trays. I keep mine stacked in the garage where it is cool. As for larger seeds, I use prescription bottles and haven't found the perfect case to hold them yet, but I am sure I will. It is so nice, also, to be able to locate a certain variety's seeds in a matter of seconds as opposed to flipping pages or paging through a file drawer or innumerable other systems that I tried. If you can, try this one as a test, at least. I do still use zip-locks for sharing seeds.