How to safely send seeds across the pond

International
#1

Over the years, Ive been able to get seeds to every continent using this method.

Corrugated plastic and Q-Tips

I get a for sale sign that is corrugated plastic then i plug one end with a Q-Tip, put in the seeds, then plug the other end with a qtip.

Place this in a standard sized envelope to mail. This bypasses most security scrutiny and protects the seeds against being crushed by the dreaded sorting rollers.
If i have to fill out a customs form, i just declare they are jewelry beads.

Never had a single problem with this method.
Plus, its super cheap both in materials and postage cost

IMG_20220614_033709012
IMG_20220614_0337090122250Ă—4000 334 KB
IMG_20220614_033714626
IMG_20220614_0337146262250Ă—4000 179 KB
IMG_20220614_033721983
IMG_20220614_0337219832250Ă—4000 250 KB

25 Likes
Ways to send seeds... WAY TO SEND SEEDS!
#2

I’ve seen this used a few times. I received an order from a highly reputable Canadian breeder sent to me this way and Canadian customs, on exit from the country, ran a blade through each sleeve destroying about half of the beans and left a nice little “opened by Canadian customs” postcard and tape on it.

20211022_111530
20211022_1115301908Ă—4032 439 KB
20211022_110736
20211022_1107361908Ă—4032 460 KB

11 Likes
#3

I’ve sent and received beans using that method also but prefer the coin flip and washer . Envelope feels like one of those singing greeting cards seldom do I get questioned as to what’s in the envelope .

8 Likes
#4

Man I absolutely despise that corrugated plastic :see_no_evil:
Still seen seeds crushed in them. Multiple times have had two rows fall out at once.
While they do work, I think coinflips and washers are far easier to use from the standpoint of the receiver… Sure you can’t fit as many in an envelope, but can still fit quite a few :wink:

7 Likes
#5

That’s like finding a note under your wiper blade after a luxury SUV backs into and destroys the rear corner panel of your family vehicle.

“Sorry about car”

The FSFC thread is a great example of the old hose washer trick working pretty much internationally.

7 Likes
#6

Jesus thats aweful.

I’ll look at alternatives

1 Like
#7

same here 2 or 3 mixed up
But seeds did get here safely

3 Likes
#8

Years ago I sent myself a package from Amsterdam containing a pipe. Canadian customs opened it, smashed the pipe and sealed it back up.

More recently the fuckers stole my pomegranate seeds.

Their duty is to charge me duty…

6 Likes
#9

This one shipment im sending 140 seeds

3 Likes
#10

I’ve been using bud light bottle caps for years and it has never failed me yet…I also have 3 friends who work for the USPS and they said if you don’t want your envelope to go through the sorting machines all you have to do is tell them and it’s an additional charge…I just mailed an envelope with seeds yesterday and it was 0.88 cents.

Btw, I’ve also shipped/received cuttings/clones across the big pond…

8 Likes
#12

Your best bet would be to use impact-resistant plastic vials or something similar and put those inside a bubble envelope mailer, then write the words “non machinable” on the front of the envelope.

A small parcel package may also be used in place of the bubble mailer, make sure all seams are well taped with quality tape for extra security.
Some of the small parcel sorting machines don’t play nice with some of the small parcels… many times, taping seams is necessary to keep the contents inside the parcel during rough handling and/or transportation.

Non-machinable means it will be sorted by hand and won’t run the risk of being put through any letter automation machines. The automation machines will definitely crush and destroy anything that doesn’t lay flat in the envelope, anything that can’t bend or anything that is thicker than 1/4”. The wheels and rollers in these machines can force loose coins to rip through their envelopes and become lost in the machine, soft bulky items will get destroyed right away.

It will cost a little more for postage if it’s non-machinable, but it won’t get destroyed before it gets to its destination either.

And yes, I work for the USPS.

8 Likes
#13

Awesome name

Some of my most profound spiritual downloads have been on ketamine

1 Like
#14

Yes sir, not to give away too much, but I usually glue a photo to it so it looks like a backing to go inside a photo frame. A handwritten note on the opposite side as well. Like a postcard. :+1:

1 Like
#15

The secret is to use two bamboo BBQ skewers between the rows. The seeds won’t get squished if there is a sturdy barrier protecting them.

3 Likes
#16

In a 5x7 greeting card you can fit 6 coinflips with washers…that might not get you to 140 though. It’s the cheapest route and I’ve never lost one but there probably safer ways that cost more.

3 Likes
#17

Yeah I’ve no idea what the point of the exercise was other than a deliberate “fuck you, pothead”

Why not just destroy the package rather than sending me the scraps? Luckily some beans survived the govt sanctioned vandalism of personal property

3 Likes
#18

Depending what country you’re going to, places that use xray machines will outsmart just about any “stealth” you use.

Also, I don’t know about anywhere else but Australia now has xray machines specifically designed to pick up seeds, I’ve lost a lot of packages to this machine I suspect

2 Likes
#19

I’ve gotten into AUS many times but I think stealth methods are only stealth if they’re not public

If anyone actually needs to send something to Australia and is reading this feel free to PM me

that’s easy enough to work around with that X-ray
Can’t stop me lol

2 Likes
#20

I’ve still got plenty through but I reckon I’ve lost about 1/4 of packages I’ve ordered.

#21

Trade you some beans for the next time they drop beer collabs with that show ur pic is of

Can’t remember the name but I’ve loved that shit for half a decade or more
Haha

haven’t lost one out of 15x or so