2024-25 Canadian Donations

[MarcR]

Please note:

I will not be able to handle Canadian donations this year.
Last year the Canadian Dept of Agriculture was unwilling or unable to co-operate with the inspection process and the Canadian Donations were excluded from the  PHYTO certificate.

I would be willing to co-ordinate the Canadian donations if the Canadian government was willing to co-operate with the process; but, alas,  they are not.  :'(

The website has not yet been modified to reflect this change

[Grahame Ware]

Hey Marc: It is easy for Canadian members of the SRGC to send seeds to the seedex. A phyto from CFIA (Can. Food Inspection Agency) costs but $12 and it goes direct to Scotland. I highly recommend that every Canadian member be on the prowl for seeds over the next while and keep "our" seedex as the best in the world.

[Grahame Ware]

Marc: I would like to make another point or two on Canadians donating seed. I can see why the CFIA did not want to "cooperate". For starters, why would Canadian members of the SRGC purchase their phytos so they could send the seeds to the US only to have you or them have more expense and hassle (for you apparently) sending them on to Scotland? It just doesn't make sense. It never made sense to "pool"- except for US members.
Good luck for the next seedex.

[MarcR]

Grahame,

Last year Several Canadian Donors Sent me their donations  under my small lots permit.  No Phyto was necessary.

Many members are uncomfortable with the PHYTO application process; and  each Canadian donor would have saved $12 and the hassle of applying for a PHYTO if CFIA had cooperated.

[Grahame Ware]

Marc: Well that's interesting-- I refer to the part of not having to get a phyto to send seeds down to the US. That does not square with my info. I'll recheck.
Regardless, it will be much easier for Canadian members to organize it by themselves and save you the hassle.

As for the Phyto application process-- its dead easy.
1) Download the form and fill out the specifics of the seed with its Latin name(s);
2) take it to the local CFIA office;
3) pay the C$12 (or approx. US$ 8.50)
4) send it off in a padded mailer to the Drs. Bainbridges.

If any Canadian members are having trouble with this process, get in touch with me-- thenarrator@shaw.ca

Thanks again Marc for doing this over the past few years.

[MarcR]

Grahame,

I get so much from my membership that it is a pleasure to give something back.