2025 Little Easy Bean Network - Growers Of The Future Will Be Glad We Saved

[Artorius]

I also say "hello" in the new thread. Last year I managed to close several time-consuming topics, so I hope to be here more often than I have been recently.

Greetings to all. Happy New Year!

 

[heirloomgal]

@Blue-Jay the network beans are finally on the way. Oh my gosh, the cosmic resistance I experienced in getting that box shipped is wild.


First, I struggled with downsizing the USDA label, because the box was too small for the original size it printed at. Yes, it's true. I did not know how to do that. Considered going to Staples to get them to custom size it for me. But then I decided I should just look for a bigger box that will accommodate the giant label. That took a bit, and in the end could not find one. BIG sigh. Finally one of the kids saw my struggle and was like 'mom!' you should have asked me to resize that, I know how. Okay, so we're finally on the way. I get it sized right, everything in the box (which was a LOT!) with correct papers etc. all taped up. Attach USDA label with packing tape, attach my address label, go to post office, get it registered for shipping and also get a good deal on tracking with the package. (Small hurray! in the saga). Get home, find the little USDA address label you printed for me on my desk! The green/yellow was on the box, but not this one. Race back to post office as fast as possible, trembling with fright that the box is now drifting down a one way pipe into the belly of the cosmos and I'm doomed. Get to counter panting, nearly out of breath, postal lady had it right there available (my good luck again!) and I tape on the extra label cause I brought the tape in my coat pocket (postal place has a no sharing their tape policy, true story) , and leave thinking FINALLY got this accomplished. Driving home in the car for the 2nd time I realize - where's the tracking receipt? Oh... NO. I don't have it. Race back for 3rd time to post, nobody there now. But I see a receipt folded up on the counter, right where I was standing when I took the tape out of my pocket. Clearly the receipt came out when I got the tape roll out. THANK GOODNESS it was my receipt! With the tracking number! Holy macaroni, what a night!

I tell you @Blue-Jay, I cannot wait until we become #51, imagine how much easier it will be for me to send you these beans?!

 

[Blue-Jay]

I tell you @Blue-Jay, I cannot wait until we become #51, imagine how much easier it will be for me to send you these beans?!

OMG what a time you had getting a package off in the mail ! I know those emotions you felt. I try to double check everything before I take off for the post office. Yes it would be something so easy if you were #51. Wouldn't have to mess around with all this USDA fiddly stuff. Packages I send you I would never have to wonder if they are going to get to you for sure. They would be less expensive sending to each other. You are closer to me I think than California. So far everything goes well from me to you, but I do have the little bit of doubt in the back of my mind. I don't think you will every be #51 though.

 

[heirloomgal]

OMG what a time you had getting a package off in the mail ! I know those emotions you felt. I try to double check everything before I take off for the post office. Yes it would be something so easy if you were #51. Wouldn't have to mess around with all this USDA fiddly stuff. Packages I send you I would never have to wonder if they are going to get to you for sure. They would be less expensive sending to each other. You are closer to me I think than California. So far everything goes well from me to you, but I do have the little bit of doubt in the back of my mind. I don't think you will every be #51 though.

I realize I'm being a bit silly, I think a lot of this recent talk of 51 is all in good fun really. But I'm actually quite enjoying all the chatter surrounding the idea! So my apologies that the box is late - I forgot to add, at the beginning of that written saga - a 32 day long strike on top of all! lol I usually try to be very on point with having all very nice beans selected, all packed in time, all sent very properly to you with documentation and so forth, but this year I'm afraid I didn't meet my own expectations! I will say though, the beans themselves are all very nice, it's the shipper (me) who was the problem!

 

[heirloomgal]

Well, the postal plot thickens. Or rather, increases. As of Monday - a 25% increase on the price of all postage. Oh my gosh. There will probably Soviet era lineups at the post today & people mass buying stamps. Just when you thought things can't get worse.

Greed.

 

[Blue-Jay]

Well, the postal plot thickens. Or rather, increases. As of Monday - a 25% increase on the price of all postage. Oh my gosh. There will probably Soviet era lineups at the post today & people mass buying stamps. Just when you thought things can't get worse.

Greed.

We get little postal increases here sometime two or three times in a year. January 19,2025 the US postal service will increase the cost of all packages 3.2%. Little by little they keep chipping it up.

 

[Blue-Jay]

Guy Dirix from Belgium told me something interesting I wasn't aware of about the pole bean Veitch's climbing.

According to U.P.Hedrick --Beans of NY-1931-pag.22-- 'Veitch's Climbing' is a synoniem of ‘Climbing French’, a climbing sport of the bush bean ‘Canadian Wonder'

 

[heirloomgal]

We get little postal increases here sometime two or three times in a year. January 19,2025 the US postal service will increase the cost of all packages 3.2%. Little by little they keep chipping it up.

Bit by bit by bit....$$$$.

 

[flowerbug]

We get little postal increases here sometime two or three times in a year. January 19,2025 the US postal service will increase the cost of all packages 3.2%. Little by little they keep chipping it up.

yes, but in the USoA at least there are forever stamps so if you already have bought enough you can keep using them and not have to figure out what new odd cent stamps you need to add to get something to go through. while i think the USoA gov't messes up some things at least they did improve things by creating the forever stamp idea (or adopting it from some other place ).

what i would really wish they would do is increase the cost of junkmail enough to cover the expenses of dealing with it all.

 

[Zeedman]

Bit by bit by bit....$$$$.

Bit by bit, we get bit by the bit, while they hold the reins. Neigh... whinny...

Postage increases here are twice a year now... and heavily focused on packages. What the govt fails to understand is that...

... the faster they increase their rates

............ the faster people will look for alternatives to mail

..................... the faster they will lose business

............................. the more they will need to increase their rates to sustain their workforce

It's a downward spiral, and unsustainable. The PO is trying to sustain itself by heavily 'taxing' internet business; those of us who frequently mail small packages are just collateral damage. Bubble mailers used to be classified as envelopes; now they try to classify them as packages, at a much higher rate. Sometimes PO counter employees will literally make up explanations for doing this, and having once worked for the PO, I have to quote their own rules to them.