A sign of the times. This morning I went to look up something on Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and found this notice, something I've never seen before. I don't have time to look, but I wonder how many other seed companies are in a similar situation. Glad I ordered all my stuff early.

https://www.southernexposure.com/

Dear Valued Customers,

We are currently not accepting new orders! Due to unprecedented demand for seeds, we have been inundated with orders and have had to stop accepting new ones while we work through our backlog. We apologize for the inconvenience, and are working around the clock to get orders shipped out so that we can accept yours! We will definitely be accepting new orders on Sunday-Monday, and we may open up on Thursday-Friday depending on how caught up we are. Thank you for your patience in these strange and difficult times!

Please note that we are not currently able to keep up with the call volume on our phones. If you have a pressing matter, e-mail is a better way to reach us: gardens@southernexposure.com

If you’re going out for supplies, you may find our seeds in a local retail store.

Please check out our seed saving guides and our other growing guides. Saving your own seeds is an important part of self-sufficiency and our robust seed network. Almost all of our seeds are open-pollinated (not hybrid), so they can be saved from year-to-year. Please take advantage of this by saving your own seed and sharing with your neighbors.

Check out other sustainable seed companies! We work together and with farmers to create the seed network that we all depend on.

Eastern seed companies:
Two Seeds in a Pod (WV)
True Love Seed (PA)
Common Wealth Seed Growers (VA)
Fruition Seeds (NY)
High Mowing Seeds (VT)
Hudson Valley Seed Company (NY)

Northern seed companies:
Small House Farm (MI)
Prairie Garden Seed (Saskatchewan)
North Circle Seeds (MN)
Nature and Nurture Seeds (MI)

Western seed companies:
Redwood Seeds (CA)
Quail Seeds (CA)
Refining Fire Chiles (CA)
Restoration Seeds (OR)
Hawaii Seed Grower’s Network (HI)

Thanks for thinking seeds and for thinking food and for thinking of us in these strange and difficult times.

This is a sign of the times and is happening across the board with seed companies. They all are experiencing a huge increase in business that they are overwhelmed by. People are searching for ways to provided for their families. The hoarding of food has included hoarding of seeds. As I said in another thread, there will be many, many new gardeners out there due to the virus that can benefit from our experience. If we all started a basic thread that was titled with something newbies would search for such as; How to grow ____, Starting a ___, Growing ____ we would be making it easier for newbies to find this forum and be teaching many people about their new gardens. After all, this forum is here to help people have successful gardens.

MissS wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:17 am If we all started a basic thread that was titled with something newbies would search for such as; How to grow ____, Starting a ___, Growing ____ we would be making it easier for newbies to find this forum and be teaching many people about their new gardens.

After you started your other newbie thread, I did try a basic search like that, but the forum software told me my words were too common. I like this software a lot (for instance it's really easy to post pictures, as opposed to vBulletin), but the search doesn't seem to be the greatest, maybe there are some settings that need to be tweaked.

[mention]Setec Astronomy[/mention] This site is only 3 months old so our search function is not the best. When I was talking making it easier for newbies to search, I was meaning in the larger web search engines such as Google and Bing. If we use something in titles that someone would enter into one of those search engines, it would make Tomato Junction's thread show up in their search.

MissS wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:34 am @Setec Astronomy This site is only 3 months old so our search function is not the best. When I was talking making it easier for newbies to search, I was meaning in the larger web search engines such as Google and Bing. If we use something in titles that someone would enter into one of those search engines, it would make Tomato Junction's thread show up in their search.

I just googled "the run on seed". This thread didn't show up on the first, or the show more pages. I think the whole forum isn't being recognized yet by Google. [mention]Rajun Gardener[/mention]

Ginger2778 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:59 am

MissS wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:34 am @Setec Astronomy This site is only 3 months old so our search function is not the best. When I was talking making it easier for newbies to search, I was meaning in the larger web search engines such as Google and Bing. If we use something in titles that someone would enter into one of those search engines, it would make Tomato Junction's thread show up in their search.

I just googled "the run on seed". This thread didn't show up on the first, or the show more pages. I think the whole forum isn't being recognized yet by Google. @Rajun Gardener

Yes.

I just googled

"The run on seed"

and got 4 results, none were this site.

My order from Morgan County Seeds just shipped this morning. They are about a week behind. I have heard of other companies being three weeks behind or more. Morgan County is normally this far behind or more at this time of year. I must be the only panic buyer who knows where to find the best prices.

MissS wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:34 am @Setec Astronomy This site is only 3 months old so our search function is not the best. When I was talking making it easier for newbies to search, I was meaning in the larger web search engines such as Google and Bing. If we use something in titles that someone would enter into one of those search engines, it would make Tomato Junction's thread show up in their search.

Oh sorry, I've been on other kinds of forums for a long time, I kind of automatically just use the forum search, I wasn't thinking in broad enough terms.

Setec Astronomy wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:35 pm

MissS wrote: ↑Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:34 am @Setec Astronomy This site is only 3 months old so our search function is not the best. When I was talking making it easier for newbies to search, I was meaning in the larger web search engines such as Google and Bing. If we use something in titles that someone would enter into one of those search engines, it would make Tomato Junction's thread show up in their search.

Oh sorry, I've been on other kinds of forums for a long time, I kind of automatically just use the forum search, I wasn't thinking in broad enough terms.

But it doesn't work anyway.

[mention]GoDawgs[/mention] Victory Seeds has suspended orders until they catch up, Ohio Heirlooms is running three days behind. Baker Creek suspended orders to catch up but are open again. What I've noticed is a number of seed vendors are out either sold out or temporarily out of stock due to the increase in orders.
My local nursery closed their doors to the public, but taking orders by phone for curbside pick-up. A local grower is offering no contact home delivery of her plant starts.

A google search for this subject wouldn't find it because it's in Area 51. I believe that this subforum is excluded from searches.

Definitely the same thing happening in Canada as well. I was really glad to hear my orders have all shipped, even though I haven't gotten em. In the meantime, carefully parsing the vegs that have bolted indoors over winter, fresh seed of the faves is always a good idea.

I always order my seeds as early as possible, since some of the ones I want, often new varieties, are out of stock FAST. I was surprised at all of the things that are gone this season, when I looked up the description of some things I got some seeds for in trades. I figured people are wanting more harvests this season, plus more things to do at home!

pepperhead212 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 02, 2020 12:08 am I always order my seeds as early as possible, since some of the ones I want, often new varieties, are out of stock FAST. I was surprised at all of the things that are gone this season, when I looked up the description of some things I got some seeds for in trades. I figured people are wanting more harvests this season, plus more things to do at home!

This is a mini "apocalypse". It's harder to get food right now, and more dangerous to go to the stores. So now we all need to grow more of our own. As well as having something to do in your own backyard, as you mentioned.

I am fortunate that I had a lot of seeds left from last year and that tomato seeds remain viable for a few years. I actually felt kind of bad I got tons of gardening catalogs and ordered hardly anything but it sounds like they didn't miss my business and that by not ordering someone else was able to get what I normally would have.