Ordering Seed Online 2024-2025

How to start ordering seed

You will need to be a registered user of the main website with a userID and password. Only members of the AGS can register, and to do this you need your membership number and other details so that we can confirm your membership. A second donor order is permitted for family members if the membership have donated at least 14 packets.  Non-donors can order more seed by making a surplus order.

The appearance of the introductory page varies depending on the stage you have reached.  If you access it without logging in, you will get an invitation to:

EITHER log in if you are already registered as a user,

OR register as a user if you are a member of the AGS,

OR join the AGS.

Main and Surplus Orders

1.  For a main order you need to choose individual seed items that you would like, classifying them as first or second choices.  Your order will be filled with first choices as far as possible, and where they have run out, your second choices will be used.  Please bear in mind that many of the seed items are in very short supply and it is unlikely that you will receive all your first choices. 

2.  We pick surplus orders after the main distribution is complete, but please order a the same time as your main order.  For a surplus order, you can either list genera in which you are interested and receive a random selection from these genera, or you can opt to receive a random selection from the whole list. Alternatively, you may like some selected genera and some random choices.  Because some items are limited, the system will ask you to choose more genera if we do not have enough to fulfil your order, or allow us to fill your order with a random selection.   

You may submit a main order or a surplus order or both.  You can send in these orders separately or at the same time.  If your order is correctly submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.  It then may be several weeks before you receive your order.  

Creating your Main Order

The online seed list is organised alphabetically.  Wherever you go, you will find the 26 letters of the alphabet across the top and bottom of each page and each of these letters has a link to take you to the seed items that start with that letter.  There are special categories of seed, namely Wild Collected, Bulbils (including Cormlets and Rice), Ferns and Damp-packed seed.

These special categories can be accessed as part of the list where they are labelled as being from a special category or they can be viewed as separate lists.  If you wish to do this, at the bottom of each page is a set of links to these special category lists.  You may want to work your way through the list alphabetically, or you can go straight to any letter of the alphabet if you wish.

As an alternative for those who prefer to initially choose from the printed list then transfer the numbers, you have the option for typing in the seed numbers.

If you go to the seed items beginning with A, you will find them listed by genus.  Some genera appear as a clickable link.  This means that there is more than one item available in these genera and you will need to click on a link to see what they are.  For genera that contain only one item, that is listed directly without an additonal link.  If you click on a genus link, you will find the list of all the items available in that genus.

Wherever an item is listed, there are three selection options next to it.  One of these selections is always marked to show the status of that item in your order so far.  To start with, all items are marked as 'no'.  To add an item to your list of first choices, click the choice box next to '1st'.  To add an item to your list of second choices, click the choice box next to '2nd'.  These choices can be easily changed later if you have too many first choices or too many second choices.  

When you click on a choice, you should wait for the page to reload and acknowledge the selection before you click anything else, or you may get an error message.  If this does happen, you will NOT lose your order.  This is most likely to be a problem if the internet is congested, or if your wifi connection is poor for a time.

You do not need to create all your order at the same time.  At any stage, you can logout and if you come back later you will find your order exactly as you left it.  You will find that when you click on the choice box next to an item part way down a page, it will become the top item on the next page ready for you to carry on moving down.  There will always be a link available for you to move back to the earlier part of the current section.

Reviewing and Editing your Order

Here you have selected 7 first choices out of a quota of 23.  23 is the quota for non-donors - if you are a donor, you will have a quota of 30.  One second choice has been selected so far.  At any stage, you can click on the 'Go to Order So Far' link and review your choices.

On the order page, you can review your order, changing first choices to second choices and vice versa.  On this page, you can decide at any time that your main order is complete.  The other thing you are asked to do on this page is click the choice that says whether or not you want the remainder of your allocation filled with randomly chosen items.

Continue working through the list ordering more items until your quota for first and second choices is complete.  If you exceed either of your quotas, the 'Order Complete' button will not appear until you have adjusted your order by reclassifying items.

You may find it easiest to make lots of first choices and then review them and switch the ones you are not so sure about to second choices.

When your choices in a category exceed the quota, the quota message appears in red. 

in the above example, you have chosen 27 first choices out of a quota of 23 - not a problem at the moment, but you will have to adjust your choices eventually before you are allowed to close your order.

Eventually, when your choices are within the limits of your quota, you will be able to click the 'Order Completed' button and you will be taken back to the main Seed Exchange page.

At this stage, your order will not have been sent to the team making up orders, you will still need to submit your order.

Paying for your Main Order
 

If you are a Home Member (UK or Ireland) you will pay for your order using RBS WorldPay and that will have the effect of submitting it to the Seed Exchange team. You will receive an email confirmation that your order has been submitted.

If you are an Overseas Member, your Main Seed Order is included as part of your membership, and at this point you can submit your order using the button that appears on this page.  You will receive an email confirmation that your order has been submitted. 

If you submit your main order at this stage, that will not prevent you from coming back later and making a surplus order separately, but you can also make a surplus order now and submit/pay for both orders together. 

If you do not receive an email confirmation of your order, then we have not received it and you should return to your order and ensure that you have clicked on "Order Completed" for your Main and Surplus Orders and then either click on "pay with WorldPay" or "Submit Order"

Creating a Surplus Order
 

To choose your genera use the alphabetic links again, but in this case you will select the genera you want, rather than individual items.  You must select at least five genera, and also genera that contain at least four times as many items as the packets required as many items may be in short supply when we make up surplus orders and this will enable us to complete your order.  

To add a genus from which you want us to choose your surplus seed click yes in the same way as before. 

When you have completed your order you will be taken back to the main seed exchange page where you can now pay for your surplus order (together with your main order if you have not yet paid for it).