Posting Soil to the USA!!

[GrowingChillis]

Hi all

how is everyone today?

I am doing a seed swap with a guy in the US,
he has offered to send me a couple of kinds of seeds, and I have naturally offered him some seeds in return.

He has asked that I get a handful of English soil and send it to him. Apparently his wife's family originated here and she wants a piece of home, as she has never set foot in England.

My question is...is this illegal, will either of us get in trouble for it?
With their security awareness I don't imagine it would even get there.
I know when you send seeds and bulb etc you need to make sure all soil is removed, so surely sending soil alone is no good.

Peter

[GrowingChillis]

[Hyacinth]

No! no! no! no! no! :o

Don't do it :o

Lishka

[Palustris]

Seconded, if you read the Rules and regulations for sending plant material to the USA you would see just how wrong that is!

[GrowingChillis]

I have said to him that I can send him something else english.

So I will see what he says.

I was pretty sure it wasnt allowed, thought I would ask anyway,
cheers for that guys.

Peter

[kenkew]

See if he'll settle for a can of English air, lots cheaper to post.    ;)

[GrowingChillis]

LOL Brilliant!  :D

or some Dust

[Biscombe]

Tea is light! send them some PG tips!!!!

[Columbus]

Hi Peter,

Do not send soil they won`t like it.

Favoured food items are,
weetabix, marmite, and garibaldi biscuits.

Just occured to me ... what about a stone in a setting? send it as jewellery.

For this part of the world, flint, jet and amber are suitable but I come from a place in the midlands where the local stone is pink granite. So if you find out where the ladys family originate from you could find a stone that would be appropriate.

Col

[Hyacinth]

Prezzie for a lady?

Send her a Tower of London tea towel :P

[dandelion]

Favoured food items are,
weetabix, marmite, and garibaldi biscuits.

Garibaldi biscuits  :o ?  Are those considered English? I grew up eating those in Belgium (they're called something else there; the name escapes me)
As for Marmite YUCK  :P

[tim]

Saffron from Cornwall?  Very light.

[kenkew]

Favoured food items are,
weetabix, marmite, and garibaldi biscuits.

Garibaldi biscuits  :o ?  Are those considered English? I grew up eating those in Belgium (they're called something else there; the name escapes me)
As for Marmite YUCK  :P

I've searched high and low for Gari bikkies.....Can't find a one in Belgium...Do they still make them??

[cambourne7]

Hi

I think that you need to complete a prior notice of inport from the FDA to send anything like soil or seeds ( or food ) into the usa.

Apparantly there is a big block on sending these types of things to the states. I dont think its illegal but its not really encouraged.

By the way to register with the fda takes 5 min and to complete the form your looking at 45 min!

Cambourne7

[dandelion]

Favoured food items are,
weetabix, marmite, and garibaldi biscuits.

Garibaldi biscuits  :o ?  Are those considered English? I grew up eating those in Belgium (they're called something else there; the name escapes me)
As for Marmite YUCK  :P

I've searched high and low for Gari bikkies.....Can't find a one in Belgium...Do they still make them??

I've asked my mum to check. She normally shops at Delhaize.

[GrowingChillis]

Hi guys

Thanks for all the ideas, I will have some suggestions to offer him when he gets back to me, see what he wants to do.
I like the rock idea, obviously it would have to be a small rock.
or maybe they would like an old photo of wherever it is her family orginated from.

Whatever happens I will let everyone know.
Thanks again ppl
Peter

[ACE]

English oaks in the form of acorns.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Hi Peter,
For this part of the world, flint, jet and amber are suitable but I come from a place in the midlands where the local stone is pink granite. So if you find out where the ladys family originate from you could find a stone that would be appropriate.
Col

Is that Mountsorrel by any chance?

[jo9919]

I have family living in Mountsorrel.

Jo.

[Columbus]

Hi Robert,

Yes I`m from Mountsorrel.  :) :)

Its a small world. I was born there and still have family in the village.
I went to the infants school as it was and to St Peters primary as a child,
in the sixties.

I lived within sight of the War memorial.
The village has changed a lot, I think the estate I lived on is now called
the Orchard Estate, it was near allotments which are now gone.

My wife sends Garibaldi biscuits to the states. They come from Tesco.

Col

[Robert_Brenchley]

I thought so; I did a Geology degree years ago, and the granite is quite well known. I used to live in Leicester at one time as well.