That "mining your oldest ten customers" thing hits different when you flip it around, like what if the guy referring you is doing it because YOU were that loyal client to someone else once? I got two regulars who send me folks and I've never asked them once, we just stayed in touch after jobs. Makes me wonder if the whole mixer scene is just people hunting for what they should be building slowly instead.

We had the same thing die out in my old hood, what worked was moving it to a Facebook group just for our few blocks and pinning the swap day. Marketplace is fine for selling but it kills the "just show up and borrow" vibe since everything turns into a transaction.

Read a thing from my state's ag extension office about this. Seed packs sold online have basically no rules, no germ testing required, so old dead stock gets dumped on people who don't know better. They said to check for a lot number and a packed-for date on the back, and if there's none, walk away. Fresher seeds plus a paper towel test before you plant anything saves you the whole $15 mix.