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Field report · Sent Oct 15, 2026 · 08:00Members

The quiet economy of seed

Who saves seed now, who sells it, and why a handful of small growers are rebuilding a library the size of a shed.

Recipients
18,104
99.6% delivered
Opens
61%
▲ 3.4%vs. 59% average
Clicks
8.7%
1,575 total
New subscribers
+64
from shares
Upgrades
+21
to paid
Comments
48
9 unsubscribed

First 72 hours, cumulative

Opens over time

71% in first 24h

0h: Opens 012h: Opens 6.4k24h: Opens 7.8k36h: Opens 8.9k48h: Opens 9.8k60h: Opens 10k72h: Opens 11k

Open and click rate

By tier

  • Reader16,890 sent
    Opens58%Clicks7.4%
  • Member1,152 sent
    Opens82%Clicks13.9%
  • Founding member62 sent
    Opens92%Clicks18.3%

Click bars are scaled ×4 so small rates stay readable.

5 links in the email

LinkClicksUniqueShare

“Become a member”

longfield.example/p/subscribe

48840031%

“the library map”

seedcommons.example/library-map

37831024%

“join the thread”

longfield.example/p/community/seed-library

28423218%

“February swap dates”

valleygrowers.example/swap-dates

23619415%

“earlier field reports”

longfield.example/p/archive

18915512%

Opens by email client

Where it was read

  • Apple Mail38%
  • Gmail (web)24%
  • Gmail (app)17%
  • Outlook12%
  • Other9%

Device

Mobile
57%
Desktop
36%
Tablet
7%

48 comments

Top comments

  • Ines HalvorsenMember3h ago

    The part about seed swaps being the original insurance policy stayed with me all day. Our allotment society still runs one in February.

    18
  • Teodor VasileFounding member5h ago

    Good to see the costs written down. People assume saved seed is free; the drying space and labour are not.

    11
  • Mara EllisonAuthor4h ago

    Teodor, that's exactly the follow-up I want to do: a cost sheet for a small seed library. If you run one, reply here.

    9