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Webster, NY

the Pacific NorthWest Giant Pumpkin Growers auction is January 4th, and right after that, on January 5th, Pumpkinnook.com is having it's annual charity seed auction. That one runs for a few days, so I don't think it will interfere with the PNGPG auction. It should make for an interesting week.

12/30/2002 4:52:10 PM

Liverpool , England

Yo All,
I dont really agree with the seed auctions although I do get some seeds that way. I would like to see the clubs have a raffle of say 200 seeds and sell 200 tickets @ say $10 each...everybody gets a seed and the club gets $2000. Potluck who gets the better seeds. Not everybody can afford to spend 100's of $ on a seed and this would give growers a fair chance of getting that silver bullet. Just my 2 penceworth....comments please.

Alun

12/30/2002 7:57:32 PM

Key West, FL

That is a awesome idea Alun, I really like it. Spending 100's $'s on seeds is not good for the sport. I understand how it helps clubs but there are other ways of fund raising and you have a good idea.
Ben

12/30/2002 8:01:44 PM

canal winchester ohio

I agree with you Alun, The auctions do help raise money for their clubs BUT a lot of people ( average 9-5'ers) get excluded due to the fact that they can't even come close to competing with those with large pockets.
There should be a way for us "average" folks to get involved in some way.....

12/30/2002 8:04:09 PM

Ontario

I agree here. Even 20 dollars that would be $4000.00 for the club. Chances are you would raise more money that way. To pay 300.00 dollars for a seed that may not germinate is not what the hobby is all about. drew

12/30/2002 8:11:32 PM

Commack, NY

i have to say, this is one of the better idea's ive seen. i think someone should do it.

scott

12/30/2002 8:25:40 PM

ontario

Alun and Drew I agree totally....raffle is best and the most fair....gives everyone a equal chance......wayne

12/30/2002 8:33:21 PM

Morris, Connecticut

I think this idea is great! I'm a student and know for a fact that I can't afford nearly what the seeds go for at auction!

I bet if this website ran a raffle they could easily raise a couple thousand dollars for operations/site improvement ect....

12/30/2002 8:39:51 PM

Webster, NY

It sounds like a good idea Alun. Pumpkinnook's auction doesn't go to a club. You donate a seed, and designate a charity that the money will go to. The money raised from your donation, goes directly to your charity with all extra expenses picked up by Pumpkinnook.

For the clubs, I like your idea, for this, give till it hurts for the kidney foundation or some other worthwhile cause.

12/30/2002 9:10:49 PM

Montoursville, PA

Yes this is a good idea but maybe not take the fun out of it for those who do battle at higher levels. I do a lot of charity dinners such as Trout Unlimited and Rocky Mtn. Elk Fund Raisers. There are scads of ways to spend a buck or a thousand if you can and wish to. Eveyone has fun wagering a couple bucks clear up to unmentionable numbers.

Don't forget the person spending five hundred for a seed has charitable reasons too. That person is just as proud to support at his or her level as someone else eating din din and maybe only buying a coffee cup on the way out. I think the mix is what makes those dinners healthy and successfull.

A lot of folks like to be around and know the winners or heavy hitters. Good idea to find a way for a ten or twenty dollar bill to maybe get a five hundred dollar seed. Keep both doors open would be my opinion.

12/30/2002 9:25:56 PM

Midwest

The Central Wisconsin Pumpkin Growers will be doing a raffle in late Jan. or early Feb. Clarence

12/30/2002 10:57:13 PM

Caceres, Spain

This is a nice debate page, as I see it. Auctions have the bad thing that the fattest pocket and the more obsessed grower has the best chances to get a hot seed, but raffles has the bad one that only the first 200 persons asking for a ticket would participate and if you are late, you are out. I am with Doc, both doors are better than only one.
Don

12/31/2002 4:17:20 AM

Montoursville, PA

Don I am a firm believer in swinging the bat first for how else could I hit the ball first? Maybe I am an ugly free enterprizer but by gollies I believe the go-getter should be rewarded. For some reason luck usually shows up for the person swinging the bat. :)

For he that enjoys steer manure on oatmeal is more likely to have gone to bed late and forgot to clean his fingernails or combed out his hair. Hee Hee. Yum Yum.

You did not get all your fine wisdom and knowlege waking up late and going to bed early. Thank you for you many helping hours here.

12/31/2002 9:09:12 AM

Long Island,New York

I think Doc needs some backup...lol...so Ill say what alot arent saying but do feel....Like it or not, giant pumpkin growing is competitive and the season usually ends up with a contest.Anything one can do better than the next guy can potentially give you the edge.This covers seed aquisitions, space availability, time availability, talent, cow availability,weather,climate,wives,kids, bosses,water,pesticide restrictions, etc..etc...etc....
I dont see anyone here calling for a handicap because you grow 8 plants...or have cows next door...heck...there aint a dozen cows withing an hour from where I live--I want an handicap of 200lbs please !. I only grow 1 maybe two plants...and I have NYC smog in my patch...thats another 200lbs added to the 500lbers I get. We have pesticide restrictions that would make you farmboys laugh...another 100lbs. Borers gotta be good for a hundred or so lb handicap...If I work three extra saturdays for the O.T. to pay for a seed so be it...you make your oportunities my friends...you cannot hold back the guy that goes out and gets what he needs. It aint all because he dropped $400 on an 846Calai seed...have the guts to grow an unproven... Craig did (1058), Larsen did(1156),whittier did(1186.5) the seeds are out there...and they dont cost 500 bucks...personal bests are a very good goal.........G

12/31/2002 10:09:44 AM

Roanoke Il

Back 2 years a go you could have bought the best seed out there for 5 dollars at pand p seeds.(845 bobbier 00) There are many growers out there that can and will give you a seed to grow the next world record. Just because a seed isn't proven dosen't mean it won't grow a monster. Lets say you get a seed grow a handicapped grow such as glenn that is only 400 or 500 lbs does that mean it won't grow a monster i don't think so...
Actually if we all grow the same seeds and don't take a chance with some unproven seeds I think we will be hurting our sevles in the long run.
I would like to see some crosses of the the bigger fruits with the 1007 Brown 00 like the 801 845 845 935 723 it think that is a road worth going down.
and if someone wants to spend 600 dollars for a seed thats there bussiness to rich for my blood there isn't a seed out there worth more than 100 $ just my 2 cents worth. mark.......

12/31/2002 11:57:40 AM

Caceres, Spain

I think one of the most beautiful thinks a grower can do in winter time, beyond watching rain falling and read and write posts here, is to plan which seed to plant and what cross to make. Is fun, is a game, is a bet. But when starting seeds time come, to be brave and bet for a friend's seed for what you have a hunch is great.
I wonder how many good seeds which a fabulous genetics are sleeping in freezers or in cellars, waiting to lose their potential with the age, and all because they are not from Mr. Bobier, or because one was planted and the wind turn around the main vine, but you usually don't know that, only its number, 434, then you think, that seed only has as offspring one 434, I definitely prefer a 723, and sometimes that forgotten seed could carry better genetics even than the hot ones, why not?
As Marc and Glen said, what boring this game would be if a pumpkin had 10.000 seeds and everybody were planting 845, 845, 845, 845, 845, 845, 845, .....

12/31/2002 2:11:34 PM

Montoursville, PA

I hope I will emulate my coach Tony Ciliberto. He gave me the motivation to go on and do it good, within my means. He gave me direction and enough seed for my plans at no cost.

I might add that I may have shown him in word and action that I would take his seed and grow them well. I did not go there with a case of the gimmies. I met a serious grower who shared with one who showed signs of caring.

I think I have the same chance at growing "the 2003" biggie as anyone else at a cost of making my garden conditions and management one of the best. Realistically I hope I fully understand that growing two plants will not give me the odds I would enjoy if I could grow a whole field full, with the same care.

Am I competitive? You bet 'yer bottom dollar I am but with my own diciplines which admittedly were not lined up with what the heavy hitters do here to get the biggies. I hope that I will not be dumb enough to not follow the principles of our leaders. They have made lots of mistakes. I need not make the same ones again. I might tweak their practices but not the solid principles. Somehow I feel that if I beat my coaches best he would wince a tad while reaching out the hand for gentlemans appreciative hand shake.

This is the craziest ego and skill trip I can imagine. It is a silly donkey game but one I believe I shall enjoy. I pitty the boys who can not any longer play. There are many! :)

12/31/2002 4:24:42 PM

Deer Park WA

docgipe, I believe you have found your star in which to steer by. I too as a humble pumpkin grower am constantly tweaking my Masters diciplins, quietly trying to create something unuseual, out of the ordenary, in which to hold up to the disbelieving world as a testimate of my torchered relationship with nature, me as one of her greatest murderers (MAN). Next season as my New Years resolution I will try to use less chemicals on the patch, and strive to be more environmentaly sensitive, yet still the desire to better the "Master" drives me on like a Nicotine addicition,,,,

Happy New year all, (Sorry I started anehbritaing early!)

12/31/2002 9:33:51 PM

Amherst, WI

I plan on sitting in on the auction Saturday, however there is a limit on what I would spend on a seed. My odds of getting one are most likely low. I feel there are so many good seed available for free, that it's hard to justify spending big $ on one. However, if anyone feels like spending alot on one or two seed, that is their choice and who am I to say anything about it. It should be interesting to watch. I just can't help but wonder if more money would be raised with a raffle. I made some extra cash over x-mas and casually mentioned to Mrs. Rando that I may spend a few hundred at the seed auction. She shook her head and gave me "the look" again.

1/1/2003 10:22:00 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

"Master"?....what, is this some Karate Kid thing?

1/1/2003 11:10:21 AM

Western Pa.

Randoo,

Let her know who's boss!

kilr

1/1/2003 2:51:00 PM