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South Hill, Virginia

Always alot of talk about this around here but I'm not even sure that "hoarding" means the same thing to all of us.

To me, having a variety of seeds only makes sense. I change my mind about 100 times each winter deciding what I'm going to plant. It's some nice off season entertainment. I don't think someone having 200 different seeds is doing anything wrong. The seed to grower ratio must me something like 1000 to 1 anyway.

Now what I don't think is very nice is someone trying to grab up large quantities of the same seed when he/she will never be able to plant them all and there is someone else who would. That is what I consider "hoarding". I'm not going to get all up in arms about it but I don't think it is very considerate of others.

11/13/2003 1:15:56 PM

Edmonton, Canada

I have about a dozen good seeds. I don't want any more, because I know I won't ever be able to plant them. It seems like a waste if some one has hundreds of seeds with great genetics, that sit in a closet and gather dust. I think there are many seeds that could grow a giant, but many of those seeds haven't even been tried. I understand that seed trading is a hobby, and a good one at that. However, simply aquiring, and never trading, giving away, or planting 99 % of those seeds is an absolute shame.

11/13/2003 2:21:44 PM

San Diego

I think the hard part for many growers is wanting to have a "super hot" world class seed. And the only way to get one for the little guys, is to get a lot of seeds each year from good growers. Then one of them or maybe two seeds that were collected could turn int othe next 845 Bobier before the seed becomes "known". Once they become known, it's impossible to get. I do collect each year, but plan to slow down since I have enough seeds for awhile now. The ones I won't end up growing, I'll give to people who want to grow a giant pumpkin so they are not wasted. Mainly new growers. Jim

11/13/2003 2:43:01 PM

[email protected]

I have not commented on this fiasco of name calling, and what not, and I wont. I would like to share with the general public, that while I am a seed hoarder (not ashamed to admit it), I feel that (and most others who do this will say the same thing) while I may have collected a very good sized sum of seeds, I have given out probably 4 fold the amount I currently have. Yes, I have some good seed, yes I have some I probably will never grow, but I also start clearing them out after a year or two through posts saying send me stamped bubble pack (self addressed) and I will send you some great seeds. Most organizations would gladly take donations of large sums of miscellenous seeds so they may distribute to their general masses of seed distribution recipients. I will be sending the PGPGA my 717 squash seeds from this year as soon as they are ready, and along withthat, I will probably clean out some of the older seed, some of the stuff that I will never grow, and send that along too, so they can suprise people with different seed stock other than the 10 or so growers who have donated to the cause.

Seed hoarding is not a bad thing, so please stop saying it is! There are some very "pumpkin community" minded people out there who do this, so don't cut off your nose to spite your face. There is some good out there..

11/13/2003 7:18:34 PM

[email protected]

I am inclined to agree. Not counting the hundreds of seeds we have produced ourselves this year (virtually all of which are being "bubbled off" very soon - some today even), I have gone from about 36 sets of genetics down to about half that. None would make anyone drool. And were it not for a couple folks known as "hoarders", my collection would be even more pathetic than it is now. LOL.

Perhaps the real definition of hoarding would best fit someone who keeps & never grows or shares seeds. But for those who do share, trading is probably a more accurate description. And what's wrong with that?

Just my $.02.

Steve

11/13/2003 7:29:36 PM

Deer Park WA

I am also a seed "Hoarder" in the sense that I have more seeds than comon sense! I would like to clear up the misconception I may have implied regarding the issue of "Trading". The only time I find a trade inappropriate (sp) is when a grower asks me for a seed with the pretence of growing it, and then trades it up. Seeds given to me from clubs, or swaped in exchange for my seeds are fair game for "open trading" as far as I'm concerned. This whole issue has caused me to rethink giving away any seeds though, I like the idea of giving one or two to a grower who asks that I know will give it a shot. The rest I guess I will "Hoard" except I have to find a new place for them to sit as the freezer is getting rather full.

Gadberry

11/13/2003 8:23:46 PM

Calif

I don't think there is grower out there that wouldn't be willing to help another grower . Everyone is at different stages in this hobby/game. Is there any wrong or right ? To me hoarding is gathering way more seed than you need and then it sits. This kind of hoarding has just snowballed over the last 5 years. I try and think back how it was years ago----- you heard about seed word of mouth or Al Eatons GPC 700+ booklet. you then contacted the grower and you only gathered seed for that season. growers could afford to be generous and you would get 5 seed most the time and they might throw in some from their other untried pumpkins. You were operating most the time with tried seed. Now there's info on so many pumpkins and its like a kid in a candy store hard to make up your mind. So just in case you want a piece of each . Thats the mass mailing of BB. each grower has different conditions they are dealing with. when you grow 10 plants odds are a cross will catch someones eye. Heres the scenerio from here I pick the kids up from school and drive into town to the post office. I have a 3x5 inch PO box the BB don't fit well so they shelve them-I wait in line and then the clerk hands them to me. The kids are bouncing off the walls of the truck..this goes on for a couple of months..and it hits me...if your getting 80-100 requests for an untried seed that most are going to sit on that there has to be a better way. Everyones experience is different. There is no right or wrong no swat team is going to come take you to jail. I not going to hire a hit man if you don't plant my seed. Just prefer serious intent and prefer to pass on the mass mailers. MB

11/14/2003 1:39:52 PM

Webster, NY

It's interesting. I am still pretty new at this. Any seed I requested, I seriously wanted to plant. But my space is limited, and people were so generous, that they would not only send me what I asked for, but usually 2 from each plant they had. Before I knew it, I had more seeds then I thought I would ever have. I would like to plant them all, but in reality, many will not get planted. That's why I've given some pretty good seeds away to people just for the asking. This year I am only requesting seeds from 3 growers, and maybe get a few from BP.com. Have a good winter everyone. Lets hope for an early spring.

11/14/2003 2:46:25 PM

canal winchester ohio

Let me preface this statement by saying that seed auctions do provide good things for the clubs that run them. But in a way they might have helped contribute to the mass collecting ( hoarding isn't the right word). The auctions help put a price on a seed (ex.) $200 for a 801.5, $350 for a 845 Bobier, 846's for $200+.....What I'm getting at is if the average grower wants a chance at having a "hot" seed they believe the only way they might be able to get it is by collecting many in search of a few. Fearing that once one goes for a high price at a auction the chance of getting one from another grower in a fair trade will be next to impossible. I openly admit I have more seeds than I could ever plant BUT when I see I post where someone is looking for a certain seed & can't find it I see if I have it & if it doesn't fit into my needs this season I give it to them. That's right give, I don't like seed trading.....I believe in helping someone out know who needs help & when they ask what I want in return all I say is to return the favor down the road to someone else who needs it ( and it doesn't have to be me). If we were what we said we were ( a happy, friendly pumpkin community) there would be no problem. And these aren't just words....I do practice what I preach & I encourage others to do the same.............Paul

11/14/2003 2:52:30 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Paul, I agree with you. I like helping other growers out since other growers have been so generous to me. I find seeds that I want to grow very badly and then they go into my patch. I felt great helping German Pumpkin out last year making a grower happy is what makes this sport even better for me... Dot

11/14/2003 6:11:42 PM

Itzetown City

Yes, you can see on my website how happy Owen is. I gave him a guest site to present his well grown pumpkins to the german growers.
http://www.norddeutsche-kuerbiszuechter.de/html/owen_olsen.html
Werner

11/14/2003 6:52:19 PM

Knopp, Germany

thanks Carrie for helping me last year. i learned from that and whenever i can help another grower acquire a seed they are interested in, i try to. i have already given seeds to other growers this year with no expectations of something in return. just to help them out like one would in any other community (as Paul appropriately put it).

11/15/2003 3:17:31 AM

porterville,california usa

anyone here who is short on storage space? i will gladly accept any AG seeds that you no longer want. i try to grow every seed i get. e-mail me your address and i`ll send you a bubble pack (ssa). i have seeds from the 3 100-150lb fruit i grew this year. hundreds of seeds. they make good practice stock. send me a b-pack and i`ll send you a handful of each.

11/15/2003 11:25:03 PM