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Eganville, Ontario

I only have room to grow one plant. Last year my only pumpkin and plant stopped growing at just under 1000 pounds with four weeks to go. It was a nutrient deficiency in the first-year soil, that has since been corrected.


Anyway, instead of taking it to a weigh-off, I took it to the local grocery store where they were nice enough to work with me to raise money for the local food bank. Since it was not weighed, no one knew the weight and what we did was allow customers to buy a ticket for $1, and write their estimated weight on it.

It worked great and we raised about $1000 for the food bank in a season when they need the food. The grocery store gave out turkeys to the closest guesses.

This year, I have a better pumpkin and it's fairly healthy so I do want to get it weighed at a weigh-off. With the weight being public, I can't do the same gig this year in order to raise funds.

Most of you guys have been around longer than me....has anyone seen a good way to use this giant pumpkin and raise some money with it? Measurement guesses won't work as the pumpkin could easily be measured after hours, if someone felt the need to cheat for some reason.

Thanks

9/5/2012 7:11:00 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

If your weigh off isn't too close by I doubt any one would know the weight of it. That would be the case in my area anyway!!! Great idea. Grant Mcgregor used to do the same thing except the closest guess to the weight would win the pumpkin. It was only open for kids, and beleive me ,they where totally thrilled to have these big beasts sitting on their front lawns!!

9/5/2012 7:37:59 PM

Massachusetts

ryan, same deal but guess how many seeds inside!!!

9/5/2012 8:02:04 PM

Rhode Island

ryan

thats a great thing that you did for charity. your family and friends should be very proud of your unselfish efforts to help others. the country needs more people like you.i tip my hat to ya.

my suggestion? work with that store again. set up outside with the pumpkin and sell raffle tickest to support the charity event.sell the tickets for $5.00 each or three for $10.00. you should do well. who would not want to take a chance on winning a big pumpkin for their yard.(especially when it supports a worth while cause?)
hold the drawing (and delivery) a few days before halloween?

pap

9/5/2012 8:04:38 PM

Rhode Island

marley does it again yep---count the seeds is a great idea as well.
pap

9/5/2012 8:05:34 PM

Michigan,up North

i have 4 kins i like the idea to give the kin away. ,what would u do if u have 8 people quess the wieght?

9/5/2012 8:25:02 PM

West [email protected]

follow up prizes could be giving a few seeds away

9/5/2012 8:26:52 PM

Eganville, Ontario

Thanks for the replies.

Joe, My weigh off is only a half hour away and it's GPC, so I guess someone could really look up the weight if they wanted. Plus the local paper may post some results.

Good idea pap. That would be nice, but the seed idea may be easier, and more mysterious.

Robert, my pumpkin weighed 968 pounds and surprisingly three people guessed it. The guesses were scattered and I don't think there was one within a couple pounds yet three right on. The store gave away 3 or 5 turkeys, I can't remember. I guess you would have to talk to the manager.

The guesses ranged from 50 pounds to 30,000 so you get a good range, I doubt you'd get more than a couple on the pin.

It's a great feeling and it gets people talking about pumpkins. Young or old they always smile when they see it at the front door. The manager and I thought we'd be lucky to raise a couple hundred dollars, but the customers really jumped on it and ran.

9/5/2012 8:37:32 PM

Massachusetts

pap, is also right, man o man would i love a thousand pound pumpkin in front of my house for halloween!!!! tickets would sell!

9/5/2012 8:59:58 PM

Michigan,up North

you got me thinkin.if you get 8 ,put it in the rules ,you could draw out 1 out of a box .winner get the kin

9/5/2012 9:00:47 PM

Prestonsburg,ky

We set up a display with ours here at our lacal festival and take pictures and print for them while they wait for a donation to our local animal shelter. We usually do pretty good for the shelter.

9/5/2012 9:37:01 PM

Mass

I set up a display and did a guess the weight for a free Christmas Tree from our tree farm. Put up flyers to draw people in to see it and guess. It wasn't a fundraiser, but a sight to see. If you do the seed thing, you have to open it up to count them, before you give the pumpkin to a winner with a hole in it? better let them know they will have a pile of slop soon?

9/6/2012 7:00:11 AM

The North Coast

I too encourage all giant growers to find ways to further enrich the growing experience by using the fruit to help a good cause. It felt odd to me in the past for me to just watch my pumpkin rot as the winter set in. This last year I got motivated to organize an auction at the local fair for my first place pumpkin with all the proceeds to benefit the family of an Asheville firefighter who had recently lost his life. I did get a lot of great support just by asking for it, my propane provider donated time and materials to deliver the pumpkin to the winners location, I got great props from the AFD, and fair officials made special exception just to hold the auction. It was a great experience for me, I like to think that it was a good way for me to express the type of man I am. Again, I encourage us all to try to do a bit more.

I am not sure if you all can view this link but here is a picture story of the event.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2220708170766.114818.1639556498&type=3&l=279a52a555

9/6/2012 8:58:07 AM

Princeton Kentucky

Awesome Idea RyanH !!

9/6/2012 2:14:37 PM

Eganville, Ontario

Nice pictures and a good cause.

As far as giving away a rotting de-seeded pumpkin; I won't be giving the pumpkin away. The prizes will be done through the grocery store.

9/6/2012 4:33:14 PM