How'd the show go for you???

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hi all.

How was the festival for all those who attended??? I was only able to meet one person from the forum. I had a booth and was waaaaaay to busy at 11:30 to meet in front of the store. Nobody from the forum came to see me either :mad:

Anyway, didn't do as well as I had hoped but anything is better than nothing. Met a lot of good contacts....got some really cool things that are getting sent to me from some guys I met. (Stuff that is really hard to get and very rare.)

Now I have about 160 tomatoes that are going into the ground along with 100 peppers or so that didnt sell. My Balloon pepper didn't make that big of a hit...I thought people would have bought it up but I guess not. Oh well....more for me. I just have to fight the aphids, thrips, and flea beetles now....man the bugs are bad this year.

Would have loved to me some of you but maybe in the fall.

Take care.

[bluelacedredhead]

So, don't keep us in suspense.. Who'd you meet from here??
And forgive me, pleez, but I don't recall any mention of the Balloon Pepper that you are hoping to promote? Would you describe it? Sweet? Colour? Maturity Date?
Do you have seed available?
TY

[Cliff Timmons]

I went by your booth three times between pickin' sets, but you were very busy all three times. Which is a good thing. Some of those folks who had booths were beggin' for people to stop.

But all was not lost. We picked all day and did it right under the awning of the hamburger stand. <grin> Not bad ehh? Veggie burgers, pie and bluegrass music.

Maybe this fall.

[robbins]

It was a great show - sorry that I did not get time to come over and introduce myself. We were up in front of the house.At first I was a little bummed by the ambiance of the outhouses next to my set-up, but hey - everyone had to use them sometime and that meant coming over to check out plants while waiting.
Sure were lots of people, good music, good food and more.
It was nice to see other GW's, Tomatovillans, and IDMG folk.
Hope to see you all again in the fall.
Robbins

[Bellepepper]

We were there all day Sunday. Didn't meet anyone. Was in LensWay seminar at 11:30 so don't know who was on the porch. Next time we really need to have some form of identification so we will recognize forum folks. Really enjoyed the day, bought a lot of stuff. Plants, honey, tools, CD, Baker Seed cap. Can't remember everything. I do remember the climb back up the hill from the parking lot after the 3 or 4 trips to the car to take stuff down. Already looking forward to next time. Don't know about the summer festival. Can't take the heat. But next spring for sure. That gives us a year to figure out when and how we can all meet.

[Renee]

Hi! I just joined this forum but I've been reading here for a few weeks. I was at the festival on Monday. Where was your booth? Maybe I bought some plants from you???

[Gardenurse]

I promise to write an "article" on the forum talking about the vendors, speakers, etc., that took place on Monday. I've been busy out in the yard, garden, trying to work between rain showers, then I have to work at the hospital, these next few days, so my goal is to get it posted this weekend for those who weren't able to make it. In short, it was certainly worth the five hour drive from Kansas City.

Rain showers have stopped, so I'm heading back outside!

[Cliff Timmons]

What hospital?
My Daughter works at Liberty.

[runawayredhead]

I was at the festival and did not even think of telling anyone who I was because I did not know who to tell. I tried to buy at least one plant from each booth and spent a lot of time walking back and forth to my car with plants LOL. Next year I am bringing a wagon. Maybe we should all wear a tag or a certain color bandana that would help. It was a great time on Sunday and I will be back!

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey all...

Yeah I was in the booth with the huge tomaot plants. The were inbetween knee and waist high. My wife was selling Tie dye shirts....my brother made Didgeridoos that he was selling (My brother is in the back of the baker creek catalog playing a Didgeridoo.) My booth was located across from the store (facing it) and to the left. Second to the last row to the fence....it was crazy setting up. The supposedly had space assignements pre-established. But things kind of got crazy and I just set up farther down the hill to avoid conflicts.... :D

Yeah if somone would have mentioned that they were on the forum I would have given some free plants away. Was really wanting to meet some of you all. Oh well maybe next time. I might be at the fall....I will have about 6 to 7 hundred garlic bulbs to sell. Maybe some Cayenne strings and some dried peppers. Not sure yet.

Take care guys....!!!

Oh I met a lady from Kansas City...don't remember the forum name. But hope to hear from her on the plants I gaver her.

The balloon pepper is from SSE. It is in their catalog. Have some extra plants too.

LateR!

[Cliff Timmons]

When is the Fall Festival?

I could use about 10 or 15 bulbs in October.

[Doc]

Hey,
do you know what kind of garlic you'll be having available this fall?
I have like. . .10 varieties; including trying to grow a sample from some thai onion and thai garlic that were brought back from Bangkok this spring.

And yes, those bugs are very very brave this year! the whole hoards of them! Not an egg person really but thought of chickens to help control some of the bugs. It will be an adventure in the garden this year.

Off to save some plants!

[Marty Maraschino]

I met a couple of people from here on Monday. I believe Robbins was one of them and the other was a guy at the DanJo farms tent that has just moved into the area , maybe a Gary? Creation Groans, I bet I saw you but I got a little embarressed asking vendorsif i knew them.Some acted like I was crazy. I should have asked a couple more times I guess. I mostly browsed but did buy some ground horseradish and a coulple Stevia plants 2 for $3.

[Renee]

I think I know who you all are! Maybe. ??? Did your wife (or someone from your booth there)wear tie die pants on Monday? If so, I bought Lipstick pepper and a golden pepper, several basils (the basils were wonderful!). I must say that whoever sold these plants to me was the sweetest person I met all day! I'd love to know who this really was. I love having plants in my garden from "friends"!

Wow, you guys are going to have tons of garlic!!!

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey all!

Yeah that was us...my wife i think was wearing tie dye....she was also selling tie dye shirts as well. Glad that we were friendly for you....the only time we are grouchy is when the bugs are getting the better of us. :eek:

Wish you all would have mentioned you were from the forum...would have snuck you some freebies....

I will have a softneck variety of Garlic Doc....I got a lot of my stock from Ryan "Baker" a friend of mine from Kansas City. (He is in Jere's catalog with a basket on his head.) This fall I will be planting 4 new varities....I will have boat loads next june. This fall will be putting in four new major beds for an increase in garlic crop. (Several thousand bulbs more than likely.) I like growing garlic because of the natural "cure-all" it has to it. And it is as easy as pie. If you can not grow garlic then well...something is wrong. No bugs either...that is the best part. Also makes a good bug spray additive.

Not sure on when the fall is but I believe it is sometime in mid August. ??? But would be happy to set some aside for you Cliff (that is if I make it there....it depends on the size of the harvest.)

Anyway, bummer again on not meeting all of you guys. If anyone is local to me let me know as I have some re-inforcements that I am rearing right now. (And a few plants left over from the show.) Just in case the flea beetles get the best of ya I might be able to help. I have been known to make it to Springfield and Fayetteville quite a bit. Let me know!

Later!
Chad

[Cliff Timmons]

By the way Chad,

Great message on your web-site.

[Renee]

We visited our Farmer's Market in Harrison, AR this morning (with much excitement!). There was a couple there from Compton, Belle Rose Herb Farm. I didn't realize Compton was this close to us. Do you sell to any Farmer's Markets in the area?

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey Cliff....thanks man! That is my primary job gardening is a far second.

Well...as far as markets in Harrison...no I don't sell there. Not being mean or anything but alot of folks around here are to traditional to try the varities that I like to grow. They would never think of eating a black tomato. There is a huge Famers market in Fayetteville Ar that is quite the deal. That is a much better place to move your stuff. Though this year I might try Harrison again. We tried selling our honey there. (been beekeeping for 20 years now...started when I was 8 with my dad who has done it since high school.) Well the honey was not a big hit...people were to picky and critical of everything. It is interesting that just because someone heard that if you eat honey from your local area that it helps with allergies that makes them an expert on bees. Well.....that is a touchy one. So I do not even get into it with them. Plus my sister in law is hispanic and she was not well received selling it there. To many people there were prejudice. Oh well....their loss. She is a cool girl.

Anyway I will probably hit Fayetville this year. Or sit on the side of the road.

But yeah there is quite the heirloom organic group out here. In Kingston (about 15 minutes from me) there is a huge ****ake mushroom outfit that supplies local resturants in the Fayetville area. Have not been there yet but want to meet them. Bean mountain is also pretty close....met them at the festival. They grow some great plants. Hope to get out there sometime and do some chatting with them as well.

Anyway hope this helps.

Later!

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Wow....tried to talk about mushrooms and I got bleeped. I thought that is how you spelled it. Sorry....about that....maybe it is spelled Shatake???? Anyway didn't mean that to happen.

Anyway Renee if you are close enough to me and you don't have a green house I will be happy to start your plants for you next year. Just let me know.

Later !

Chad

[Renee]

Hey, Chad. What you experienced in Harrison so so sad!!! I was just talking to a lady there today who said no one liked the squash small, they wanted it BIG. And some people didn't like tomatoes in any different shapes than what they were used to getting at the grocery store. Odd. I'd love to be able to buy a black tomato.

I don't sell any produce. I just like to buy all the good stuff there! I grow what I can but it's never enough. Maybe next year I can just come down and buy all my plants from you guys.

I really hope you will be in Harrison sometime this summer! If you are, let me know, so that I can make sure I'm there to pick up one of those strange variaties! :)

[redbrick]

Chad, I'm gonna take a chance here. Let's see if I get bleeped, too. I think it's spelled Shiitake.

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey yeah...thanks.....that's much better! :)

[Bellepepper]

Know what you mean about people only wanting to buy the familiar at the farmers market. About 10 years ago, I tried to sell dried herbs at an arts and crafts show in Coffeyville KS. You wouldn't believe how many people ask, "What do you do with it, smoke it?"

[Renee]

Why is this????

[Bellepepper]

Renne, that question should be a whole new thread. We are going into our 2nd generation of video games, fast food and home made means you either fixed it out of a box or got it at the drive through. Think about it, McDonalds and Arby's think they invented salad. The general public thinks if they buy a tomato and iceberg lettuce and a bottle of Kraft dressing, they are eating healthy.

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

I'll tell you what that is right.

As a 28 year old I am pretty young to most but I am stuck in the middle of two generations....I see the fading values of the older generations vaporizing before me and I see the mindset of the younger generation becoming solidified in selfishness. Plus big business has had a bad part in the vegetable realm. My generation and younger do not think it exists if you can not get it from Wal-Mart. They have no clue how the world made it before Sam Walton was born.

So this generation lives by the motto "do your own thing and be your own person" While I say "yeah go ahead and when it is all said and done you will look like everybody else."

Exit the soapbox....sorry got carried away....I just get frustrated ay my generation sometimes....Oh well....Jesus can fix it all.

Later,
Chad

[Cliff Timmons]

Don't feel frustrated. Most genreations start out thinking that way. They change over time. I don't think they change as much as the generation before them but they all become more conservative as time goes by.

But you hit the nail on the head. They have to have that foundation you mentioned. Christ.

[lovetogarden]

creation groans,
I'm glad to see young people like you showing an interest in old fashioned values. I'm 46, and though only a bit older than your generation,I sometimes feel many more decades apart. I was 32 years old before I ever touched a computer! And yes, Jesus is the link that connects us all.

The year before my son was in third grade, I grew Tenn Dancing Gourds. The following October I gave my son a bowl of them for show and tell-(he let the kids know these were grown for toys) and to pass out. . I thought it would be something that they would find interesting, but pobably lose interest fast. I was wrong. One mom let me know she had to make a late evening trip back to her sons friend house to get his gourd he forgot. The teacher asked me to come back and give a lesson on heirlooms. I also had the chance to talk about organic growing and saving seeds.
The following year I was thrilled to see a buch of 4th graders comming in with their dancing gourds that they grew out. There was a gourd fest in the school that year.

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Wow! Cool....excellent job.

I know a lot of kids these days don't know how to work so to get them involved in some decent ethics is great! We try to push that hard in our youth group here.

Take care!

[zebraman]

Hey Guys;The world is about Free will and Choices.Sure there is alot of bad things in the world.But there is also alot of beauty and wonder as well.As I have said before I work in Television and I am a bit jaded,but I also realize that Buiseness' that spends millions on advertising is selling something I really don't need or want.Just for the record Gucci does not advertise.But they do make really good shoes.If everyone was just like me I'd probably be doing life, for murder.If you focus on what is bad you miss alot of the good.
When you Gripe about all the money wasted on Space exploration you will miss knowing about how one of the Apollo missions left a piece of the (Wooden Fuesilage taken from the plane that the Wright Brothers flew at Kittyhawk)and left it in the "Sea of Tranquillity"on the Lunar surface as a tribute to them.
The current political problems are not Bush/Republican or Clinton/Democrat.The Quickening is happening right before everyone's eyes and most people are completely unaware.These are Unusual and Exciting times.
And if everybody did the Right thing,CNN would be Really Boring.There is no light without the darkness,no good without the bad,No redemption without sin,and Blackberries without thorns are not worth eating.-

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey Zebraman!

You are right!

Though it is tough to kill hope in a man that all will one day be perfect. Those who live to change things do so in order that the arena that they seek to change will not just be altered but revolutionized. I totally agree with you though...stormy nights make the morning brigher.....but one day man will know an endless day....it is to that moment that I compare my present.

Thanks!

[ihateweeds]

Hey Chad, I came looking for you on Sunday, but I couldn't find you! Were you by that teepee? I kept looking for your sign, musta went past you a dozen times! IO would love to have gotten some of those pepper plants. Mine are just coming aorund as I planted very late.

Meeting up? I am so sorry that I didn't get to meet on the porch with everyone! I must apologize. I got hooked on all the goodies for sale inside the store, and scarfed up seeds I don't really need. Hey, $1 a pack?

I did meet up with Robin and got some goodies from her that a friend wanted. Saw Pam from Abundant Acres and got some more stuff. And phone talked with a few others.

Could not get back on Sunday, would love to have done another tour. That Navajo fry bread was delish! I am seriously giving thought to not starting ANY plants next year and just buy them at the show. Would save me a lot of time and energy. So then what do I do with all the seeds I have collected? Sigh...

Cheers,

Mickey

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey Mickey,

Yeah I waited for you all day! Was wondering if you even made it. Had some nice plants to give away....

Sorry about that....maybe next time....and I am sure that if you buy all your plants next year that there would be many volunteers for all that extra seed somewhere here in the forum.... :D

Take care!!!

[Gardenurse]

My apologies for the delay in posting, but I've had good "outside working" weather this weekend. As promised, here is a summary of last Monday (from my point of view).

Arrived late Sunday night and booked a room at the Super 8 in Seymour, MO. For future reference, I would not recommend staying there if you want to get any sleep--or bring earplugs! The hotel is located right next to the railroad tracks, and although I appreciate the transportation of products and people it provides, I did not appreciate it (after being awake all day and driving for five hours) at 11 p.m., 1:15 a.m., 2:54 a.m., 6:43 a.m., 7:16 a.m., 7:38 am, or 8:27 a.m. Yes, I wrote down every time it went by and woke me up. I think I passed out from sheer exhaustion during the gap between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. I woke up more tired than I did when I went to bed.

I left the hotel in search of Baker Creek. Directions in the catalog were perfect, and I liked the veggie-shaped signs that pointed the visitors in the right direction. Arrived, parked, paid...didn't know where to start. Kind of like a kid in a candy store...what to start with first?

Decided to start with Robbins and Jim (Bear Creek Farms) since I had met (and bought from) them at the Farmer's Expo in Kansas City. Had a nice little visit, and I remember the baby owl asleep in the tree above their tent. I also met their apprentice (part of the Growing Growers program here in KC).

Visited with all of the vendors--friendly and well-versed about what they had to offer. Kept an eye on time, thought I had plenty of it before I stepped into the actual seed store! Planned on only buying 2 packets, but left with 10, a book, and other great items. However, it was divine intervention, since I met cReAtIoN gRoAnS (Chad) in the store. He and his family are as nice, sincere, and helpful as can be. You would have remembered his booth if you went because he had "monster" tomato plants--waist high!

Stopped by the DanJo farms booth and met "Chiledoug" from the forum too. He seems to be adjusting fine to Missouri life after moving here from Utah. Spoke with Jere and Andrew as well as folks in the store and thanked them all for the work they do that we don't always see.

I'm sure I passed other folks from this forum and I found myself wondering, could that be "so-and-so?" I like the idea of wearing something to make us more recognizable to each other, since I would have loved to have met more people. Weather was perfect, and I couldn't have asked for nicer people to meet.

I'll give a summary of what the speakers talked about if anyone is interested (I took notes)...just PM me.

[FourDeuce]

I enjoyed the show. We had a get-together planned too, so I was pretty busy with the booth and trying to spend some time with the friends and getting around to see everything on display there and to shop for seeds in the store. There just isn't enough time for everything, and I couldn't make it back on Monday, so I had to try to do everything on Sunday.
Still, it looked like a good show, and the weather cooperated, mostly.
I see we have some fairly close neighbors here, too, with people from Compton and Omaha on here. I live just north of Harrison. :D

An old Chinese proverb says

If you want to be happy for a few hours, get drunk.
If you want to be happy for a weekend, get married.
If you want to be happy for a week, butcher a pig.
If you want to be happy all your life long, become a gardener.

[chiledoug]

i wuz with DANJO FARMS may have met some of you had a great time though