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Entry Date
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Location
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Tuesday, September 24, 2024
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owen o
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Knopp, Germany
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Entry 2 of 5 |
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Greetings.
To all Giant Pumpkin, Long Gourd, Field Pumpkin, Watermelon, Tomato, Bushel Gourd and Marrow growers, friends, and family. The last 22 years have been a wonderful time and I would not change a single day. I have experienced all sorts of ups and downs in our hobby. But it is time for me to take more care of myself, Martina, and Charlie. All three of us are getting older, Charlie (our Labrador) will be 12 this year.
I retired from working 11 years ago and for the first 6 years after that our hobby felt the same, a hobby. I achieved PB 1302 and thought I figured it out. However, in the last 5 years I have not achieved the results that I expected for myself. The hobby became work and I slowly lost joy.
The decision not to move forward is very painful, but I know I must do it now, quickly, and cleanly, like pulling off a Band-Aid.
I have a lot of respect for all of you, I know how much work and dedication goes into mastering our hobby.
I hope that one day our paths will cross and we can sit down with a cold beer and talk about the good old days.
The Great Pumpkin Commenwealth is one of the best organizations I've ever worked with as a Site Coordinator, since the days I brought a first GPC event to Germany, many years ago. I wish you the best of luck in the future. You have a difficult job, you deserve the respect and admiration of all growers.
I wish you all the best and hope that your vegetables and fruits are heavy.
I am only going to mention 3 people that had the biggest influence for me.
Dave Stelts, I asked him per e-mail what can I do to be a better grower, and he said have a patch tour at your patch and take advice from other growers. I did exactly that, had the very first international patch tour in Europe and 2 years later a new personal best. “Got Stelts?”
The second person is Ken Desrosier. What can I say. I was welcomed into his community with open arms. At that time, I spent more hours in on-line chat and auctions than I spent with my family. I also was very critical about certain things that today are so minor, however forced Ken to work hard deleting some of my posts. Sorry Ken, I only wanted an equal playing field for all, guess it is hard to hear my voice via a text post. I always only wanted the best, for all. Thank you for being so kind.
And third is Bart Toftness. The 707 Toftness was the first good seed I ever had, he was generous, shared knowledge and invited me with open arms. Team Pumpkin for me was a way for every single person that ever wanted to grow Great Pumpkins to have the chance, get free seeds, knowledge, and support. Thank you, Bart.
With great respect,
Owen Olsen
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