From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Why don't you just ask for donations? I am sure there are more than enough people that are willing to donate. I already told you that I would donate $25 last year. Any thoughts on if this is possible? You guys are too generous. I am sure this site cost a sizeable sum to maintain. Please, I want to give you money. Ray Leonzi

9/26/2003 8:09:39 PM

Connecticut, USA

We really prefer to give something directly in return for people's hard earned money. However, we will likely except a variety of prices for the DVD! So you can build in your own donation amount!

9/26/2003 8:50:36 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey John and Ken you let everybody else run the AUCTIONS here! Why not a BP.com Auction too? Chuck

9/27/2003 6:28:14 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Great Idea, Chuck!

9/27/2003 6:49:18 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

We just touched the tip of a very dangerous iceberg. Eseed 06-30-04? -Steve

9/27/2003 7:08:55 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Not trying to change policy Steve.. and I don't reccommend auctions for new growers...but the growers who use this site frequently and enjoy the site would be more then likely be amenable to an auction. Why do regional and local clubs have to be the only one's to benefit from this site. Free great seeds will always be available to all. Hey Ken and John need a new server to keep providing a great "free" service we need to get it for em!! Love the lottery run by wisconsin etc...plenty of good ways to do this without changing the mission of helping and attracting new growers.... Chuck

9/27/2003 8:23:22 AM

Connecticut, USA

You guys did come through on the cam! But, we just thought that a server was too much to ask for....

We will have to give some thought to the auction idea.

One of the great thing the new server will allow us to do is completely redo the site with new cutting edge technologies. This is an exciting time!

9/27/2003 9:04:59 AM

Knopp, Germany

Speaking for myself, I am in. Whatever it takes. This has turned out to be "The" meeting place for heavy hitters and newbies alike in the giant pumpkin growing community. Just as we come up with new and exciting ideas in growing our giants, we should embrace the new technologies that are available to enable Ken and John to continue to enable us to enjoy this website.

9/27/2003 11:10:49 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

For all the great information that flows here, we could use a more reliable means of searching for, archiving, & retrieving information in a database. The data is here. Just not organized well without a lot of time spent wading through "search". Or else a lot of redundant posting of the same material year after year.
Perhaps a second teir of membership that is paid? Thus the newcomer isn't frightened off. But for those who desire "premium member benefits" an advanced status?

Just a thought.

Steve

9/27/2003 3:35:07 PM

Sask, Canada

Ok fellow growers, I've read the post's and the main fact is Ken and John need a new server. They have given us lots and have never asked for anything, I say it's time for a big thank-you. I for one am sending them a thank-you gift of $25.00 and $25.00 for the wife as well.

We spend money all year on our patch and giants why should this website, which is just as much a part of our growing be any different. It's not a Donation, or charity but just a little something to say Thank-you to Ken and John for all their hard work and support for this crazy sport we all love.

If you want to send a Thank-you gift as well in support of a new server for BigPumpkins.com

send your gift to
Ken Desrosiers
P.O. Box 325
Broad Brook, CT 06016-0325

TTYL
Ernie Pearce
Giant Veggies

9/27/2003 4:50:48 PM

Oz

tremor,,,,
advanced status???
having grown up poor,,not poorly,,
i have seen the bently way of excluding people.
now i can buy my way into most things.
but if it excludes others because milk and shoes for their kids,etc,are more important,,i am not interested.

this is a wonderful site. and im sure that a advertisers page/corner would sell space,,,
i would even buy some ad space,,or a cd,,,
even though i dont need to advertise,i would.

no offence to the creators and maintainers of this site,,
but donations can cause problems.

10/1/2003 12:56:53 PM

Farmington, Utah

Mcpumpkin, i can see your point of view. If some want to donate to keep this site going should be OK. As for, and not to demean you in anyway, if milk and shoes are more important than I would think that one in this situation should be growing eatable vegies and fruit and not growing AGs. Growing AGs in itself is not a cheap adventure.
KennyB

10/5/2003 6:44:41 PM

Oz

no offence taken.
i just cant see a seperate "level".

growing them dosent really cost that much if you stay sane.
lol not many stay sane.

what i ment is after all the expences some people have in their normal day,some just cant afford to buy memberships.
ive been there.

there is a exposition center near me.
most things are free entry.
with the vendors paying for the space.
others charge the vendors and the "customers".
the only difference is the "hosts" want more money.
i dont go to the entry fee events,,,and i have missed some fine gun trades,,,,
when i come to this site i know i will interact with all "kinds" of people. that pleases me to no end.

some people would be excluded because they couldnt afford the entry fee. that would be wrong.
i find that growing anything is a wonderful experience that anyone can enjoy.

the first giant pumpkin i ever saw was at a mansion in bloomfield($$$$)hills michigan.
this guy was a extreamly wealthy auto exec who could afford to buy anything.
i at the time couldnt afford hardly anything.
we talked as if we were brothers for three hours about growing giant pumpkins and things.
cant put a price on that.

10/5/2003 9:39:48 PM

seattle

Running a website is not cheap. I may get up to 4 million impressions a month in October. In my life of asking for donations, I may have received 175 dollars out 50 million people. This is why I had to go to advertisement and affiliate programs. We cant do this for free. Thank you to anyone who has donated to any website.

Duncan
backyardgardener.com/pumpkin.html

10/7/2003 9:53:13 PM

Montoursville, PA

One or two major supporters of any need such as this from an open free membership is a pretty good average. My guess is John and Ken know pretty well where those majors are and may or should lean on them again and recognize the new ones that show too.

The creation of something to sell or give in return is a nice undertaking that should be helpfull to the cause.

11/7/2003 3:49:24 PM

Montoursville, PA

Oh shoot! Meant to say one or two out of a thousand at large.

11/7/2003 3:50:42 PM