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Buren Ameland,West Frisian Islands, Netherlands

The pumpkin patch tour in Knopp-Labach, close to Saarland in Germany was a lovely day.

Patch owner Owen Olsen has done everything to make it a great day and it was.
The weather was not to bad, but for pumpkins at least, not warm enough.
The tour was of great interst for many Saarland pumpkin growers and from Netherlands, Austria and even Nepal too.
It was very interesting to see how Owen does it, huge pumpkins of different shape, colour and weight.
Some of them very impressive, but still not Owen's ultimate wish...

A very nice place indeed, Knopp, and a great hospitality in the beautifull beergarden with with good and free food, drinks, pumpkin-gifts and lodging.
It was a great time Owen, many thanks, and not in the last place for all the volunteers who made it such a nice stay.

Great new idea's and inspiration, that is the advantage of such a tour and all 'after talks'. Different nationalities and different growers, give different experience and views: a lot to learn.

Surely an idea for European growers to have such a day again, somewhere in .... Europe 2007.

Who would like to be host?
I would like to offer hospitality as Owen has done on the beautifull beach island I live.
So all pumpkin growers: most welcome next year, somewhere in august!

8/14/2006 12:12:20 PM

Austria

The Patch Tour was a real pleasure. Thanks a lot to Owen and his helpers who made it such a great event. This Patch Tour was the best you could have asked for. Not only did we see Owen`s very impressive patch and enjoyed the great hospitality, growers who know each other only from the internet eventuality met face to face. We even had some ok weather. Very impressive also the growers from Gehweiler when arriving with their bus. Owen has managed to be able to have some real great door prices for the people. Caps, T-Shirts, autographed books and seeds from over the pond and Europe too. The people and clubs who have donated them do really earn a big "Thank you". While enjoying great food and drinks lots of interesting conversation and sharing of experience took place. It was fantastic and will be remembered for a long time. Thank you so much Owen!

Heino

8/15/2006 5:37:32 AM

Knopp, Germany

It was my pleasure, as well as the team from Knopp to host the first European Giant Pumpkins Patch Tour.

We are all glad that everyone was able to enjoy themselves, talk pumpkins, have a typical American BBQ and be able to take home some door prizes that were generously given to us from our North American and European friends.

With this in mind I want to personally thank, Bill (Stunner)and the MePGO, Lisa W. and the Dills, Dwaine Gipe, Brad Thursten and lastly Jim B. and the NHGPGA for helping with the door prizes.

We all were able to talk pumpkins deep into the night, meet people from Austria, the Netherlands, Nepal and all over Germany. We are hoping this is our first step in building a team amosthpere here that will help us compete with the rest of the world.

A special thanks to Beggersche, Schroggi and their Gehweiler group, Charly and Tiedel from Urexweiler, Norbert and group from Weingarten, Theo and Raj from the Netherlands and Heino (Steel) who came in from Austria.

I would be wrong if I also did not thank the following Knopp Team: Martina, Bettina, Elke, Michael, Max and Martin. Thank you for helping make this a special event.

8/15/2006 5:55:27 AM

Montoursville, PA

..............And I would like to share appreciation and my encouragement to keep this event or a similar event going. It is most difficult in the begining so special recognition to those that traveled to make attendance very pleasing.

9/10/2006 8:50:01 PM