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Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

I think that "we" or "they" should organize a pumpkin seminar somewhere in Europe next year or in 2 years time. It is much too expensive to fly to US or Canada just to talk with some growers for most of us. I know it is a hard think to make, but I am only giving an idea. What do you think about it ?

4/6/2004 1:47:01 PM

Sancoins / Cher / FRANCE

Quite your made all right for a seminar in Europe, it is necessary to find one city of Europe, and the whole is trow.
Jean louis France

4/6/2004 2:56:55 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Great idea!
Americans have Niagara, an impressive nature feature (I've been there twice, though in summer). Like we do not have so outstantding nature as they do (we shouldn't organice the seminary on Alps), we should look for an art and historic feature, and no too cold in spring.
I would suggest Firence, Firenza or Florence (I don't really know the name in English). Just an idea...

Carlos

4/7/2004 3:43:28 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

I would love to meet everyone!
Let's grow a few thousand pound pumpkins in the
meantime!
Michel

4/7/2004 4:13:13 AM

Udine, Italy

Florence is a great idea, but there are a lot of other possibilities in Italy (Venice, Rome). I'm ready to help in the organization of the event.
Paolo Ermacora

4/7/2004 6:14:22 AM

Knopp, Germany

I think your idea is wonderful. I also think that if we could get a common sponsor for an event like this that it would then become much more economically feasable. I wonder if JuckerFarmart (sponsor of the German and European weighoffs) would have an interest? They could possibly even sponsor the location as they have a wonderful spot in Seegraeben, Switzerland that could accomodate many people. Hey Martin, you seem to have the best working relationship with them, what do you think?

4/7/2004 7:00:28 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

A great idea, which should be realized. Northern Italy or Switzerland seems in the middle of Europe.
I am curious: how many of you went to European weightoff last year and plan to go this year?
Jernej

4/7/2004 9:35:31 AM

Knopp, Germany

I went last year, and God willing and if the creek don't rise I am going again this year (all that really means is if I have a good year...LOL)! A few others from this site did also, but I will let them speak up. It was nice to meet growers from Belgium, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. It would be even better to meet all of them plus growers from Spain, Slovenia, Poland, England, and on and on.

4/7/2004 10:12:41 AM

Sancoins / Cher / FRANCE

Of my quoted I shall have seen well big cities as Geneva, Rome, Paris, easy Barcelona of access by air mail and in car so that " ' it is there least complications. I shall have a preference so that it takes place in February, because I manage to have time free, and as I am Manager Horticultural, I have much less time.
jean louis

4/7/2004 3:58:05 PM

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

And what about the language...English?

4/8/2004 6:06:48 AM

Udine, Italy

I propose English as official language. If the speakers prepare their presentations in advance and if there are voluntaries, presentations may be translated in other languages to create a proceeding of the meeting.

4/8/2004 8:05:09 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Paolo, what topics do you have in mind? Maybe pumpkin growing in each country should be briefly presented: people, tradition, climate and of course weightoffs.

English is probably the best option - but only if English growers will also participate :-)
Jernej

4/8/2004 9:40:23 AM

Udine, Italy

Hi Jernej,
Basic idea is to share the meeting contents with the highest number of people (also with people that could not attempt to the meeting) and to encourage people that is not very friendly (like me) with English to take part to the convention. To solve the problems I think in a kind of proceedings containing all the speakers presentations translated in several languages; it’s a quite complicated procedure, but with the aid of some growers I think that it’s possible. About the contents of the seminar, we have a lot of subjects, as you told Europe is very different in climate, soil and environmental conditions; may be also that some Europeans heavy growers accept to participate to the meeting to propose their experiences.
Paolo

4/8/2004 3:25:04 PM

Knopp, Germany

I agree. There are enough growers from most of the European countries that are bi-lingual, if not more. Translating any briefings would be a great option.

4/9/2004 1:17:59 AM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

I guess You like my idea... I think that this meeting should be somewhere in Alps in February (with skiing conditions) and English should be an 'official' language becouse we use it here everyday.
And we could invite some top growers from US.

4/9/2004 6:31:31 AM

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

Translating in French, Italian, German, Dutch, Spanish, and for the growers from Poland, Sweden, Slovenia...Who will do that? I don't think I could really attend a seminar only in English...Invite heavy hitters...ok, but who will pay for that? It would be a very expensive seminar...

4/9/2004 10:37:06 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Let’s propose funding to Brussels. We may point out that pumpkin growing is a very competitive sport where Europe lags behind USA. They could buy it...

This was meant as a joke (I just came out of Al-Kaida thread). But on a second thought a pumpkin seminar could fit in: GMO-free food production, sustained agronomy, improving human resources, transnational mobility, education and other social benefits... it is still a joke... Jernej

4/9/2004 11:10:45 AM

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

Brussels, wonderfull idea ;-).

The Belgian Girl, Sophie

4/9/2004 11:59:40 AM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

Quite far from here, but... It would be more official there. And about inviting HH. I would like them to come on their own cost. I know that if so the chanses of meeting one of them are very low, but who would like to pay for others? And I think that translations are not necesary. And if we get a sponsor it won't be very expensive.

4/9/2004 2:45:19 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Just som Ideas:

Brussels is a beautiful city and easy to get by plane. Great beer also, I know two nice cafés over there, like "The Mort Subite" and "El Rey de España" in the main square. There are a friendly and clean youth hostel as well, very cheap and clean.
Topics for seminars: beneficial fungi in soils, powdery mildew in cucurbitae, floema movement in plants, natural fruit hormones and there effects.
Visit: to Ghent and Brugge, to one large flower or veg commercial advanced greenhouse.
The translations could be in the hands of the organisation and be given to participants in paper before the speeches.

ANd Thea, we could find some sponsors in Belgium, related with your National Contest, and they can put the money to invite the seminar experts and a couple of american heavyhitters with the WR in his/her curriculum. Of course there are great growers and very interesting to invite without the WR title, but in order to get economic support than could be a help.

The only problem is the cold, I know Brussels in Feb-Mar is not Malaga. Hey what about the Canary Islands???

Carlos

4/10/2004 3:43:55 AM

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

We must think in "connections".
Find a city with a very international airport with direct connections to the main cities of the States and european cities.
I don't think the Canary Islands are the best choice.
What about London or Paris? I'm afraid they are very expensive (but they are very attractive for american people). Don't forget they think about the terrorist attacks...
We have the Otan in Brussels, but we were not engaged in the war in Irak...
A lot of parameters...
I'd love to meet some HH, but do you think they really would come...
If they come in Belgium, my husband is travel agent and we could find hotels and make good reservations for them (and for other people, of course).

4/10/2004 4:19:59 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Hey, I was referring to get funds from EU commission in Brussels. We all pay taxes so why not get some money back? The only problem is to write all benefits of the seminar for EU on the paper. I was joking at first but maybe it is worth to try?

4/10/2004 6:29:26 AM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

I think that we should focus on things that we realy need.

We need a palce (square) or something simmilar.
We need rooms in nearby hotel
We need a big tent or other thing that will protect us from rain/snow/cold

etc.

Write what You think would be useful and then we will think of organizating those things...

4/10/2004 9:26:31 AM

Sancoins / Cher / FRANCE

Of my Bruxelle, goes to me very well, every fact all right with Carlos, the beer, Théa, an international airport and I think that one could there find everything to help us to go up a seminar, in more Théa has a husband agent of journey and that it is well to help us.

4/10/2004 4:53:11 PM

Wichita, KS

I have always wanted to go to Europe. Whenever I think about the trip, I decide that Madrid,Spain, would be the place to go because there are many English speakers, the climate is reportedly very nice, they have an international airport, and the prices are said to be more affordable there than other places in Europe.

When I dream of the trip, this is what I dream. Now I have pumpkins to dream about, too!

Toby

4/10/2004 8:52:50 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

As you have been able to realize, I didn't want to suggest a Spanish city like the meeting place, over all because, despite it could be a nice place, I think is hard to find economic supporters, sponsors, for it here. I know some growers has a better economic situation than others, and in order to get the biggest number of interested growers here, I think to find a sponsor for the event is important. Maybe it could be a EU commission as Jernej said, or a particular gardening enterprise as Owen said, whoever it be, at least to have one is important to make the event available. Besides each grower trip and hostelling, we will have to pay the meeting place, the seminars and the people to invite, plus some excursion.

So, as the place could be many and in many countries, the first step should be that every one who has any conections, try to move them in order to find that economic support (not easy).

Maybe some of the European Contests this year could be good moments to try it. As far as I know, the biggest prices given to giant pumpkins in Europe were in the Belgium Contest, in the Juckerfarmart Contest (They call it European Contest) and in the Spanish Contest (They call it International Contest). If the second Spanish Contest go ahead (I hope), I will test the feelings of the sponsors, for sure.

Carlos (less than 3 weeks to starting date)

4/11/2004 3:55:07 AM

Udine, Italy

This is only my opinion, but in sponsors finding (especially EU funds) an association has much more possibilities. May be that the first step is to create the European Pumpkins Growers Association; if the number of members is high and many CEE countries are represented the possibilities are enhanced.
Paolo

4/11/2004 3:08:49 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

I think the first start is for someone to contact Ray Waterman about getting a WPC weigh-off going here in Europe. It's not that hard but it does require a bit of money to organize the weigh-off.
Last I heard from him, he didn't want to partner up with Jucker Farmart in Switzerland though.
Each country could then also have a WPC weigh-off as well.
Until this happens then it's all just talk for nothing in my opinion. I don't have the charisma nor time to attract the european growers but I would like to participate in some way.

It's my opinion also that we are still too few growers and that the best thing we can do is offer free AG seeds to all local schools and get more people started. I'll have seeds and started plants for all the members of my daughter's school who are interested this year.

Martin knows something about sponsorship problems at least in Germany and Switzerland from Beet Jucker. Maybe he'd be kind enough to give us an overall picture of what he knows...and what we're up against.

A registered Verien (club) in Germany would probably be the easiest way here of receiving support from the government.

Just a few ideas to think about...

Hope everyone is having a happy easter!
Michel

4/12/2004 2:51:21 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

There is an European Organization called Nymphaea I worked with several years ago (I do not even know if it still working or existing, but I can find it out), which used to get good money for EU comissions. It was a gardening school org of a lot of European Countries, like Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Greece, Germany and UK. I can talk with a member I know here to ask him about that question.
To make an European organization sounds to me like a great idea, to arrange a meeting or for many other future things. If some one knows how to organize it, could make a dossier, send it by e-mail in order to be read and can be returned with any change suggestions. After that I believe that at least 20 growers will sign it. Not only the ones we use to write here in the forum, but others who don't know English or don't use Internet.

Carlos

4/12/2004 3:57:47 AM

Sancoins / Cher / FRANCE

Of my quoted, I go me informed with some of my suppliers, for the sponsors and I have some contact in the good placed in the Horticultural environment, and it in the sector of the kitchen garden, I am going to inquire.
Near to help you for the organistion of the seminar.
Jean louis

4/12/2004 1:53:37 PM

Leerdam, The Netherlands

Hi Michel,

I want to comment on what your write about the WPC.
I think the weigh-off in Duisburg in Belgium is WPC recognized.

Iwan

4/13/2004 6:11:02 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

European organization is a good idea but I have no knowledge how such an organization should be registered. I like the idea to get a dossier from already registered association and then we make corrections by passing it by e-mail.

Hey Carlos, when you get the info from Nymphaea you can send me some links so I can investigate a little about EU commission funding.
Jernej

4/14/2004 10:47:28 AM

Sancoins / Cher / FRANCE

Today, I received an appeal of friend which work in the S.N.H.F. (National society of Horticultural of France) with whom I make approved my potirons, it administers the vegetable section. He is near to help me to go up our European Giant's project pumpkin Growers Seminar.
It would be necessary that one supplies him a project with our ideas and how one would want that it takes place during 2 days (date, persons, country, invited the USA or CA).
jean louis

4/14/2004 3:59:31 PM