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Location

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Date Posted

Putnam Ct.

Trying to become member,sent in info -e-mail ext.. but still no response. any help would be appreciated thanks and HAPPY NEWYEAR......Gene

1/2/2009 1:29:11 PM

Dresden, Ohio

I also tried to become a new member Gene. It seems to be for more experienced growers, so if you a newer grower like myself, we will just have to wait a few years.
-Jeremy

1/2/2009 1:39:50 PM

Eastern Washington State

Same thing here.

Apparently the site is run by only one individual who really has to be overextended and probably has enough to do without dealing with us small fry.

Kinda frustrating at first because I work in the biological sciences, and it would be interesting to see if there is enough information to infer more about the genetic basis of traits like fruit shape and color. Oh and weight too ;)

My $0.02 FWIW: If you are going for a trait (such as size) in an unproven seed, the safest bet is to choose seed that comes from parental plants that both have the trait you want. (The actual plants used in the cross if possible not siblings.) There are of course probably better/just as good approaches, but this seems to be the most conservative.

Brian

1/2/2009 2:36:30 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

Yeah this topic has been up many times before with the same result.

1/2/2009 2:48:22 PM

Columbus,ohio

I don't get it....new growers want to make good crosses too. I can go to briansinsanity for somethings but it dosn't have new seeds. How cans someone do that. His reason is we will bother other people. how. I just think it is really stupid that someone thinks new growers don't want to make good crosses.New growers research trates and different seeds. But if he dosn't want to help people it is his loss.

1/2/2009 3:29:19 PM

South Finland [email protected]

I tried to join somewhere on Summer 2007 during my first season. I still wait e-mail....Would be great at least have e-mail "thanks for interest but not until you prove your growing skills"

If access are only for after you have achieved certain level why mention about that? Many growers suggest to get on AGGC and when you treid no answer,no nothing.

1/2/2009 3:36:18 PM

Ohio

Giant pumpkin,
Im not exactly sure what your trying to say there, and Im not much of a computer guy to explain it, and hopefuly someone will pop in after my post and explain it better then I,, but I know one of the reason not everyone can just pay the 20 bucks and get onto the site as easy as 1,2,3, is that Mike only has enough space(MEMEROY?) for growers he can hold on his web site at a time. Once someone drops out he then adds someone new. Im sure its not that he doesn't want to help other people as you think, because he has helped growers out countless times over and over again.
It took me over 2 years to be able to get onto the site when he first opened it, hang in there, you ill get on eventually, I can almost guarantee you that.

1/2/2009 3:47:59 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

AGGC is a great resource for giant pumpkin growers. It took me awhile to join too. The $20.00 that Brooks mentioned is an annual donation on your anniversary date of joining.

When I first became aware of the site, I was told Mike was not accepting any new members as too many people were using other grower's passwords and getting on for free.

He may be taking a break from all of the data entry he did with the 2008 crop of giant pumpkins.

1/2/2009 4:12:03 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

It costs him to host the site and the bandwidth to access it, is my understanding... and it is up to him on who is allowed access. I know of one club that you can get limited access to the site with membership.

I did get access, but that is for an entire club, I hold and manage the seedbank; and have been using it to fill out a file of the inventory and the pedigree for what we have. After this year I better have a big one...

Sometimes asking the grower of a seed you have and/or looking on BP diaries, works almost as well. Most growers have been nice enough if I couldn't find one, to supply or give me link to a picture of a particular fruit, and tell me more-especially if they need it grown to be proven.

1/2/2009 4:17:21 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Same here Brooks, about 2 years.
Iv'e made 35 crosses over the years.
5 of my pumpkins were over the 500lb. threshold for listing there. Only 2 are listed at the AGGC.site because only 2 were reported.
Every cross I made is listed on this site.
The GPC Homepage has every pumpkin weighed at a GPC weigh-off this year.
I was looking at the 74 Finch listed as (355 Buglio x 1290 Checkon) although I think it's probably the 1090 Checkon. Could grow a big one.

1/2/2009 4:47:12 PM

[email protected]

There was a time that GVGO members got access. Is that still an option?

1/2/2009 5:05:07 PM

Ohio

I've been trying to join the AGGC for the last few months, still no replies. Everything that I look for, I can find here on BP, Brian's insanity, or GPC. You just have to dig deep enough!!

1/2/2009 5:27:15 PM

Coventry R.I.

RON,, Does it show a picture of that pumpkin cross,, first time I heard of it.

1/2/2009 6:41:18 PM

Oakley, UTAH

near as i can figure from the folks i've chatted with, this is a pretty exclusive club site, set up for giant pumpkins over 500+ pounds. and as more of us are getting into growing (IMHO) i think the membership is becoming more exclusive as is entrance weight, dont quote me on this, but i agree with Joe V here there are still other sites and resources to find parentages and seeds for u if u work and dig deep enough.

1/2/2009 6:59:01 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

http://www.aggc.org/newmemberspolicy2008.asp

Membership Policy

"Membership to the AGGC is obtained through the annual monetary donation of $20 paid one year at a time. You are also required to submit complete information on your own pumpkins through the online AGGC data enty form within the time frame specfied on the site. If you do not, I will not renew your membership. With this in mind, membership is limited only to those actively growing pumpkins and with a least a couple years experience behind them. This is not a how-to site and is not meant for novice growers.

Membership runs for a period of one year. Applying for such implies you have read and agreed to abide by the above conditions of membership. You can use this form to send me your personal information. Please fill out all fields completely. After doing do, I will contact you via email with payment address options."

1/2/2009 7:29:05 PM

Jefferson Me

For you guys that are not members to aggc just keep growing and do your homework elsewhere. Through other growers and your local clubs.A lot can be learned threw other growers in your club.I've competed in a lot of different things over the years,and by far the giant pumpkins growers are the most helpfull and sharing with information.And when do get to be an AGGC member you will agree that it was worth the wait and effort to gain access into it.I know every time I log onto it I am VERY thankful to have been excepted as a member. The info on this site is mindblowing for growers.

1/2/2009 7:32:27 PM

Putnam Ct.

Thanks for the info everybody, I applied last year,and again 2-3 weeks ago,I guess I will just have to wait my turn.Thanks Gene

1/2/2009 8:00:10 PM

Whidbey Island

I heard a rumor recently that bigpumpkins.com and aggc were going to join together and make a mega site with fees for certain features. Any truth to this?

1/2/2009 10:01:51 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Hey Frank, I just looked at the PGPGA website it's the only pumpkin without a picture link.
http://www.pgpga.com/
You might be able to contact someone from their website for more info.

1/2/2009 11:49:49 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

The arguments regarding bandwidth doesn't really apply because his site is not really heavy on downloads (big stuff like movies, songs, etc.)...just text and some images (lots of server side processing, but that does not affect what gets send between you and his server).

A site with a DB backend can easily hold a much larger # of users than are there now...so thats not it either..and adding new users should be trivial. You would think that at $20 a person, he would be jumping at the chance to add new users.

Farmer Chuck hit the nail on the head. Mike became suspicious of other users sharing passwords, and thus is punishing a lot of new guys. He keeps track of every IP that accesses the site and if you connect from different IP addresses some times, the assumption is that you share you password (ignoring the fact that many ISPs use dynamic IP addresses, and that many people access the site from work, school, etc.). This blocking of the information is a detriment to the evolution of this sport which is why some big growers do not send any data to AGGC.

In the end, the info is good, but it really isn't anything you can't find by asking other growers...wanna know about the 1689...ask Joe.

1/3/2009 12:24:45 AM

Winston Salem NC

GVGO does have limited usage of the AGGC. Its only for the pumpkins from there members. I also was turned down for membership for lack of experience growing and "not seeing of how it would benifit me". Brians site is great and you can find alot of information elsewhere but it can be time consuming.

1/3/2009 12:34:35 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Anyone can submit data in the fall to the AGGC. I would suggest that if you are growing pumpkins over 500 lbs and you submit for a couple seasons, you will be admited. Just be persistant and keep sending requests. As stated above, I think mike wants to limit membership to serious growers that have shown that they are serious by growing from a couple years and have grown pumpkins over the 500 lb mark. Remember its his site...his rules

1/3/2009 1:06:05 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

what happened to the $20.00 you sent them for membership? when you were turned down? doesn't sound like anything i want to be affilated with.

1/3/2009 1:31:25 AM

Vancouver Washington

I personally believe it is wrong to ask clubs and individuals to submit information to someone who does not have open enrollment. It is a valuable service, but i have no desire to prove anything to anyone - especially so that i may be "allowed to send them my money". It appears that the AGGC is self sustaining without any new members, and I think that is fine. However, each fall there is a push from all clubs and especially from current members to make sure you submit your information. If i could find a way to make sure my crosses and seeds were blocked from the AGGC, I would. I have no problem with exclusive memberships, just don't ask me to support it and not be allowed to participate in the rewards.

1/3/2009 7:02:25 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

This discussion comes up every year. Jordan, I have accessed AGGC from many different IP addresses and not a single problem. Mike e-mailed me once to confirm it was me, but I was never blocked. Vancouver, respectfully, if you feel that way then don't enter your crosses. That would be unfortunate and only degrade the data. IMO $20 is well spent. If you can find the info you're looking for without AGGC, great. If I had to eliminate some pumpkin related expenses, it wouldn't be AGGC.
Just my 2 cents, hugs and kisses.

1/3/2009 8:25:13 AM

southwest MO

I believe this AGGC feller to be to fickle and the Bigpumpkin.com folks will regret getting to involved with him.

1/3/2009 9:10:59 AM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

Andy, I believe in some cases even if you don't enter your information personally, someone else puts it on there even if it is quite limited information, and it wasn't approved by the grower first? Maybe that is what vancouver also meant? I think that the AGGC looks like a wonderful site from what I have been able to access, and nobody is saying it is not worth the $20, but I can see why someone would be mad if their own pumpkin information was accessable by members but the grower himself is not allowed in.

1/3/2009 1:19:00 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Fair enough Alex

1/3/2009 3:23:01 PM

Coventry R.I.

Thank,s Ron,,,,,,,,

1/3/2009 4:04:42 PM

ordinary,VA

Well since the topic is on the AGGC .
how many of you are going to enter the 2009 largest field pumpkin contest Mike is puttin on??
sounds fun think i will give it a shot..

1/3/2009 6:50:07 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Ed I suspect that you might have to be a member to enter it?

1/3/2009 7:39:42 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Before you new growers burn all your bridges bear in mind that someone else submitting data on your pumpkins to the AGGC gives you a foot in the door.

1/4/2009 6:03:06 AM

western Kentucky

If you have never had access to the site you may not realize the work going into maintaining it. I don't have a problem with his membership policies, and strongly believe in him upholding the right to permit access to those he chooses. Mike seems to be a very decent guy, fickle would not be a word I would use to describe him. I've been a member of the AGGC on and off since 2000, and will renew my membership for 2009 as soon as things are not a tight in the pocket book.

Justin_18

1/4/2009 7:45:33 AM

southwest MO

You are right fickle was a poor choice of words... I apologize for posting that. I don't know Mike and it was wrong for me to judge him personally especially in this open forum.
There just seems to be an air of secrecy or elitism that breeds resentment. Kind of like the haves and have nots.

1/4/2009 9:41:45 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Of course there is alot of work required to maintain a site with that functionality. I am a software developer, so I have experience with this...but that maintenance must take place whether 10 or 1000 users, so a little more coin in his pockets for his efforts should be a good thing.

Further, I think there should be something in place to ensure that the data entered in the site is approved by the grower before it gets entered. If not, this would be the same as someone with AGGC access logging in, recording the information (that is not theirs, or Mike's) and making their own website...and I am sure this would not be appreciated by Mike.

1/4/2009 4:14:31 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Any AGGC member can submit a pumpkin entry for anyone; I have entered data, during the entry period. In those cases, I had the data straight from the grower, then they forwarded picture(s) directly to Mike.

As for the $20, you don't send it until you're approved.

1/5/2009 8:27:17 AM

Midway, UT

After reading this thread I launched this weekend a pumpkin genetic search tool similar to the one on briansinsanity.com or a light version of the aggc.org. This search has a comprehensive list of 8,900+ pumpkins and their crosses from 2008 to the 1980s. The site is in beta right now and will be free to the public for the next week or two while data is cleaned up and minor bugs are worked out. By no means is this site meant to replace the aggc but is meant as an alternative for those people who haven't been allowed to join the aggc. Feel free to give it a try at www.pumpkinlink.com.

1/5/2009 1:24:05 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Nice Jamie. Good work. You do plan to charge though?

1/5/2009 5:40:18 PM