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Macomb County

This class is for those who've been attacked and run off the site, but still want and want to offer help. I hope everyone else won't come in and sit down with their friends and disturb the class room. At least have that much respect.

I speak from years of my own personal growing experience and not someone else's. In the Nappa Valley and outside a small town called Sanger in California, my family was involved in the commercial production and harvest of the following: wine grapes, table grapes, sun dried raisins, oranges, avocados, lemons, limes, dates, figs, olives, walnuts and for a very short time, strawberries. In Michigan: diary cows, beef cows, onions, beets, soybeans, wheat, barley, straw, hay, oats, alfalfa and the ever popular pumpkin. That doesn't include the gardens of just about everything else, tomatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, hot peppers, bell peppers and so on. And that's the situation was born into and raised in on my fathers huge clan on his side. 6 generations at this point.

If someone came to you and told you that they were going to bury Jimi Hendrix only 2 years after their first guitar lesson? On the one hand you would say, "good luck" and on the other hand, you would say, "You poor deluded Fool". They need help. They're not simply setting high goals, they're living in a dream world. It takes 5 years before they can even start to know if they have the talent.

2/25/2009 7:11:09 AM

Macomb County

Same here, it takes 5 seasons to even know if you have what it might take. Might take. Dan Carlson blew-out a 1400 lber. back when it was a monster struggle for the average grower to break a 1000 lbs. for the first time?

So, in showing-up with a growing book, some seed and a cup full of manure, where are not simple plant scientists, but growing geniuses like Dan Carlson, Joel Holland, Al Eaton and wow, right up to Joe Jutras going to be while the person buries them their 2nd or 3rd season.

I say I don't grow for size because I know the growing geniuses I'm up against. There are no get rich quick schemes, short cuts straight to the top. "All success is equally difficult", everyone has to pay their dues, the piper. "Half the battle is showing-up" and you have to be in for the long haul or term.

A plant scientist is blinded by and a slave to the facts. You know one instantly, they require and ask for proof. It's only a skill and a little baby has it. Whereas a growing genius only needs to hear the concept and don't need a single bit of proof, because genius is the rare ability to see beyond the facts and discover the truth for themselves. See and realize the potential, discover the facts they need to, to make it happen.

2/25/2009 7:11:35 AM

Macomb County

Al Eaton doesn't need proof from college professors, 200 university studies and 40 leading experts to tell him anything. He knows pretty much from the moment he hears the bare concept, whether to write a 10, 0 or 4 1/2 on a sheet of white cardboard and hold it up over his head. It will often take him no more than 2 minutes of scratching his chin to tell you if your idea has merit or it needs work or it's prone to failure, without looking in someone else's growing book.

It's no small thing. Everyone makes fun of people and how screwed-up they are in music, acting, the arts. I was a member of the International Youth Symphony at the age of 9, right on to ending my journey by playing in bands.

They are like that because they're in it for all the wrong reasons, right from the start.
To be someone. Because inside they lack self-esteem, that they're nothing but a loser, a no count, a no body. EXCEPT! If they can be Kid Rock or Britney Spears!

However, what if they can't be and only a mere 1% can ever be? It turns them mean, depressed, ruthless, hostile, massively insecure, chronically angry. Who take their pensions in loneliness and alcohol, drug and pill addiction. Suicide and depression. Never feeling good about themselves and life.

2/25/2009 7:12:27 AM

Macomb County

It's not remotely setting high standards, it's living in a dream world. Some growers wives and families hate what they're into because of what each season of growing giant pumpkin turns them into, a monster, impossible to please and live with. Neglect their home and families. Even their gold fish go belly up. They are insane at during that time.

Because they have their whole self worth and feelings of pride caught-up in it. Holland, Eaton, Jutras, etc. wives know they're not simply deluded plant scientists who still need to consult the experts, 90% of whom are deluded themselves, only hoping to have a good season. Their wives know when they say it's time, they can and do achieve the result. They are supporting the genius of their husbands then.

That's the path. We have to start out as plant scientists, consulting experts. I came in, took one look around and sat down. Very content and happen to grow me a beautiful 500 lber. for the fulfillment of home and happiness on Halloween. I did not come in deluding myself that some lucky seed and amount of rain is going to put me at the top overnight.

There's only one right reason to be in it, like music or anything else, to improve that which you love. In this case, what you love to grow, giant pumpkins. Improve to growing them bigger, better, more orange, more beautiful, whatever. But not to win and be rich and famous. Maybe one day improving to the point where you can run with the top dogs.

2/25/2009 7:13:14 AM

Macomb County

Sure, if you've been on Maine's website and seen the young growers pumpkin and second year squash, there are Mozarts. Whose genius comes young and early. But most by far are long struggling, toiling, suffering Beethovens by far. Years of it, before they develop and arrive.

So, how should I respond and feel when I know anyone who would attack me and insult me is a deluded plant scientist or deluded plant expert? They aren't interested in learning or anything else, just getting rid of the competition. Those who don't know anything are welcome, those who do are a terrible threat?

It's not putting them down, that's how they take it. It's trying to put their head on straight once. It's called constructive criticism, only they're too deluded to be able to tell the different. They want proof, prove they're what again? I've seen it all a 1000 times and they haven't been there once to even know the difference?

2/25/2009 7:13:36 AM

Mocksville, NC

Holy smokes!!! i've been gone awhile what's going on?

2/25/2009 7:35:17 AM

Minnesota

I think the long winter afects us all a little different when anticipating growing season. Jack sounds like he's got enough manure backed up in him to last the season. (joking)

2/25/2009 8:14:41 AM

Whidbey Island

IF GJ were really from Napa Valley, he would have spelled it correctly.

2/25/2009 9:39:27 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

I think this is page twelve of the Una-Bomber's Manifesto!...or just an excerpt from Al Gore's book! not sure.

2/25/2009 11:22:16 AM

Colorado

look up rambling in "Websters".Giant jack is now listed

2/25/2009 12:22:49 PM

Lee, I think the Nappa Valley must be a small valley contained within the San Joaquin Valley. That's the only thing I can figure, because Sanger is about 200 miles and a mountain range removed from the Napa Valley.

2/25/2009 12:53:51 PM

Darfield, British Columbia, Canada

Nappa Valley has some good wine. Strong stuff.

I like wine.
haaahaha

2/25/2009 12:59:55 PM

Rhode Island

is joe sherber really a giant jack wannabe?
or is it bill rodonis hiding out in the woods of new hampshire?
so many choices. this is worse that the original unknown growers of 2007

2/25/2009 1:23:45 PM

Pataskala,OH

Gj just go away.

2/25/2009 2:58:17 PM

Ohio

Attention!! This is the type guy that sits high on top of water towers shooting people at random,,lol.

2/25/2009 3:05:12 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Great idea Pap, Unknown Grower Contest this year? Peace, Wayne

2/25/2009 6:22:07 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

This guy don't know Jack !! like a fool reading this whole rant one can conclude he smokes crack at the bus stop of life

2/26/2009 7:11:01 PM