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Anamosa, IA [email protected]

We got flooded today. When I got home most of my pumpkins were floating, attached to the vines. My wife saw some of the jack o lanterns floating down the creek, headed for the Wapsipinicon river. A big pond overtopped upstream from us when it shouldn't have, and the deluge got us. The worst flood we have seen since the great floods of 1993. I wouldn't have been planting on the creek bottom if that dam hadn't been built seveal years ago. We didn't have enough rain to cause such an overflow, so there must have been some kind of problem. I hope they get it fixed before next year or we may not be able to grow then.

I just hope that we soaked up all of the bad luck and we see nothing but personal bests for everyone.

8/27/2009 9:28:55 PM

Sequim, WA

Maybe you can put on a snorkel and check the bottoms of the pumpkins and make sure they are still sound. Hopefully you'll dry out soon and and still have something going. There seems to be no end to the ways a season can go in the tank. At least is isn't your home being washed down the creek.

8/28/2009 12:13:07 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Hey Mark sorry to hear. I know what your going through. This area just got between 6-8 inches of rain and at one time closed the roads and emergency warnings were going off for no travel. Many roads are washed out and one school is closed because of this rain.(first time).

8/28/2009 7:34:57 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Our house is in no danger; it is a good 40' higher than the creek. But at least the day wasn't a total washout. Our daughter got a call telling her she has been accepted into a good private college in western Iowa with a very good financial aid package (they hope to give her a full ride). So we do have a lot to be thankful for.

8/28/2009 8:10:08 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Perhaps you just got a gift of some great silt and top soil in your patch...and all turns out for the best....
\
Good Luck...

8/28/2009 8:36:19 AM

sorry to hear about all that flooding i had 3 inch is all i heard dave sunlin in anamosa had a 1100 lber or better washed- floated away gone

8/28/2009 11:45:09 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Don keep us posted on if he finds it or any part of it, that's amazing.

8/28/2009 1:05:00 PM

Long Island,New York

while they are floating might be a good time to slip the pallet under?....lol....sorry to hear.

8/28/2009 4:08:30 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

We didn't have all that much rain on Thursday, but it was a 2 day 5.8" storm that got us. The dam that let loose upstream should have help unless there was a problem. I know the person who designed it and there is no way that rain should have overtopped it. But we were lucky. Some areas around here had 8" to 10". Flooding was much worse north of Anamosa,.

My pumpkins weren't going to make a personal best this year anyway. They seemed to run out of steam as the rains intensified towards the end of July. Jacob was heading for a personal best, but still not a great contender. After the water went down, most of out plants were still there, just badly messed up and soaking wet. If the weather dries out and the pumpkins don't rot we might have a couple of 500-600 pounders to take to weighoff. Maybe more if they soak up a lot of that water without splitting. If we can get them out without getting stuck.

That is really sad news for Dave Sunlin. He is a new grower who has done extremely well in just a couple of years. If his pumpkin was already 1100, he had a good shot at sharing a ride on the winners float with Don. I guess we both have to try harder next year and hope for no floods. 2 years in a row is too much.

8/29/2009 10:09:22 AM