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Ohio

I know there is alot of growers out there that has a growing partner that never really gets the attention they deserve and thought this post would be a good way to give them some exposure and thanks for all the things they help us out with through out the growing season, even if its just a very little small task.

My wife, and my daughter for the first time this year, are a big help for me uncovering my plants early in the season (mid morning) when temps get real high inside my hoop house and if it wasn't for them there is no way I would even have a pumpkin at the end of the season if it wasn't for them, cause I know with out question every plant would have wilted and burnt up by the time I got home from work,,lol. And even though my Wife did smash a 1068 Wallace one year helping uncover plants,,,lol,, there is still no way could I do it with out them even though it seems like a small task.

There is alot of growers out there that alot of people dont realize that their own wife or someone else is a big help to them in their patch some sort of way.
Like for instance,,,One person that I didnt know always had help in his patch is Todd Skinner, his wife does alot of work in their patch, one thing I do know that she does and has done for years is she is the one who makes sure all his plants get pollinated when Todd is at work and cant be there that time of day. Todds wife definitely knows her stuff when growing pumpkins and Todd does give her alot of credit for his success.
I just wish she would get me a 998 Pukos for Christmas like she did Todd a few years back,,LOL!!

So lets give some of your helpers credit right here and now, lets give them credit where credit is do,, so who helps you?

Brooks

1/9/2010 3:25:37 AM

Perry Iowa USA

Glad to give a big thanks to special people.First my hubby who comes to the patch after work and helps carry water from a well,scoops poop with me and generally does a lot of grunt work and only asks me if there's anything more he can do.We've only raised in this patch for 2 years and have a lot of soil enrichment to do.Don and Julie Young have done so much for me.We've toured their patches and been given so much advice and a little bit of this and that and always with so much enthusiasm!Don's been so helpful with soil analysis,seeds,equipment suggestions and so much more.I'ved toughed out figuring out this addiction by myself for years but it's so much better with friends.

1/9/2010 8:56:09 AM

Alex, IN

My father helped me out a lot last year when I was away on a camping trip. Without his help my 775 would not have been possible!

1/9/2010 9:50:57 AM

Johnston, R.I.

My honey always lends a hand when I ask, might protest a little but helps when asked..

1/9/2010 9:51:26 AM

Massillon, Ohio

My mom !!! She kept all the pumpkin plants alive in June when we went away for 10 days (and she even fed / moved the chickens twice a day....she HATES chickens). She will open the hoophouses in May if it is too cold for us to when we leave for work.

1/9/2010 10:06:54 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

My better half, for letting me have the yard in 2009, and all the other things he let me get away with... ramming mill fabric under pumpkins as I lift them... the lifting ring for an anniversary ring... when I fell in August and got pretty badly pounded, he offered to turn my zones, and after that would check on me every so often that I hadn't wiped out again when sweating in the patch. Helping after I broke my foot at the weighoff... He understands my need to grow, that's the best part. He's even forgiving all the tomato plants being started right now all over the kitchen. Gotta love my grower's widower! :)

1/9/2010 11:11:24 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Like you Brooks, my wife helps out alot and I could not do it without her.

Also, some of the other Boyz on the North Shore help out when we are out of town. I've had buddies do pollinations and foliar feed while we are away....now those are good friends.

1/9/2010 12:54:52 PM

Knopp, Germany

Martina was always there when I needed her in 2009, I had 2 shoulder surgeries, I realized how much she helped and decided to make her officially my growing partner, that is why all 2009 seeds are martina/owen seeds.

1/9/2010 12:56:30 PM

[email protected]

My buddy Matt Teeter has been a pumpkin partner for the past 5 years and I cant ask for a better guy to grow with. I need, something, he is right there and for that I am very thankful. It is nice to have someone so close with great knowledge. He grows em big, I just grow em. Matt is probably the best grower you have never heard of. Matt has 5 consecutive years of 1000 pounds plus, something only a small percentage of growers can boast.

1/9/2010 4:58:02 PM

Ohio

My 12 yr old daughter, Jazzy. She would spray my ferts for me and make sure the sprinklers came on. I had alot on my plate this yr, so she would always pick up my slack in the patch. I think she wanted to see me grow a big one more than I did. She's my "Right Hand Man".

1/9/2010 5:36:11 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

My son Jacob has been a real help. He did a lot of the physical work when I had my shoulder surgeries. He took over pollination chores when I spent a week chaperoning his sister's church youth trip 3 years ago. He does a lot of the mowing and hoeing around the electric fence so we can keep the deer, ground hogs and rabbits out. That was a big help this summer when my knee was acting up. I make up for his work by handling all the chemicals for his plants. No need for both of us to mess with that stuff. I also did a lot of his patch chores in 2008 when he had his 2 knee surgeries, and when he went on the youth trip in 2009. He also gives me good competition too. We split up the patch, split up the good seeds and see who comes out on top. Half the time he beats me. Jacob learned a lot about pruning, positioning fruit, pollination and general pumpkin care. He will be heading off to college this August, so I will have to finish out the chores on his plants in 2010.

1/9/2010 5:40:11 PM

Pataskala,OH

Well,
My Mom
My Two Uncles
My Uncles Employess ( Moving Manure,Pumpkin)
My Grandma
And whoever gives me advice on here.

I think it would be impossible to grow an AG without help. LOL. Either hired help or family help.

1/9/2010 6:46:25 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Uhh, let's see here...No one!...
I've never had anyone help or encourage me when it comes to growing AG's...Except for other growers on this site. Probably why my PB is a pathetic 330 Lbs.

1/9/2010 7:51:54 PM

Jefferson Me

1st my wife for most of the pollinating. My son and daughter for the helping hands whenever needed. My neighbor (Dairy farmer), for all the free manure and hydralic assistance at the end of the season. And lastly all the Twisted Tea for helping me beat the heat!

1/9/2010 11:29:06 PM

Elmira, N,Y,

Rocky has been a big help once the season starts Iam E-mailing him aleast onces a week. and I the crew from bradley farms thank you guys, are realy what got me into growing big pumpkins.

1/10/2010 7:17:46 AM

Columbus,ohio

My parents for supporting my growing efforts.

also gus smithisler(squashcarver) for coming over every monday for a while and helping me out. Evuntully I pulled the plant but it was nice.

And next season it will be eric from libert alpacas letting me grow on his land and providing alpaca poo.

1/10/2010 11:27:56 AM

Littleton, Colo

...............good pozt Brooks............someday we'll talk about thiz..........

1/10/2010 11:26:59 PM

ipswich, ma usa

I have to give a shout out to my patch helper, Samuel Adams. He is always on time when he is needed. Never once have I heard a complaint or peep out of him about how much work there is to be done. In the heat of the day I know how hard he is working from all the persperation coming off of him. And in a pinch when even more help is needed he usually shows up with 11 more of his buddies!!

John (5150)

1/11/2010 10:15:35 AM

[email protected]

STEPHEN my 13 year old son.
MATT my growing partner.
LORRAINE my wife.
JOYCE my mom.
BILLY my oldest friend.
RICK CAPPACELATRO extraordinary friend.
JULIE, LAURIE, MATTHEW - Matt's family.

And I used to be a patch loner LOL.

1/11/2010 7:18:50 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

My parents have helped me in my garden the last many yrs. Without the help i wouldnt have as many first place ribbons.

1/11/2010 8:15:26 PM

Warwood

---My WIFE and DAUGHTER for putting up with me when I'm in competition mode.
---JOSH,9 and JIMMY,11 my grandsons who help in the patch. I helped them grow 10 single vines just so they could learn in 2009 and I didn't compete so they could learn. Now they'll be beating my best. They grew a 111 and 197 respectively. They will help me compete with two plants in 2010.
---My NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRIT GUIDE in the patch for intuition...heee, hee
---TODD and BROOKS for giving me good sound, common sense advice.
---Growers like Quinn Werner, Ron/Dick Wallace, Joe Pukos, Don Young, Al Eaton, Larry Checkon and others who have taken time to share their experiential knowledge, and the genius of Steve Tremor all of which have advanced our knowledge exponentially, and the BP.com site. Thanks, Don

1/12/2010 2:56:57 AM

Midwest

George Janowiak. About 3yr ago he came over to my house to care for my pumpkins when I was away on vacation. And, Greg Sliwka who came over to help me load my pumpkin and give me some good words when we lifted it and the bottom fell out.
thanks !

1/14/2010 1:36:22 AM