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Rhode Island

Vines are starting to run, excitement abounds everywhere.
Not much to do now for a couple weeks but pin, bury and wait.
I have come across some very interesting people that all share this pumpkin hobby of ours.
Lets start a listing and see just how many walks of life this hobby has attracted.
How many years have you been growing ?
What is your occupation ?
How many plants do you tend each year ?
Any other hobbies?

6/4/2006 4:49:16 PM

Rhode Island

My son and i have been growing together since 1989. Ron is the G M of a private country club.
I am a retired production manager for leviton mfg co inc. I also work part time at the club.
We tend 10 plants together. My other hobbies are drawing and building fancy bird houses. We live on a small farm in rural western ri.
Thanks
Pap

6/4/2006 5:00:39 PM

San Diego

this is a fun post:)

Well, been growing for 6 years now. Been on disability but tomorrow is my first day at work in 5 years!! Work at a vitamin store in san diego. I only grow one plant a year and my other hobbies are fishing, sports, shooting, and my fiance' lol
Jimmy

6/4/2006 5:06:36 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Growing pumpkins since 1974, AGS since 1986. Work 6 days a week for Benny's Warehouse.

Tend 1-3 plants each yr and I am a perennial Red Sox fan !!!
George Duval

6/4/2006 5:50:04 PM

Nipomo, California

Been going after "Big Orange" about 9 years
CalTrans Highway maintenance worker
One plant
Nascar Tony Stewart fan,NFL KC Chiefs fan,,family excursions.

6/4/2006 6:31:17 PM

Windham Maine

Hey all!! 5th year here-Broadband cable installer buisness class time warner cable of maine- 4plants/fishing/food/photography

6/4/2006 6:47:33 PM

Jericho Vermont

I have been growing AG's for 9 years. Three years fairly serious thanks to this site. My 11 year old son Parker has been growing with me for 3 years.
I am an employment counselor for the Vermont Department of Labor.
4 to 5 plants and long gourds and carrots and hopefully marrow.
Little league board of directors and coach for both of my sons.(6 days a week currently-common end of season. LOL)Fishing, boating, Nascar and also sportscard collector.

6/4/2006 6:53:24 PM

Cheyenne, Wyoming

I have grown AG's for five years.

For the past 19 years, I have been a Physical Education teacher and coach. In the summer I put in sprinkler systems.

My main hobby is chasing my children around with their school, athletic and our church activities. I have a 7th grader (football, hockey and track), a 5th grader (volleyball, basketball, soccer and music), a 3rd grader (soccer, girl scouts), and twin 1st graders (soccer, softball). My wife sings at our Church, which takes a pretty big time commitment from her.

I have to budget my time to tend to the pumpkin plants.

John

6/4/2006 8:26:21 PM

Springfield, VT

This will be my third year growing.
Proffesional electrical engineer.
The patch has 10 plants

6/4/2006 9:19:12 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Second year growing AG's. First serious year.

I am a senior lab technician for Fisher Clinical Services analytical laboratory

6 plants this year maybe 5 if my 663* is double

I ski alot in the winter and I like to fish and watch the Orioles lose all the time. I've been playing lead guitar for 20 years and I am a beast.

I also want to add that I'm 29, single, in great shape and am currently looking for a sexy female pumpkin grower :~D seriously -Jim

6/4/2006 9:27:11 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Hello My Name Is Shannon. I saw a thing on TV for Martha Stewart in 2000 she was at the Topsfield Fair or something like that. This will be my 5th year growing AG's. I have recently bought 5 acres of land for pumpkins. Along with which we acquired Mount LLama Manure. We have leveled one peak.
I am a Quality Reliability Technician for 3M. We build intergrated chip packages.
I used to like to go fishing...now there is to much work that needs to be done.
I am Married to a just as Crazy Pumpkin Girl...Although she like green...Although I do not understand her. I still Love her very much.We have one Daughter 9 years old.

6/4/2006 9:46:03 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I'm 41 years old, been a police officer for 15 years.I also have a part-time gunsmith business.

I've been growing small pumpkins for about 8 years, tried Big Max for the first time last year and got a 123 pounder. This is my first serious year with AG's and BOY what a different world I have stepped into!!!!I've already gained a wealth of knowledge from the great people on this site.

I'm growing 2 plants this year, 1178 Rivard and 1187 Werner.

I also enjoy hunting, fishing, football, and NASCAR. Pittsburgh Steelers and Dale Earnhardt Jr. I was a diehard fan of his dad for 20yrs.

6/4/2006 9:47:05 PM

Puyallup, WA

Graduated from Optometry school in 1965. Married in '66.
Army for two years....private practice in Tacoma for 38 yrs. Before AG's I was an avid rhododendron grower. Still have about 400 rhodys and azaleas on our 2+ acre
"farm" in the Puyallup Valley.
Began growing AG's in 1999 and am now growing a total of 15 plants...one of which is my Grandsons. I have been involved with Amateur Radio, spelunking, and water skiing. I am an avid Seahawk fan with season tickets along with my boys. I have two grandchildren. We are looking forward to going on our first ocean cruise this coming January with my fellow growers!

6/4/2006 10:10:34 PM

So. Maine

Been playing with AG's since 1990 ( P.B. 978.6 2003)

Rigger on U.S. Navy Sub's (Portsmouth N.H.)

TRY caring for around a dozen plants.

When weather permits ( not much lately around here) wife & I go CROUSIN in the Vette down the local beaches & hit a fresh seafood jointfor lunch or dinner. ( She buy's )

Al

6/4/2006 11:29:16 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

Been growing for 6yrs
Diesel mechanic for the local town for almost 17yrs now
i grow 4 plants
hobbies are nascar(Bill Elliott)now Kasey Kahne fan,hunting, Dallas cowboy fan,been a horse owner for over 26years (quarterhorses)competive Barrel racer

6/4/2006 11:44:10 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Been growing since 2002.Landscaper and Carpentry. Growing seven plants this year. Grew ten last year and found out it's way to many if your looking to hit the 1,000 lb. mark. My other hobbies are my grandchildren, deer hunting, Getting to try and understand NASCAR now. As my oldest son is a professional NASCAR engine builder in Race City USA, North Carolina

6/5/2006 12:32:04 AM

Puyallup, WA

Brat...Who does your son build engines for?

6/5/2006 12:35:39 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

"E2" Stan. In the beginning of this year, Mike Ege Racing Engine Incorported and Evernham Engine Builders have merged into one. Very shortly there names on there buildings will be changed to "E2"

6/5/2006 1:11:44 AM

Netherlands

Have grown AGs five times since 1988.
This is my first VERY serious year of growing.
I am a high school English teacher also in charge of international affairs and developing new educational material.
This year I am growing 6 plants and I hope in the future to go for 8.
When I'm not studying for university (M.Ed) or in the pumpkin patch I am in my flower garden (I'm into English cottage gardens) or playing organ.

6/5/2006 2:09:33 AM

[email protected]

How many years have you been growing ?

This is my 10th year, a serious amount of ups and downs over that time span with pumpkins. From 2-4-D to hail storms to having 700 + pumpkins smashed, but for some reason, I keep on coming back for more!
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What is your occupation ?

I am a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, in which I am also one of 80 Ambassadors across the country. You may have seen my mug on the post cards or in magazines such as TV Guide, People, Newsweek, etc for the Food Drive we do every year called "Stamp Out Hunger".
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How many plants do you tend each year ?

I had been growing 5, but am now scaled back to 2 (maybe 3) plants in my main patch only. This will help me tremendously with the care time per plant.
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Any other hobbies?

I have a baseball card collection that dates back to the 1800's, sports enthusiast, but mainly spend most of my non pumpkin time being the family man to my wife Annie and 2 kids (8 and 13). I do sneak some golf in from time to time.

6/5/2006 6:39:58 AM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

First year grower, I think I'm going at it pretty seriously. I'm growing 4 plants this year, next year I'm only growing 3.

I work as an EH&S Sr. Tech for a pharmaceutical manufacturer, we make nuclear medicines (no I don't glow in the dark).

After 7 years of trying my wife and I have 2 beautiful little girls.

Beside's chasing after them my 3 passions are fishing, St. Louis Cardinal baseball and Alaska. I also enjoy hunting, and genealogy. My wife is a travel agent so we get out and see the world as much as possible.

6/5/2006 6:54:02 AM

First year grower of AG's I jumped in with 7 plants, hoping to keep up.

I am a landscape deigner/installer establishing a perennial nursery for retail sales on my 56 acre tree farm.I've recently formed a loose partnership with an energetic young man that handles all the machinery aspects of landscaping and I can concentrate on planting.


My original idea for planting giants was to attract some free press and advertising since no one to my knowledge has grown these anywhere in this part of the state. Now I'm hooked and have to budget my time in order to keep on schedule with my nursery project,,,lol.

I have 2 daughters 22/24 years old that are becoming involved with the new business and being very helpful in ways I didn't imagine.

hobbies include: photography,bow hunting,ice fishing the upper midwest,NFL in general,and the internet

6/5/2006 7:38:59 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

I've been growing AG's since 1998 (PB-1011#)& have been hooked ever since. I'm retire from my job due to a serious back injury that left me disabled, so I now spend a lot of my free time in the role of President of the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario (GVGO). I'm married to a great lady (Jane) that loves to grow as well. Her specialty is watermelons (PB-207.6#), but she helps me out with the heavier jobs in the patch. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be able to grow competitively. I enjoy hunting, fishing & just spending time up at our hunting camp with our family & friends. Lot's of LM bass in the semi-private lake because we've live released 99% of the fish we caught over the last 7 years. Good times, oh ya.

Phil

6/5/2006 7:49:18 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

I've been growing AG's since 1989.

i'm a project technician.

5 kids keep me busy.

i enjoy when i can -- fishing, snowmobiling and gardening.

Glenn

6/5/2006 8:27:34 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

I've been growing AG's seriously for the second year but will enter my first official weigh-off this year in Colorado Springs. I have grown other AG's from Dill several years ago, but never gave them the time and space I do now, but had some go around 300lbs, BB's. Last year I had two go over 400 same plant. I have now caught the AG bug. Started a website, nothing up but the initial page but its coming. www.ColoradoPumpkins.com. Getting another GPC sanctioned weighoff locally in Denver at a nursery. Growing 3 kins there. 4 at Home.

I am a IT system administrator for the Dept of Interior working with Microsoft Active Directory and techy stuff.

I love them Broncos, flyfishing, any fishing, tying flies, gardening, salt and freshwater fish, science and technology. But have less time for that now that pumpkins are my life. My wife thinks Im nuts . Shes right. Hoop house and all, were going big I hope this year. I love this site and the fine folks here.

6/5/2006 9:29:36 AM

Knopp, Germany

I have been growing for 4 years.
I am a retired First Sergeant from the US Army. I now work in the IT department of an Army hospital in Germany. I have lived overseas for 28 years.
6 plants is more then enough for me.
I am interested in all types of sports.

6/5/2006 11:27:46 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

My name is John Vincent. I am 39 years old, married to Sue and two kids, Amanda 16, and Ryan 13.

I am the General Manager of a farm supply Co-op in Ontario. I am also a certified crop advisor.

We have 12 plants in our patch, two of which belong to my neighbour, Brian McGill (Bubba). I have been growing for three years. My PB is 721.5. We also have Watermelons, Cantaloupe and Long gourds!

In addition to growing giant pumpkins, I also run a giant vegtable 4-H club and am a Scout leader.

6/5/2006 12:35:35 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

Hi , I am Bill. Going on my forth year, tried 10 plants, to much work, now growing 8. My wife Linda is growing 2 squash. Around here two people with the same addrest cant win prize money.
Retired farmer of over45 years. Hobbies are travling( love river boats), NASCAR,grandchildren (12)

6/5/2006 1:49:54 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Bill

You forgot visiting wax museums!!......


John (5150)

6/5/2006 3:13:43 PM

Wilmington.Ma.

My name is George friends call me Ahab 74 years young.growing for 13 years AG's for 7 years .
I'm an aide in a technical high school Diesel shop.
Like boating [salt water ] and Striper fishing.
Growing 3 plants.

6/5/2006 4:13:20 PM

Utah

Ahab- since you like stripers you should like this page:

http://www.wayneswords.com/lpfish.htm

6/5/2006 5:32:58 PM

Addison IL.

my name is tracy I am 26yrs old this will be my first yr growing real giants due to faulty seeds last season LOL. I grow with my sister becky and now my older sister wendy.I saw a newspaper add for a guy in my area that grew a giant and thought i could give it a try then saw a show on discovery called garden giants moved to a house with lots of land and got hooked. I work for a police department am a single mom and my other hobby besides this and gardening is garage saling for deals with the sisters.I will usually only grow 3 but this yr is four plants my goal is to beat 100pds and whupp sisters booty at the weighoff

6/5/2006 6:23:09 PM

Johnston, R.I.

Hi my name is Norm Gansert. I have been growing AGs for the last four years ,I am a member of the SNGPG. I am a press opperator at Stanly Bostitch for the last 37 years. I try to maintain 4 plants but usually end up with one in late Sept........I enjoy Nascar and I am a member of the NHRA.
I also enjoy backpacking and skiing.

6/5/2006 8:12:24 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

First time grower. Dink garden in my backyard but what the hell. I grew a few smaller pumpkins last year without knowing/doing anything using regular size seeds and my boys flipped. My 3 boys (3,3, and 5yrs) are already excited for this year. I was a cop for 11 years in a suburb of Chicago now i am in the risk management business (regular life). Yes, Tracy i have been to Dave and Busters in your town.

6/5/2006 8:34:55 PM

Washington

Jack and I have been growing seriously since 1994. I teach 1st and 2nd grades. Jack works as a grain inspector/scale specialist for WA Dept. of Ag
He grows 20+ plants, I grow 4.
Our other hobbies are traveling, sports, coaching(I coach volleyball and fastpitch, he has worked with High School tennis players)
Sherry

6/5/2006 10:18:39 PM

Midwest

Hi my name is Greg Dulski. I've been growing AGs for the past three years - getting to know nice people. I work at the College of American Pathologists as a web site developer. That's my line of work for the last 18 years. I'm married to a wonderful woman and have 2 children. Mostly they don't share my feelings for giant pumpkins. They call me 'obsessed'. So, this year I have a goal to not be obsessed or stressed. I usually grow 2 but I will grow 3 this year. My other hobbies are playing drums - singing in the church choir - wood working - spending time with our Lord, my wife, kids and friends. I also enjoy live music.

6/6/2006 12:43:24 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

Steve Zuhlke here: This will be my 3rd year growing ag's. I have 15 plants in the ground. Thats probably about 7 too many. lol. My title at work is tooling manager.I do cad cam and run a wire edm machine making high speed steel tooling.
My hobbie is growing pumpkins. I grow ornamental gourds and howden pumpkins for kids in my area.
I coach my 9 year old son and my 12 year old daughter in baseball. I had to take this season off because of a knee problem so I will have a lot more time for the patch this year.

6/6/2006 5:53:52 AM

Coventry R.I.

hi frank4 buglio here, you guys no i,m a rookie, i,m a member of the sngpg. i,m a stationary eng. prov. schools. i,m a head coach, in baseball basketball soccer, hope to have a decent year, have 2 sons ryan/matthew and i,m lucky to come from r.i.

6/6/2006 7:35:23 AM

[email protected]

Steve Jepsen here. 42 years young. Married 10 years but common-law the 10 years prior so 20 years with the same patient woman. One 9 year old son who is the best tendril pincher on the eastern seaboard. I sought out Atlantic Giant Pumpkins to grow after his interest in "helping" me grow some CT Field & Prizewinner pumpkins.

How many years have you been growing ?

Field Pumpkins on & off since 1970. AG's just 4 years.

What is your occupation ?

Paid: 23 year Green Industry. Computer/Electronic degree & prior life. Currently - Fertilizer, pesticide & seed outside sales mostly to the new "Urban Farmers" (Lawn/Tree/Golf) but also some Ag as well. Certified Commercial Pesticide 3A & Arborist.

Unpaid: President of CT Giant Squash & Pumpkin Growers Assoc.
Cubmaster of Pack 177, Stratford, CT
District Trainer for BSA Pomperaug District, CT Yankee Council.
Photo-screener at BigPumpkins.com

How many plants do you tend each year ?

None at home this year (virus) - Our local Elementary School has 2. I have squeezed 3 into home before but a virus was confirmed active 3 years in a row so there isn't much point even if there was available space. My loss is the School's gain ;o) Also coaching a new grower.

Any other hobbies?

Parenting stuff, Scouting, Freshwater fishing, camping, boating - used to collect & restore antique radios.

6/6/2006 7:39:12 AM

Applegate, Oregon

Dale Fisher from Applegate, OR. I teach Business Education and Math at a local high school, and advise our FBLA chapter (Oregon Chapter of the year 6 straight years now!).

This is my 4th season growing AG's. My family is growing 14 plants for the second year in a row. 8 are mine, 2 are my wife Paula's, 1 is my 8 year old's and one is my six year old's. The additional 2 are cared for by us all as they are being grown for our August fair.

We like sports, riding quads and just about anything we can do together as a family.

6/6/2006 9:59:35 AM

San Jose [email protected]

Gary van Den Bergh I am from San Jose Ca. I am 43. I have been an electrician for over 20 years, I have two kids from first marriage, 24, and 19, I am a passive SF giants fan, I bowl on a winter league, I love to garden, and build things around the house.
This is my second season, I learned a lot last year (I hope)I am growing 3 AG's in not enough room, but we shall see what happens, I am married to a wonderful, (read patient) woman Sandy, we are going on our 4th cruise, and first to Alaska, we leave this 6-30 wooo hooo

6/6/2006 7:03:26 PM

Butler, Ohio

My Name is Mike Conrad. I am 30 years old and this is my 3rd season growing Ag's. I have been Driving Truck for 6 years now, hauling steel. (Flatbedders Rock!!). I've been married 5 years now and have a Daughter (2) and a son 10 Months. Needless to say, I stay real busy and tend the punkin patch whenever I get a free minute. I love to fish, but have not even got out this year. I Like NASCAR (Bobby Labonte/Kevin Harvick. ND BaseBall GO TRIBE!!!!

6/6/2006 8:34:53 PM

Rhode Island

I've been growing ags for 4 years....Thanks Pete!!!!
Board memeber of SNGPG...2 years....Thanks PaP!!!!
I do instate trucking for a local wood mill plus have a pallet recycling business.
I'm a drag racer in the Stock division of NHRA and belong to the ALLSTAR Division of stock and super stock racers here in the Northeast. My other half and I argue like any normal couple.....no she won't help in the garden....and yes she reaps the rewards of my hard work....squash, tomatoes,sweet corn, carrots.............and then there's the Pumpkins! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

6/6/2006 9:49:32 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

My name is Ed Pappas and I am 53 years old, married thirty years,the proud father of three daughters, and soon to be grandfather. I have been growing AGs since 1998 and am still working on hitting 1000 pounds.

Occupation

I am an owner and operator of a restaurant franchise.I have a second occupation from January to April. I prepare tax returns for well heeled clients of a small financial company.

Usually I grow from three to four plants per year. I tried six one year but found that quality versus quantity is the way to go if your time in the patch is limited by responsibilities and/or other hobbies.

My other passions in life are scuba diving and striper fishing. A side benefit of these hobbies to pumpkin growing is all of the lobster shells and fish bodies that make there way into the patch.

6/6/2006 11:57:19 PM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

This has really been fun reading, keep them coming.

6/7/2006 6:35:49 AM

Rhode Island

Thanks to everyone for sharing their personal info with us.

Its amazing to read about all the different people attracted to this hobby.

Our personal friend and avid supporter of the sngpg susam warren,is presently writing a book about various different people that share the common interest of growing giant pumpkins.

Not a "how to book" but a, "who, why and where" book. Covering the hobby from an all together different perspective. Writing a story within the story so to speak.


Susan came to RI last october to cover a story for her newspaper "the wall street journal" and immediatly fell in love with the hobby.

She is growing her own couple of plants this year in texas and is discovering first hand the peaks and valleys of this hobby.

Ill let everyone know once the book goes into distribution.

Thanks

Pap

6/7/2006 9:03:57 AM

Lymington UK

Hi Ian from the Uk here. My brother Stuart and I have been growing pumpkins for about 28 years now. We are twins and i think at the last count were 45 but I am younger than him.
About 6 years ago I got some seeds of Dany Dill and 2 years ago held the british record for a whole two weeks.
At the end of last season we found this site so this is our first year growing good seed.
We both grow flowers for a living at the family nursery
And we both like sailing and fishing
We only have 4 plants each year but they are very well looked after.

6/8/2006 7:59:58 PM

Joliet, IL

Jeff Shenoha here at 39 years old. I am a soils and materials inspector doing quality control work for an engineering firm. Have a degree in marketing but would rather make a little less cash and work outdoors. Still single, no kids, and live as I damn please...which can be rough. Sooner or later I will stop acting like I am 21 years old and settle down. That is tough to do though when my hobbies include drinking, gambling, bafoonery, watching sports (go whitesox), fishing, and an occasional game of golf. Budweiser is my beer of choice and texas hold em and euchre are my favorite card games. I will shoot darts--cricket--for beers with anyone who wants a game and will pass the time rolling ship captain crew if i am feeling lucky. From the above info you might realize i spend many non working hours at my favorite watering hole...Bobby's Tap here in Joliet, IL.

and oh yea, I am growing 3 plants this year and this my 5th season growing AGs.

6/8/2006 9:23:22 PM

Utah, [email protected]

Bryson Ensign
Ocupation: 8th grade student
age; 13
hobbys; coin collecting, gardening, reading.
i have 3 plants this year and this is my first year growing.

Bryson Ensign

6/9/2006 10:25:58 AM