Pumpkins reaching for the stars?


		Hi Team

		When my children, Tim and Doug were small (4 & 5) they
entered a local pumpkin competition and came 1st and 2nd,. Doug's pumpkin
was bigger than he was.

		We, as a family did all sorts to make those pumpkins grow,
we walked (and talked) for miles with a backpack of dry cow pats, (we could
not afford a car then) and became really close, and worked together as a
family all summer.

		When it was all over I said that if I could make the same
thing happen for other people then I would. Years later I got my present job
and the opportunity arose - you have seen the results.

		This summer there was a photo in the local paper (that I did
not generate) of a boy aged about 4 who grew a pumpkin and his family did
exactly what we did years ago. The item tells how this boy takes every
visitor to his patch and proudly shows off his giant pumpkin and tells them
all that he has been doing.

		This was payback and as far as I am concerned, the reason
that we do the pumpkin thing. 

		At our festivals, we have no rules about cracks, holes, or
squash Vs pumpkin (but everybody still knows that 'Pumpkins are Orange').
Anybody who turns up on the day with a giant pumpkin that they have grown as
a family or individual is made especially welcome. We guarantee that
everybody who enters will get a named certificate within a week of the
festival, as well as a gift from a local sponsor at the weigh - in.

		The point to this last post from me for some time is that
while it is great to see the genetics traced and the quest for the biggest
with scientific analysis of the soil etc, please, please do not forget that
it is all for fun and family .

		There seems to be a scarcity of family fun and encouraging
the kids to learn a life skill that will stand by them for many years.
Perhaps if you do not have a family, you could encourage some neighbours
kids to start growing by giving away seeds or even better, plants, and help
them trough the season to spread the joy of growing things for fun.

		This is perhaps the biggest posting I have sent but I will
finish with the proverb 'when you reach for the stars, do not forget about
the daisies at your feet'.

		God bless you all and have a fun season.

		Have a 'Parky' day

		John S



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