Is this the World, Wayne?
- To: "'pumpkins@mallorn.com'" <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
- Subject: Is this the World, Wayne?
- From: "* J* <M*@doaks.org>
- Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 16:17:57 -0400
Wayne,
Hope this season you get that 800+ record for yourself. When I say plus
I mean a few hundred pounds plus!
I wanted to ask you something on the subject of pumpkin politics,
pumpkin culture and I'll apologize now if this puts you on the spot but
I think it's important for others to be able to read this.
I am a bit confused as to what type of grower makes up the majority of
this subculture of ours. I have recently read two articles, one called
Pumpkin VS Pumpkin and another to paraphrase the title," A Pumpkin
Grower will do almost anything....", an article in which they mention
your name in relationship to some 1000 watt lights. Over the last year
and a half I have gotten to know the pumpkin world through you and Hugh
Wiberg and John Castellucci and Marv Meisner,and Chris Andersen, Beth
Rado and so many of our great friends on the internet. What a fine group
of people to be associated with. Just seems like they would do anything
for you if needed. But these two article paint a different picture.
It is one of infighting, backstabbing, secret holding, full of profit
hungry, self-serving, somewhat unsavory characters, definitely missing
marbles and perspective (although we ourselves may fit those last two
categories). It doesn't seem at all the larger picture that I have come
to know.. I don't get it. Is it a small portion of this type of grower
that the journalists flock to for the"pumpkin" story that give this
sport something of a bad rap or am I naive and the world is a dark and
ugly place?
It seems to me that we have some PR work cut out for us in order to get
across what the real pumpkin world looks like. It is not defined by a
few individuals but by the majority of growers like ourselves. Pumpkin
wars and extremism to the point of disorder might make for interesting
articles but it really does a disservice to this fine sport. It is a
beautiful, positive and healthful sport. As Waterman said, " Pumpkins
somehow have the ability to make you happy." This is what we have to try
and get across especially when we deal with the press or with other
publications that will end up defining our culture for the public at
large, like it or not.
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