|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 3, 2009 12:48:04 GMT -5
I can volunteer 4 hours a week for writing and editing. I'm an advanced user of Word and Excel. I can also create simple data bases such as address books. Office admin types of work.
|
|
|
|
Post by americangardener on Jul 3, 2009 14:57:44 GMT -5
I can volunteer 4 hours a week for writing and editing. I'm an advanced user of Word and Excel. I can also create simple data bases such as address books. Office admin types of work. Sounds great to me Jo... now i just need everyone to send in the pictures and reports for anything they're gonna save seed from. I'll need time to get it all organized. Still haven't gotten a domain yet Jo.. but we can start compiling descriptions for some things. I have some peas i can decide which i'm gonna list first. Some i just don't have enough seed to make it worthwhile to list. Those i'll keep experimenting with. I figure beans i'll have some pole ones to list.. but i haven't even gotten those all planted yet. it's just a thought. I'll have only something like 30-40 tomatoes that i might list.. maybe more.. but i'm down to bout 200 plants and those 50 of em are my early commercial varieties. Don't know what will happen with the black cherry. I've got thosands of those seedlings now. I'll be darned if that rabbit can eat all those. If i can.. i'm hoping to collect pounds of that seed to use for trading. Pound for pound or ounce for ounce.. you know how that works. But it's a thought. Black cherry is one i can list anyways.. i still have a couple ounces of seed from 2007. I know it grows.. just don't have a germ test for it yet. And that's another thing for those of you who are interested in selling seeds back to me.. i'm gonna ask that you pre-package 25 packages of each variety before you mail them back. It may not seem like much to you guys.. but packaging is extremely time consuming when i have to do it alone. I'll supply the packets and if you want i can just have them mail a supply of a hundred to anyone who's gonna do it. That'd save me an enormous amount of time. Just the only way i can do things around here is to get everyone else to pitch in. I know it will cost more for postage that way.. but i figure it's a trade off.. my time for yours plus postage. I'll reimburse you all for postage costs when i reimburse you for the seeds. But, back to the subject.. thank you a ton Jo. Now.. any photographers around here? Anyone know more than me about accounting? That's gonna be my hugest expense.. those guys aren't cheap.. i know some accountants that make over 150,000 a year and that'd take me 15 years to make that much. So, I can use any advice i can get in the time between startup and time i can afford an accountant. |
|
|
|
Post by grungy on Jul 3, 2009 19:22:25 GMT -5
Dave, feel free to use any of our photos. Please remember that they are open domain.
cheers,
Val
|
|
|
|
Post by americangardener on Jul 3, 2009 21:18:05 GMT -5
Dave, feel free to use any of our photos. Please remember that they are open domain. cheers, Val Thanks grungy.. i appreciate it. I just have to have a supply of seeds for whatever variety you have pictures for. And don't worry you'll never see my name on anyone else's pictures. I might forget to give credit where it's due.. but i'm not gonna claim anyones pictures are mine. Same with any of my pics anyone sees on here.. feel free to use as you see fit. Dave |
|
|
|
Post by americangardener on Jul 3, 2009 22:06:18 GMT -5
I can volunteer 4 hours a week for writing and editing. I'm an advanced user of Word and Excel. I can also create simple data bases such as address books. Office admin types of work. Jo.. how are you at writing articles? I need some newsletters made up. What i want are 4 seasonal ones. About seedsaving and some of the varieties or whatever. I'd want those so that they were pertainant to the time of year it was. Maybe even have some different region report type things in there. But i don't know if you'd want to tackle something like that. I know Patrick has already made it clear that he thinks me sending out emails to all my old ebay customers and people i've collected email addresses from would be spam. But, that's almost a risk i'm willing to take. I have over a thousand email addresses around here somewhere. What i want is to start, like i said sending out quarterly newsletters. It could be the same 4 year after year.. main thing is i want to get some made up. I want the first to be going out to correspond with the grand opening of the website.. which i hope will be Oct 31 st when i start selling. I know i can have my seeds ready by then.. don't know bout everyone elses. But the newsletter and website both have to be done... I can use more help everyone.. anyone else want to make a deal.. services for stocks? As you all know i want the issue price to be $10 per share. How's 10 shares a week work for you Jo? That'd be for 4 hours of time. Any overtime we can discuss when it comes up. And you know .. i'm a simple bookkeeper.. all i can get anyone at the end of the year are 1099's. You're all independant contractors. Anyone whos also an investor.. i'll do the 1120S for ya.. after that you file it with your own tax returns. If you do both work and invest you'll be getting both 1099's and 1120S forms at the end of the year. Anyways.. i got to figure out what i still have time to plant. Anyone know how long cowitch beans take to mature? I was thinking of doing a crop of those. Bectcha the rabbits'll leave those alone. And from what i've seen there's only one website that sells those for almost 10 bucks a seed. I just need to know how to grow it myself.. then if i can get some to grow i'll try selling them. Oh well... thanks again Jo.. Thanks again grungy.. garrett.. michelle.. everyone.. thanks for the support. Dave |
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 3, 2009 23:01:08 GMT -5
Wow... Stocks? I'm flabbergasted! Thank you! However, for the moment and because of the red tape and stuff involved, I would rather not be compensated at all. I'll give you time for a year as a gift. Would that be ok? Then, after a year, we can address remuneration. As for writing articles, well, you could check out my blog www.trulythankful.typepad.com. That will give you an idea of my writing style. I can write on essentially any topic I'm interested in and I'm interested in this. I will look to presenting you with a sample article by July 24th. IF you were to send the email folks a letter introducing your endeavor and stating the fact that you are going to issue a quarterly newsletter you can include an opt in/out method. Then you can create a separate list and you will not be spamming. I have produced printed newsletters and church bulletins. I'm familiar with the formats of email newsletters and I have the capability of producing them with my current software. I can initiate a process with a time line for various activities to produce and deliver a newsletter on a regular basis. There are several other side issues that come to mind as I'm writing this but they are to vague to express here and now. I'll start jotting some notes and pull my thoughts together, then perhaps we can conference somehow. Perhaps Skype? Thanks for welcoming me aboard!  |
|
|
|
Post by americangardener on Jul 3, 2009 23:13:06 GMT -5
Ok.. no one awake at this time of nite.. i guess i'll just talk to myself. Hey Garrett!! where are ya buddy? last nite i couldn't get any sleep and tonite you're resting? Hope the heat didnt kill ya. And seriously... do check into that inhaler i told you about.
Anyways folks.. since i'm up.. i might as well keep talking to myself. Jo.. you're gonna be a saviour. I really mean it this time. Garrett.. wake up! Grungy and Grunt.. if there were ever two more reliable people in the world i haven't met em. I want you guys on board in any capacity you want. Alan.. you're hiding too.. i can understand being busy as you are. I'd love to have some contributions from you. I don't think i have a single variety of yours that has survived in my garden. If you can spare a vareity or two for me to list this fall i'd love to have you on board too. Eveyone else.. and i know i'm only forgetting to mention 34 or so of ya.. i need ya.. now's the time to be getting back in contact with me. I need pictures.. i need reports and i need arrangements as to what you can list and what you can't. Things have to start being organized. If i don't get info in time it won't get listed.. simple as that. Everyone.. Angie.. i think you voulenteered.. well everyone whoever voulenteered to work on other projects.. drop what you're doing and get over here. I need the logo done and the package designs.. well i need it all... website work.. writers, intervierers.. cause whether you like it or not Val and Dan.. i want articles about you in my newsletters. You don't have to colaborate with anyone.. i can just steal what i need off your blog.. i'm sure you wouldn't mind. But it'd be nice if you could pitch in with something bout growing in Canada for our first newsletter. Even just an interview. I'd like the same from Alan and Mike.. and if i could dream so big.. ask some of the more prominent breeders in here to help out.
Anyways.. where was i? I loose my train of thought sometimes. I know i've had several people offer to invest already.. Above i think i explained what i'm looking for in an investor. I Know practically everyone has voulenteered in some way or another.. well .. unfortunately.. it's gonna be time to start working pretty soon. Not like no one but me is working.. but i got deadlines now. Anyone who wants to be part of the new corporation.. you all know i don't have stocks yet. But i'd still like to get the startup discussions done with. I know what i want.. i know who i want.. anyone else.. just holler.. if you can help.. i can use ya. One way or another.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by americangardener on Jul 3, 2009 23:25:47 GMT -5
Wow... Stocks? I'm flabbergasted! Thank you! However, for the moment and because of the red tape and stuff involved, I would rather not be compensated at all. I'll give you time for a year as a gift. Would that be ok? Then, after a year, we can address remuneration. Anything you want Jo.. i never look a gift horse in the mouth. Here's my new offer.. you now have options for 520 shares for this year.. if you want em.. they're yours for a penny. See.. i can get creative when i'm the only person making the rules. But that's your perogative.. if you want the shares.. you can exercise the option. I won't go and get more shareholders than 35 without leaving that option open for ya. Once i get that many.. my hands are tied... that's the limit. So, i'll leave a light on for ya. If you want em you know all you have to do is say so.. Dave |
|
|
|
Post by grungy on Jul 4, 2009 0:53:58 GMT -5
Anything you need, Dave that I/we have time to do for you. What would you like in your article(s). Give me some ideas what you are looking for and by the 15th, I should have more time to devote to the internet. As for things off the blog - go for it.
Spare seeds from most of the varieties of tomatoes, squashes, melons and a couple of corn can be yours too. I am trialling a few varieties of things for other people this year, and they get first dibs on their varieties. But since you let me know this far in advance I will save more seeds of the other varieties.
What else do you think that we can do for you. Also please let us know approximately how many seeds to a packet and will the plastic ziplock baggies do? (What size would you prefer?)
Also consider us for a few shares.
Cheers,
Val
|
|
|
|
Post by grunt on Jul 4, 2009 1:40:57 GMT -5
Dave: Had to google cowitch beans to find out what they were. They are tropical in origin, and the PCGRIN Georgia facility lists them as late season from their grow outs. Rather intriguing information available on them from several sources. May have to look into trying to grow them myself, between the tobacco and the 15' corn.
Cheers
Dan
|
|
|
|
Post by americangardener on Jul 4, 2009 2:18:50 GMT -5
Dave: Had to google cowitch beans to find out what they were. They are tropical in origin, and the PCGRIN Georgia facility lists them as late season from their grow outs. Rather intriguing information available on them from several sources. May have to look into trying to grow them myself, between the tobacco and the 15' corn. Cheers Dan Yeah.. i figured they'd be long season.. i can't even get these darn things to germinate half the time anyways. They have that hard seed coat on em like the winged beans. Maybe next year i'll get a head start on those. This year i still have those nuna's i started way back when .. not doing much.. and i don't expect them too. No signs of anything resembling a blossom on those. Those velvet beans though... i swear that'd be profitable just selling those alone. And the leaves are also chopped up and used as an aprodiasiac.. not that i need it or anything.. but hey.. if people will pay for chopped up plants.. i'll sell em. Same with the roots. Some of these beans have lots of uses.. too bad they're always the tropical ones. Dave |
|
|
|
Post by americangardener on Jul 4, 2009 2:45:55 GMT -5
Anything you need, Dave that I/we have time to do for you. What would you like in your article(s). Give me some ideas what you are looking for and by the 15th, I should have more time to devote to the internet. As for things off the blog - go for it. Spare seeds from most of the varieties of tomatoes, squashes, melons and a couple of corn can be yours too. I am trialling a few varieties of things for other people this year, and they get first dibs on their varieties. But since you let me know this far in advance I will save more seeds of the other varieties. What else do you think that we can do for you. Also please let us know approximately how many seeds to a packet and will the plastic ziplock baggies do? (What size would you prefer?) Also consider us for a few shares. Cheers, Val Oh.. i need it all Val.. everything i can get. Articles.. well i'd like something like a biography really.. a Bio.. maybe anything you can think of for advice for someone new to seed saving or growing open pollinated plants of some kind. I know your specialty is tomatoes.. anything bout tomatoes would be nice. If i can get a newsletter ready that'd be ideal. I know no one else understands my madness, but there are reasons behind everything i'm doing. Spare seeds will be great.. anything and everything.. you know me. If you have enough to fill say 25 packets minimum of seed with what you would consider a fair amount for around 2 bucks.. that might be enough unless there is a big demand for that variety. I like the idea i see when traders only want a few.. say half dozen seeds of any one variety to just try it out.. but then i have to think about the expense. It costs more for the envelopes for the seeds to me.. so more seeds is neglible in price whereas the packets stay the same. Means the more i can charge for a packet the more profit. Fixed costs are the same. Course i don't want to be putting too many seeds in a packet either.. i just want it to be a fair amount. Don't want people to start splitting orders. As for packets.. well ideally i'll have those printed up. I still have to get the website address as you know.. but i want that on every packet of seeds i sell. Website address and company name. Nothing real fancy.. just a logo maybe and the Name of the variety.. germ results etc. And i know i'm asking for everyone to do my work for me.. but i'd like it if anyone sending the seeds in could pre test them for germination. It saves me a hill of a lot of work on this end. That's why i ask for a few pre packaged ones from everyone.. if they sell like hotcakes i can package more.. if not.. well i'll have saved some time. I can supply the packets.. or very least supply a template for people to print out and put on labels. I want to be as professional looking as i can though. .without being overly fancy and costing a fortune for packaging either. It just has to work. If you have something from someone else.. i wouldn't want to list anything without their ok.. i know some of these varieties aren't proprietary.. but just i wouldn't go and sell Rebsies varieties without her permission. Just the way i am. If they don't mind .. i don't mind. I'll sell anything that people will buy. Eventually i'd like to get a line of books and seed saving supplies and all that stuff too.. but we'll see how year one goes. Anyways.. seems kind of odd for me to be planning so far ahead.. that's three months till startup.. but it'll get here quick.. and alot of things will need to be in place by then. I haven't even planted half the varieties i want to list myself. If not for peas.. i might not have anything new. Ok.. i'll talk with you later on.. we'll discuss how you want to be re-imbursed for your labors.. i want everyone who helps out to be sharing in the profits if there are any at the end of the year. Some how.. some way.. i'll find a way to make this work. DAve |
|
|
|
Post by grungy on Jul 4, 2009 3:30:30 GMT -5
Reimbursed for labors - not likely (unless of course you become an overnight success and a multimillionaire or something)
Once you get going perhaps for our expenses. After all you are very generous to us too.
One idea for your packets - simple, eyecatching design in black and white. (cheaper to print but can be just as catchy as the multicolored store bought packets, and you can send a preprinted template of your logo and the type of seeds, such as "Peas". The packager can then insert the varietal name beneath and perhaps the germination rate and date tested on the packet when they print them up on standard printing stock.
Standard sized envelopes for appropriate seeds. (corn and beans will have to be bigger than say tomatoes) but keep the same logo. Have you an idea of what you want to call your company yet?
Starting out as a beginning gardener (long, long ago - may I suggest enough seed to plant a 8-10 foot row. Tomato seeds probably should come in the 10-15 seed range. Corn and beans probably around 30-40. Just ideas that have been kicking around since you first started talking about this company of yours.
And Dave, you might be surprised how many of us gardeners understand your "madness". We go through it every year ourselves. Maybe not quite as your vision but I have yet to meet a real "gardener" who doesn't kind of bite off a lot more than he can chew comfortably, and that includes us. <grin>
|
|
|
|
Post by flowerpower on Jul 4, 2009 5:55:23 GMT -5
Dave, feel free to use any pics I post. If you need help writing descriptions or proofreading anything, just let me know. I'll be happy to help ya out. I could also help count/pack seed and just send them back to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 4, 2009 7:26:22 GMT -5
Lynn! You proofread?!?! That's awesome! I'll keep you in mind myself! ;D
|
|
