Cecelia et al,

Three things,

First I think that putting the names of the entrants on the bottom edges of the plates, thus hiding them may help.

Secondly enforceing a wait time it could be difficult since people come and go a different times and early folks may get a little bored waiting. Plus very few folks even try all of the tomatoes because it takes so long. This may discourage folks from trying everything. I am usually able to try everything because of an early start plus lots of dedication :-)

Third I agree that we should spread out the tomatoes on different tables.

Also,

Here is the scale I believe we used last year:

Our judging scale is 0 to 3 pennies:
0- bad or flavorless
1 - good
2 - very good
3 - in my top 3

You still like?

Greg

Hi Greg and Cecelia,

We're picking up the plasticware tomorrow when we go t BJs, do you still need those tablecloths or anything else?

Please email to let us know and we'll be able to get that too for you.
wintersownoptonline.net

Trudi

Trudi, I think Greg mentioned in another thread that he could supply a roll of plastic to use as tablecloths, and duct tape to secure it.

Greg - OK, no time restrictions. And hiding the contributors' names is a good idea.

Here's how the rating system is listed on the signs that we put up last year (which I'll be using this year also):

0Âbad or flavorless (a spitter!)
1¢Âgood
2¢Âvery good
3¢Âexcellent

Greg F. posted on another forum that he can supply the plastic for the tables.

I asked JanetM and her DH Greg. to bring a cooler, some ice, water and/or sodas. I don't think anybody's volunteered for these necessary items yet. I have a couple coolers, too, and there is a liquor store up the street from the park that sells ice.

Dave and Greg have volunteered to handle the grilling again - oops, M. I guess that means we need some charcoal! Don't know how much we have here at home - will check.

Yesterday (Saturday) I started my 4 older (3 to 9) children working on the prize ribbons. Well then some friends came over and joined in so I put all of the supplies out on the deck. Then more freinds came. Pretty soon I was cutting out ribbon shapes as fast as I could and the whole nieghborhood was having a great time on my deck.

We now have ribbons for 1st through 20th place and a big one for biggest tomato. I hope this doesn't make things to difficult but the kids were having such a great time. My Sophia (5 years old) is a true artist. She make the 6th and 3rd place ribbons and others.

Can't wait for our date!
Greg

I'm getting the jitters as MAGTAG approaches. I don't know which of my plants will actually have available fruit. At this point, it looks like I'm out of Chesapeakes, and I don't think there will be any ripe Cherokee Purples & Greens. Looks like I should have some Greater Baltimore, Stupice, Hopkins, and Sungold to offer; and perhaps Hungarian Heart and Lemon Boy. We'll see what ripens in the next few days.

And of course I'm panicking about whether I'll have enough slicers for the BLT Bar, since I've depended on Greg for in the past for extra tomatoes. I asked a gardening co-worker of mine, and she says she might have some to donate. She's not sure what kind they are, since she just bought the plants at a local nursery. They look like Better Boys or something similar.

Greg, are your girls designing the tip box/jar this year? If not, let me know, since I have a box in the right size.

Cecelia,

My kids are working on the tip jar today. We are using a large plastic Costco Pretzel container that they will wrap with construction paper.

Also,
I have lots of Cherokee Green Tomatoes. In fact I have enough for the BLT Bar except that Green when ripe is not the best choice for this endeavor. I will bring them anyway as a fall back position :-)

I have some extra Paper and Plastic in case we are in trouble early. I think between the both of us we won't have a problem before others come with their goods.

I am also bringing, 5 permanent makers, Ketchup, red-plastic cups, a few rolls of paper towels (is that already covered?). I always bring my camping Action-Packers and they always have extra stuff in them we can use in a pinch.

Further, I have gotten some friends that I gave plants to give me tomatoes so I will enter them under their names and this will add to our total tomato count! I even have a co-worker who is coming with some ripe Prue for the tasting.

Greg

The good news is, my friend from work gave me a dozen or so tomatoes for my BLT bar. She has no idea what kind they are, but I may enter some under "mystery tomato" in the tasting just for comparison (She thinks they may be Better Boy or Supersonic or both). So now I can relax.

The bad news is, they're calling for rain on Saturday. Of course, things could change - we all know how reliable those extended weather forecasts are. It's supposed to cool down a little, so it shouldn't be 90+ degrees like in 2007. We wouldn't be able to grill if it rains, unfortunately. (The rules for the park say no grilling inside the pavilion.) A possible Plan B for carnivores: There is a good BBQ joint and a decent chicken wings joint nearby - we could take a collection. Of course, we may have enough other food anyway.

More ramblings:

Remember how I mentioned that I was going to dye my (very short) hair red and green for MAGTAG? I tried the temporary haircolor the other day, and it was a disaster. It turned into a powderlike substance that rubbed off onto everything. I figured that if it got wet from sweat or rain, the stuff would run and I'd look like I was bleeding.

So I went to the beauty supply store and got a semi-permanent dye that comes out after a number of shampoos. The color I bought was cherry red, since pinkish-red would be more flattering on me than orange-red. So now my head looks kind of like a neon version of a Brandywine tomato.

I bet you'll look fabulous!

Making sure I have plenty of storage and batteries for my camera. Smilingly,
Hank

Unfortunately, we might not need any charcoal after all - the forecasts are calling for scattered storms tomorrow. Of course, they've been calling for storms all week and I think it only rained a couple of days ago. MAGTAG will go on, whatever happens! (Luckily, it's supposed to be in the lower 80s, temperature-wise.)

It looks like I will enter Sungold, Hopkins, Lemon Boy, Greater Baltimore, Hungarian Heart, and one huge Church into the tasting. Maybe more toms will ripen by tomorrow, but I doubt it. The past two weeks seem to have been the main part of my harvest. Figures.

I'm at home today, and just finished cooking 4 lbs of bacon (crispier this year, per Luanne's suggestion) for BLT purists. I'm also cooking 2 lbs of turkey bacon for folks like me who are watching our weight.

When I went shopping last night, the Walmart Supercenter in my neighborhood was out of both Duke's Mayo and Old Bay! I asked my sister Theresa to look for them today. She thinks that Food Lion, being a Southern chain, should have the Duke's, but if not, I bought Hellman's.

But no Old Bay! In Baltimore? Theresa says she'll pick some of that for me, too. Remember, the person who comes from farthest away wins a free can of Old Bay seasoning.

See you all tomorrow, rain or shine.

Cecelia,

I just bought a plastic table Cloth roll and duct tape and CARCOLE. I will bring my Gazebo to put over the grill. It is perfect for the task. It's a real big one I bought last fall on sale.

Greg

Yippee Greg! I just got out the meat to thaw. Do we need mustard and ketchup for burgers and hot dogs? I also have a goodly supply of sweet white onions to slice.

I got back yesterday from an 8 day trip and didn't have much time to check the garden. Looks like a bumper crop of green sausage - not so great for BLTs... Also saw black cherry, a couple of Emilies, Brandywine and Olena. And a few more. Work turned out to be 10 hr today, so I can't check tonight.

What time is "early" to show up tomorrow? 9:30 ok?

I have no ripe tomatoes to offer -- the Persimmon plant I bought at the Beltsville sale turned out to be mislabeled, and has produced only two Supersonic type fruit) -- but I have made a big pan of peach crisp. Will that do?

DH Richard won't come with the canoe if it's rainy, but I wouldn't miss it for the world!

LynnT

Annbert,

9:30 AM is early and when Cecelia recommends showing up for those setting up. I am bringing ketchup and Mustard but the more the marrier and Onions sounds great.

LynnT,

Peach Crisp sound good, my DW is making some Zucchini Cupcakes and Cake for the event. We had had a bumper crop of that stuff!

Greg