Kenneth,

I feel your frustration. I felt it years ago when I was criticized for complaining about the growing lack of interest. I need someone to convince me why the swap should continue after this Fall, because at this point Gadsden will be my last stop.

I thought the change in venue would increase participation & interest, but I've seen no evidence to support that view. The swap is 6 days away, and I've made ONE trade. That's not incentive enough to continue spending money propagating, feeding, watering, and in some instances, providing heat & light to store a plant over Winter...all the things that go into preparing a plant that you're proud of trading.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm personally tired of the planning & worrying that goes into this year after year. I have enough "issues" that compete for my time & energy.

I look forward to seeing you and all the others on Saturday. I hope your health cooperates and will allow it to be a great day for you, my friend.

Kenneth I think just bringing a sack lunch would be fine , that way every one will get what they want to eat and no long discussions on where to go, just my thought , hoping to make it. Ronda

ourhighlandhome: Don't give up on the swap yet. If we can get a fair turnout this time, I think the Master Gardeners will continue it and get behind it. They aren't posting on the internet, but I think there will be some coming. Spread the word among gardeners you know and let's see if we can build it back up.

If everyone got what they wanted, I'm sure they wouldn't want to spend all day Saturday driving across the state to score an offer of "odds & ends that the MG can put in the greenhouse and grow out". Nor would they want to travel for hours to eat a "sack lunch".

The plant swap is not a "wham-bam-thank-you-m'am" kind of event. It is (or was) an opportunity for friends, old & new, to gather, visit, make trades, share a meal, talk and exchange ideas. We looked forward to chocolate cake (Susan's or Wayne's?), the salad (from Alice or Kenneth?); we looked forward to lots of things. Personally, I can't look forward to spending the day giving away free stuff and sitting in a corner eating a cold meal. Having the swap at the MG greenhouse was supposed to make things "better".

If this is the new "normal" I'm bowing out after tomorrow.

Nelson

P.S. - I will join anyone else who wants to dine at a restaurant after the swap.

Nelson: Be patient and optimistic. The plant swap has always been an evolving thing and if one place or meal plan hasn't worked, we've just tried something different the next season. There will be nice people, new friends and old, good plants to swap, and a group going to the Fish Market for lunch. This is the first time the Master Gardeners have hosted the swap, so it's a chance for them to learn about it and see what needs to be done next Spring if we continue it. They haven't gotten into using gardenweb yet to work out meal plans or to post plants they're bringing, but that will get sorted out in time. It will be fun and is our best hope for building the swap back up, so just come enjoy it.