Announcement - Oct 2

Ok Dave....Kelly is hanging out now.

Hey, Chele! Good to see you! Missed, ya, girl! :o)

Thank you who ever paid my way! I only have this, this is my only "recreation" and often the only adults I get to talk to for days (hubbys kinda busy)... I was so happy I cryed! Thank you, you made my days alot brighter.

I just found out about this tonight and I think that it is a very fare price. Right now I can't afford the fee until the first of next month but if I could get some help until then I would appreciate it.

I had long thought that this was inevitable. Too much time and expense and effort were being spent to keep this site up for free. I'd prefer to send a check, I hope that's o.k. Do you want to e-mail me with your address? It's cool Dave.

woodspirit1,just go to your menu board and click on 'subscriptions' and that will give you all the information needed. Glad that you will be around,here in the garden.

This is overwhelming. I'm new but enjoy your site so much.. I know so little how to work all the sites and forums.. I'm in, hopeI can find out where to send ..thankyou for providing this.. So very helpful..nice to see so many nice people .. good luck bonnie

Ok, somebody paid my way too! I want to say thanks from the bottom of my heart. Once I get my next check I will send in the money for someone else to get a sponsor too...
You touched my heart and soul with your thoughtfulness. I wish I could give you a big hug, and a big kiss on the cheek...hehehe. I will say a special prayer for you too.
Kelly :-)

I would like to say thanks to the two special people that created this website for helping me and because of their kindness I don't have to wait until the first of next month to see all your lovely flower. So I will still be here getting on everyone's nerves lol.
Again thank you so much :)

Hey Kelly,
Your welcome....!!! :-)
SYR36

I can't do it this month Dave, but maybe next month or December. Hubs subway job got shut down because of the attack, he got transfered to a station by Shea. He lost his OT but he didn't get layed off (HOORAY!). OT pays for the gravy here and soon at the OT picks up again and we get caught up I'll sign on.

Until then,

Poojer

Dave, I don't mind paying, however, my question is: what happens to my $15 if for some reason this website ceases to exist? If the $15 is good for one year, and you end this site, do I get a refund, as I would with a mag subscription? Don't get me wrong, this is a great site (much better than you know who), but things happen!

Just signed on for the first time in a while and discovered that there is now a charge to "play" here. I don't get here often enough to pay a subscription charge. I love the site....does this mean that my trade tracker is gone? Can I read the posts, but not reply whithout paying? Should I mail you direct with these questions? Can understand after reading the above letters about the cost, but am still upset.

Non-paying members will still be able to participate in many features of DG including:

Personal journal

Personal home page

Trade list

Trade Tracker

Browsing the Plants Database

i am reading this thread for the first time today. i have read almost all the posting. there is someone who address the issue re: people on very limited income. either i miss the respond to that issue, or it was never address at all.

i am new to this site, love contributing in my own little way to the best of my knowledge. enjoyed my communique with one and all.

Dave i wish u could address how u would proposed to allow people on very limited income to be able to subscribe in their own little way. am sure am not the only one who would be interested to see ur respond. thanks... ma vie rose

May I ask one question? How do all of you poor people afford a comupter and the money for a connection to the internet? I have learned in my many years on this earth that we can all afford what we wish to! Give up donuts......support Dave!

If the $15 is too much for someone on a limited income, but you'd like to contribute something, here's a thought: allow a "garden angel" http://davesgarden.com/showthread/112387.html to sponsor you. I can tell you it is an indescribable pleasure to see someone post a thank-you to their anonymous sponsor, and know you made them feel loved :)

Then, send a check or Money Order to Dave and Trish (e-mail them for details on who to make the check to, and where to mail it) for the amount that you CAN contribute, and they will use it to help sponsor someone else.

alhanks ... i pray for u! i wish u would think twice first before u jump on anyone's case. in life, no one knows what or how life will be once we reach our senior years.

i can not speak for all the people on very limited income. i can only speak for myself!!!!

I DO NOT own a computer or subscribe to the internet. i am a displaced homemaker whose life was on the line several times, on account of a very abusive husband! i left my house to save my life! i am under the grace of a couple who gave roof over my head, and food to feed me instead of living in the streets! in exchange from the goodness of their heart, i do house keeping work for them. does that satisfy YOU!!!!

I AM NOT asking for a freebie, i am merely requesting information to be able to give my own contribution in my own little way. i am sorry, i did not want to result to this but u made me... hope u are happy!!!! ma vie rose

Count me in.It's a bargain.

alhanks Things can change after a computer is bought. I could afford a new car at one time. Traded every year. I drive a 97 chevy now. Bought a computer and paid cash for it a couple of years ago and couldn't now. The city of Lagrange has free access to the internet. The only city in the U.S. that I'm aware of. You shouldn't jump to conclusions. The bad part there are some that can't afford the donut that you mentioned. I don't think anyone said hey Al pay my way. If they did I didn't read it. If some one wants the joy of giving a subscription why should it bother you. If it gives them joy, they reap that joy here, and I'm sure a reward when this life is over. Most of the posting are I can't afford it right now. Give us a break. Jim

I am a blessed nana,I had a email this week from dave,
letting me know that a Garden Angel had paid my 15.00
dollars for my next year at dave's.
THANKS YOU KNOW WHO.......
It was a wonderful get well present
luv nana

to my BENEVOLENT BENEFACTOR, i THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! i may, may not come to know who u are, but i can Promised to return Your Kindness in kind in due time. so someone very well deserving will also have the opportunity to be a part DG Family. i am deeply touched!!! Thank You so Very MUCH!!! ma vie rose

Dear Dave and Trish,
I have not been here since early summer,,,,,I've been out of work and doing alot of volunteer hours (about 60 hrs a week)
Then i went in for surgery,,,I don't have the extra $15 since i use that money for my Master gardener volunteer project. Which is helping set up a graden and teach about culinary arts to Women and children who have been addicted to drugs ahd whom have been physically abused. I'm sorry but i feel that $15 dollars goes farther that way than this. Wish ya much luck!!
jeannie(aka Brassica)
P.S. Most of the seeds i have swapped for have gone to this project,,, if anyone wants to donate money to go for a good cause please email me brassica@juno.com

Brassica:
As an advanced Master Gardener heres some advice for your project. Contact local nurseries and stores. Most are very good about donating seeds and plant materials to worthy projects. Your Extension service should be able to help you out also.

Good Luck

Paul

Hi, brassica! I remember you from the live chat room at garden.com!! Nice to see a familiar "face".

Alhanks I was very surprised to read your comment. I don't know one person on this earth that hasn't need help at one time or another, maybe your the exception.
As to how people can afford a computer and can't afford $15, well let me try and explain this that you might understand. We bought this computer Christmas and are making payments on it but we bought it at a time when we could afford to make the payment. That is the same thing that were going through right now, it's just at this time we can't afford it but will pay our fees as soon as it is available.
Let me ask you a question...do you have credit cards that allows you to pay later? So please explain to me how that is any different than being able to pay now or pay later?

I know that there are a lot of good people here that wouldn't bother to respond to this but I couldn't help it becuase I could never understand how one person could be so cold hearted. I hope and pray that when the day comes that you need a helping hand and not a hand out...that I am the one to give you that helping hand.

Kit

Kit
I started to reply to Alhanks but kept my thoughts to myself before I said something I my regret later.

Paul

Alhanks, I want to talk to you. I don't want you to take it wrong, and I think you won't after you think about a few angles. In all honesty, I have noticed some similar thoughts sneaking into my psyche. But being a born again Libran, I had to be fair about it, so I examined it from all sides. I've been a pretty tough cookie most of my life, and was blessed with being too ignorant to know when something was impossible, so I did a lot of stuff "they" said couldn't be done. Then the worm turned, and through no fault of my own, I found myself "down and couldn't get up". I am now officially disabled, but I prefer to think I'm officially on the bench for a few games. Others have been where I am, and many of them handled it more graciously, but not all. And most of us were living life at full throttle when we hit that well known triumph of masonry, the brick wall. Guess what! The goodies we were enjoying,after having earned them with our hard work, didn't automatically go away. Nor did loving friends and family. After sizing up the situation and looking around for something positive to help us crawl back out of the hole, we realized we could still do a few things, and we were encouraged by that so we could begin to heal from whatever hit us. Just as friends happily brought over soup when we were ill, friends also helped us to do things that would enrich our lives and possibly build a path back to what we consider normal. Instead of taking us to a play or an elaborate dinner, they gifted us with a subscription to DG, because they knew it would benefit us. Do you ever get a Christmas or birthday or get-well gift? Do you ever give any of those? You see, it's no different. I'm not a deadbeat, and I don't believe most gardeners are. My computer, which was a gift from my daughter, didn't turn to dust when I became gravely ill. People who love me are ecstatic about my recovering to the point that I can justify being online again. They all say to me, "we'd spend more than that going out to dinner without you!" I believe you were feeling like Dave and a few others were being taken advantage of, but I think every single one of them would tell you they wanted to help. Frankly, I cried when my letter came telling me someone sponsored me for a year. And then I took a deep breath, which isn't easy these days, and vowed to make them proud to have been there when I was struggling, by contributing every single thing I could to this work. So far, I've not made one contribution, but you can bet I stand ready and willing, and will not hesitate to give whatever I can as often as I can. I wasn't singing the "poor pitiful me" song, but someone sensed how hard it would be for me to eke out a subscription and responded in a beautiful gesture. And one more thing: be grateful that you can still afford to pay your own way. It might not always be so, and then you will have to decide whether to pocket your pride and ask for help or drop out of some things where you can make a difference. The latter option is the truly selfish one. You're probably a gardener, or you wouldn't be here, and gardeners are among the nicest people on earth. I just think you didn't take time to think it all through. As I said, I had some of the same thoughts from time to time, but I choose to think everyone wants to be independent, and in some ways they will. I live in central Texas, and I see you're in Houston. I have a book written by some garden club there, and I would trade it to you if you have something I want. After all, I am a member here and that's part of what DG is all about. Now, everybody kiss and make up.

((((Aimee))))) I didn't sponsor you, but I sure would have been proud to! For those who need help, please speak up - I have it on good authority that a lot of angels hang out in this garden :)

Paul I know how you feel it took all I had just to breathe straight and still be able to put my feelings into words.

Aimee I am so glad that you could say what my pride wouldn't let me say. It is so hard not to be able to do things that you have done all of your life and have people look down on you for it.
I have worked and supported myself since I was 12 years old until 1987 and my world fell apart, I lost everything I worked all my life for. Gardening helps me to help myself and others. I always donate half of my garden to the food banks and help the little animals that I love so much.
So if this is what is called a free ride...then let me ride.

Mr. Al Hanks sent me beautiful rain lilies in a trade. He didn't have to know that my coumpter and a year's paid account with aol was paid for by my daughter, or that the money I spent sending my trade to him was paid for by my third part time job. I would like to think that his remark was caused by a brain malfunction I will go to the link to ask for a sponsor. I can and will pay $5/ at a time when I can beginning w/ the first check. To mangle a quote...don't knock it until you've walked in my shoes.

I have given this a lot of thought over the past few days and decided, while I really like DG I cannot afford the subscription price. Yes I know $15yr is cheap for most but this was the year that the tomatoes and beans crapped out making for slow sales at the Farmer's markets. So I cannot afford the price this year.

Dave, I wish you the best of luck and lots of paid subscriptions so's you can make the site better and also pay bills and put food on the table

I will be around until my subscription expires and than will be off to other cybergardens.

I too am disabled, and live on a small sum---but I can't afford NOT to be a member! As many of you may already know, I'm really 'into' brugmansias, and during the past ten days or so three people have send me brug cuttings FOR POSTAGE. Not a trade, just for postage, so I've spent about $12.00 and recieved plants that, had I purchased them from retailers, would have cost me about $12.00 each---and I got 15! If I add the $15.00 subscription fee to the $12.00 postage and divide by 15 plants, that's less than $2.00 each, and a savings of over $150.00. Now THAT'S a bargain!

Many of the features of Dave's Garden are available without a paid membership. The most joyful thing in my life is probably my garden and I am sure that is the same for many here! There are people who do deserve and need help. It seems to me to be a bit trite to spend money to make someones gardening experience more joyful when there are much more pressing needs in the world i.e. helping the families of the victims of September 11, breast cancer research and for MaVieRose, supporting charities that benefit families recover from abusive relationships.

And for Georgiaredclay, I wonder what kind of vehicle his benefactor drives?

Alhanks and the others who have made similar comments, do you ever think about how your comments might be affecting people before you type? Or is it just that you have no compassion? Perhaps you are one of those people who think it is fun to hurt other people as long as you can do so from the internet where you don't have to face the people you hurt. Unless you plan to take the time to get to know the people here who are in need you realy don't have the right to off hand label them all as freeloaders. And who made you the guardian of these peoples right to get some small pleasure from life? Thank goodness MOST gardeners do not think themselves omnipotent and therefor qualified to dictate how others should be allowed to live there lives.

I apologize for alhank, and the others who have made similar posts, to everyone who has been hurt by his/her comments. Everyone has a right to some pleasure in life don’t let alhanks and some of the others here’s attitudes get you down. Some people are just not happy unless they are dictating to some one how they should live or unless they can hurt someone. I guess it gives them a sense of power to know they can hurt a person so casually just by a few words they type anonymously on the inetrnet. (((hugs))) to anyone who has been hurt by these people. I wonder if they realize that there are people out there that are already so depressed that these hateful comments have the potential to make them completely give up on life? DO they realize how many suicides there are every day? Or is that their goal? To push these people over the edge so there will be one less person in the world in need of financial help? I have been reading all the posts here each day. MOST of them are very uplifting, others make me ashamed to even be on the same website with them. Let’s all give each other the benefit of the doubt, most people will not ask for help unless they need it. A lot of them won’t ask for help period!

Your choice is to be a cynic and feel self-righteous and dictate who does or does not need or deserve help OR be compassionate and give a helping hand to those in need. Bring a little pleasure into their lives. I can not think of gardening as a wasteful extravagance for anyone and this extends to Dave’s garden.

I guess I better stop here. I didn’t intend to write even this much. It’s just that over the last few days I have seen to many attacks on people here for the simple reason that they can’t afford to pay the new membership fees. I can not understand how one person can think they have the right to say if another should have the right to be a member of this web site, that is what they are doing when they say cut out donuts and pay up, or other similar comments, for how many years is some one supposed to eat top ramen and beans so they can afford to associate with those more privileged people here. I wonder how many donuts these people have given up so they can have the simple pleasure of visiting Dave’s Garden? Take care of yourselves and lets take care of each other as well. Thank you, Penny

NewPenney
If you are contemplating suicide, please call Crisis Hotline. I am sure they can help.

I voiced my opinion - sorry my thoughts do not conform to yours.

I do not type anonymously on the internet. I use a real name. How about you?

If you need food perhaps you qualify for food stamps.

There are lots of programs to help people in need.

I think this type of dialogue is best suited for private email. I don't see what good it will do posted in public. We all have the right to our own opinion, but it's obvious that certain things with make people mad. I could say plenty to upset people, and I'm sure others can as well...but why shoud I? It's not worth getting everyone upset...for such a trivial subject.

(When I say trivial, I'm just talking about the subject of the fee based forum. It's a simple matter of pay or don't pay...and if you can't pay, we've all seen the generousity of many other members willing to kick in a few extra bucks to help out.)



This message was edited Sunday, Oct 7th 10:12 AM

Yes I do use my real name. :-) And no, sorry to dissapoint you I'm not contemplaiting suicide. I didn't write that post for myself, I wrote it for those who couldn't or wouldn't stand up for themselves.

Martyboy you are right this is no place for a discussion about poverty, suicide or disability. This is a gardening forum. I have no problem sticking to gardening if every on else does. :-)

The fellowship found here at Dave's is wonderful, but this is not one of the 'free' features. $15 is a small enough price to pay to bring so much joy and happiness so directly into someone's life. There is joy in the giving... as well as the receiving. Surely there are more pressing needs in society, but charity=love begins at home. Dave's is home to many people in this extended family. Let's remember, God don't like ugly. John.

alhanks In an email to me about two months ago she described the new car she had just purchased. She contacted me about sponsering me. Is anything coming out of your pocket for us freebies to be here with the paying members. It seems to me you are sticking your opinion in and then not listening to the responses that are coming back. When se say we can't afford it we mean what we are saying. Get something important to do with your life besides what I am doing with mine. I can take care of mine. I don't intend to read anymore of your comments and hope everyone else will ignore you as well. Jim
p.s. Every one please accept my apology for posting this but I think it's getting personal and I for one am not going to sit and read derogatory remarks from any one anymore. I come to this site because of the friedships that I have created. I sometimes ask for advice on a plant but I could find that at a nursery near me or on other web sites. I value each frienship that I have here and if I was finacially able would gladly pay my way and any other members that was in need. If any one has experienced the cost of medicine for hep.c besides me I wish they would post it. $2400 a month for a year and then goes everyweek for bloodwork another $59.00 and follow ups with three different doctors. If she gets the disability started, which takes forever, she will be able to get the medical supplies also. The medicine causes severe depression, up to and including suicide, and she has to take prozac to counter this side affect. I paid out $230 this week alone for drugs.I'm posting this to let alhanks know that I have more important things to do than have a running debate on Dave's with what kind of car my benafactor drives. Sorry Jim