.
some of us had a not so good experience at one of the RUs last year with the door prize give away and because of that I felt some basic things need to be noted.
I realize when you partcipate you are taking a chance on what you might get especially if you are one of those chosen last to pick but you should be able to expect that what you get is there in its entireity, not looked like it was thrown in the at the last min and its clean
1. Door prizes dont have to be new. Used is cool but make sure what ever it is its clean and every part is there.
2. Make sure what you are giving is something youd like to receive
sometimes we have to be reminded of the simple things because we get so caught up with other things in life
thoughts on door prizes at the roundups
Very good advice.
I'd be in favor of skipping door prizes at RU's and spending the time visiting and swapping plants instead.
I agree with patrob on this one though I will be bring a door prize on the 15
I'm glad someone brought this up. I would much prefer to spend time visiting and not do the door prize.
I would rather talk plants than do the door prizes too.
depending on the group it takes 15 to 30 mins for the door prize give away.. and its NOT required that you play... talking plants still goes on when its happening too...lol...In fact often some of the door prizes ARE plants..
I wasnt trying to start a door prize rebellion folks just making a few points on what should be used for it..(smile)
I think the door prizes are fun and it gives us a chance to feature each person so the other members can get to know us and remember the face that goes with the name, while at the same time people get a good laugh, but I am not hung up on having it if people decide they don't want it.
Believe me, putting up all those pictures and matching the names is a lot of work, thank goodness we have a pretty good system now.
So come on everybody, let us know what you think.
Josephine.
Usually they are fun and you are right, I get to find out who new people are. I think I was just reacting to the last, wet RU LOL. I do enjoy the good and the odd prizes.
C
Yes, standing there in the cold wind wasn't so much fun, but that is life.
I think I like the doorprizes more for getting to know who is who. As for the actual door prize, I have brought stuff I would have like to have won but could tell the recipient wasn't as pleased. I could go either way on the prizes. Maybe there is an other way to record the participants....like wearing a copy of our table labels around our necks!
LOL, No Anna! We already do the name tags! LOL!
But the door prize time is a meet one-on-one for everyone, not just those that were active in trading with you. We don't have a time limit and can sit and talk and visit long afterwards. I do understand about the bad weather days, but we can't change them. I remember people from pictures at door prize time, rather than during the hussle of trading.
I like the way we do the door prizes at Arlington. Yes true, some prizes are not worth much, but we tell people not to spend much, and that useable recycled items are ok. We pile the door prizes on a table, hold up one and draw a number for that item. No picking and choosing to worry about. They can swap afterwards if they get an item they won't use. We have had some pretty funny gifts in the past. Anna's "La Poop" is one that comes to mind!
I always look forward to the door prizes. I think the way we do it in Arlington is a hoot -- guys who win ladies gardening gloves, kids who win two bags of coffee grounds, and then there are some really creative prizes (I love Debs seed catchers). There always seems to be a lot of laughter, even when it's freezing cold! My take on it is that I don't come to the round up expecting to get something special during the door prize (I come for the plants -- where I always get something special -- and the company); if I do get something special great, if I don't I probably know someone who will think it's great -- or it will make a great white elephant for another event.
Just my humble two cents.
Hey! One man's poop (or woman's) is anothers treasure. I wanted that llama poo.
Sorry, had to.
I love the llama poop and the coffee grounds, those are very desireable items, especially for us organic gardeners.
Oh! I forgot to say that I like the way we do the prizes, no picking or choosing, you get what is up if your number is called, that way it is truly pure luck, and fair too.
It was my first time for a RU and I had fun with the doorprizes too but I too wish there had been more Llama poop. I got some in a trade but would like to have won some in the door prize too. Yea, Im greedy, I know.
Okay, folks. KC and his son are eating just as fast as they can so they can produce some more poop for you. ROFL. They got their spring haircut today and they are a little bit embarrassed but sure will be a lot cooler.
Go KC...go KC!!! LOL!
I think DnP is the only one with live stock as exotic as llamas, but maybe we should have a poop off at the next round up -- let's see who can bring the most llama, chicken, rabbit poo, etc.. That said Sybram would probably bring a horse trailer full of horse poo and win hands down
LOL :)
I could bring caterpillar poop! Of course, it'd take a while to catch up to the volume of a llama or horse.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
KC is about the cutest thing Ive seen in awhile. No wonder he produces such wonderful poop.
From discussing door prizes to wanting poo...... I love how threads twist and turn!...lol..
Don't forget that poo is one of the very much prized door prizes.
Have you also noticed that threads grow kinda like plants and even "go to seed" eventually?
Poop off? Leo says bring it on! He's has cows behind him just in case. lol
LOL...too funny Patricia. Leo is a looker too.
Well, maybe we should just have compost, manure and coffee grounds for prizes, that would be very useful.
LOL, Josephine....That would force me to get the coop cleaned out earlier in the year!
Leo is sure is prudy, I would love to spend the day giving him skritches!
I can't go without showing off last years baby poopers. The ladies are trained not to poop or pee while being milked in the stanchion. Now, if I can just get them to poop directly into the compost bin ;0)
You even have chicken poop to offer Lynea!
I have a question about the llama poo. Can I put it as is on the beds or will it burn?
Llama poo is not a hot manure, so can be used directly on the beds. I would suggest that you first put it out in the sun, maybe in a wheelbarrow or tray, to get a lot of the weed seed to germinate before spreading on your beds because it does contain weed seed. A little sun and a slight bit of moisture and you'll see lots of germination.
In its "natural" form, llama poop is a very firm "bean." So what you received from me has been crushed. I just don't like the looks of llama "beans" in my yard but some people use it without crushing it. It breaks down really slow in that form. Llamas select a few sites in the pasture as their potty spots and all go there. Even the little babies will go to the potty spot within a couple hours of birth. So it is easy to gather the manure but, of course, weed and grass seed gets raked up with it, along with what seed has not been killed by the digestion process. Llamas are what is called a modified ruminant. Their stomach has three compartments and destroys more of the weed seed than, for example, a horse whose digestion goes through one long "tube" and straight out without processing it as much.
And I'm sure that is FAR more than you ever wanted to know but now you do !! LOL.
Glenna
Very good info Glenna, animals are so much fun!!
I love getting door prizes especially ones that are not bought. I thought the chrysalis were a fantastic gift. Sometimes you get a gift that you reall enjoy, but wouldn't have bought or made yourself, expecially all the great poo that is offered.
I copied the "la Poop" idea from you Lynea! I called mine "Poopkin" and put it plastic pumpkinshaped pretzel container.
HAHA...Ralph wanted to know where the llama poop came from!! THANKS ! hahahaha
By the way.. I not only enjoy giving away something for a door prize I also like getting one, as I see who is who as well as have fun with them. I always enjoy seeing the faces of the people who win the prize I bring too! hahahahaha
I've come home from RUs with llama poo, rabbit poo, chicken poo, horse poo, and Bronc's homemade compost tea ... I'm sure my neighbors think I'm nuts. But my yard and flowerbeds are the best on the block, so I know poo is the way to go. LOL!
Carla