A big announcement from Dave

My guess is you will see a big rise in subscription renewals in the next few days...

If you add it all up... What would cost trying to find plants or seeds for a specific cultivars? Over the course of a year it could go into hundreds of dollars. However with our colaberative efforts it is practically free to trade seeds and plants like we do here. What is it worth having access to that, plus all the best of the best people you'd ever want to meet??

Dave,
I'm all good with the $25. I am sure you thought long and hard about it. In another 6 years if inflation keeps going as it is, who knows? It might be necessary to raise the subscription rate again. I have been on way longer than my present subscription reflects, DG has been a delightful resource for me for several years now. When googling, or surfing for an answer on the net regarding just about any plant, or even animals, I found the results I needed. Many times substantiating something I only had a hunch about.
DG simply takes any stress out of my gardening world in being a full part of this network. My garden was often a more lonely place before. I know I can always find reliable support here. In turn I also enjoy helping newbies get their garden legs.

That's priceless to me!

Debnes

My guess is you will see a big rise in subscription renewals in the next few days...

As gardeners we are a thrifty lot (except for plants).

I think I'm also concerned that NameMedia will now take over the responsibilty for processing checks. What can and will they do with that personal information? Our checks and credit cards contain personal information. Can you assure us Dave that this information will not be used in any way or sold?

Not only that, Debnes, but the Garden Watchdog has
steered me away from prospective problems with certain
sellers, as have the discussions in the threads. So what's
agitation and aggrevation selling for these days ? I've saved
a lot of time and trouble just by reading the posts here.

Thanks, everyone, and you're ALL worth every last cent
of my suscription !

Right on Anita!! You guys are worth it!

Mahnot - good thought! By not placing the orders I would have, because of warnings to check Garden Watchdog, I've saved myself more than a few year's subscription charges.

Wow, I am amazed... so many comments in one day... I know there are thousands of postings but somehow I really did not stop to think how huge DG really is...

well... now I am getting a taste... I am trully happy that people can express what they think and feel... I see the "love" and the fear of loosing something that is really important... this site is very important to me... DG does has a sense of community... let's just hope for the best...

I agree with Victor that it could change... but let's not change! Dave is the "driving force" (moderator) behind the list but we subscribers are what makes this community really good... and I trully believe in the power of many! If I understand correctly, we can still express our opinions and make suggestions... let's give it a try!

Nice hair Dave... you look wicked young! for some reason I kept thinking you were a much older guy! since I have yet to meet young men gardening.... lol...

$25 for a couple hundred or thousand best friends is pretty reasonable. It's remarkably not just about the gardening.

Well, I'll give you and Trish the benefit of the doubt, Dave, and hang in there for as long as I can. And yes, please keep all that off the forums. There are plenty of other sites people can go to if they want to for those things.

Not only are there are lot of replies.....but take a look at the counter in the top-right corner. Over 2,164 views!

Thanks Scooter!!!
Pati

Well said Kassia!! Power to the people!

Kassia - So you're insulting Dave by saying he looks young?

Now if I can just find a picture of my 66 year old self, PLEASE
feel free to indulge, LOL. And THANK YOU SO MUCH !

Best wishes for everyone concerned!! We just want Dave's Garden to remain as it is, a place for plant lovers to gather and converse, and talk about gardening with friends.
Hopefully any changes will be for the best. We love this site and already think it is perfect!
Good luck Dave, I'm happy that you can remain at your home.
Bonnie

'If You Build It They Will Come'

HEAR, HEAR! I'm on board.

Congrats Dave, Trish, and Terry!

Yep, I'm seeing a DG Paraphernalia Link already so I can FINALLY get my DG COFFEE CUP, and SAUCER, and T-SHIRT, and GARDENING FANNY PAk? and MUCH, MUCH more. And, since we've identified such TALENTED DGers, I think we should commission them to make available some of their products to us as well. I've seen beautiful painted flowerpots, and trellis systems, and "mock" concrete planters, and outdoor chess/checkerboards, and sculpture, etc. Just thoughts. I'm an idea-girl! Let's support our DG community.

Hey Jeff, are you a gardener??? what are your favorite plants????

If you are not a gardener yet, be carefull... we are a very convincing group and you run the risk of becaming one of us... plantoholics...

But I hope you enjoy the site... not only as business thing but as a place for you to have fun! some foruns are hysterical... I certainly have a lot of fun here...

Dave (and/or other admins),
I had written a less-than-polite letter months ago to express my discontent over the "generalized search" function... I'm sorry for the letter, but I had just become very frustrated since it stopped functioning soon after I joined, and yet it was a main reason I had joined; it had worked so well and I wanted to support the site for many reasons, including that one.

I don't mind paying the extra money, since you & admins are all so great, but I would really appreciate if time could be taken to fix that feature. It was just the most helpful, and one of my favorite aspects of DG!!!

Is it possible to get someone to work on this feature before you all start building on to DG, and/or start working on new projects?

Congrats on the deal with NameMedia, and thanks for reading,
~Gina

Edited company name!! lol

This message was edited Jan 24, 2007 4:51 PM

Now you all should note that the Rasta Dave photo was taken in 2001 (or maybe 2002). I've added gray hairs and wrinkles in the years since then. My beard (when I neglect shaving for long enough for it to show) is about half gray...

One might say I grew up on DG. Many of us did, in fact.

dave

I congratulate you, too.

I must say, though, I'm *SO RELIEVED* to hear that you'll still be 'in charge' and that no changes are anticipated.

When the other site changed hands, it went downhill fast, IMHO, and it will never be the same.

Gina_Rose, now that a lot has been cleared off my plate, I think we will be able to spend more time on things like that. So stay tuned! There's a ramp up time as I pass a lot of responsibilities off, but in time I'll be a lot more free with my time.

dave

Oh no... I am not insulting Dave... is just that young computer people are glued to their computers and since Dave is a computer guy ...

I have a 24 year old nephew that seems to be glued to his laptop and I can't make him come outside and help me!!!! lol....

I will take advice on how to make a computer guy interested in plants... I am going to need a lot of help when spring comes!!!! lol...

Thanks very much, Dave!!!
(Including thanks for the response) :)
~Gina

Dear Dave Trish and Terry, I am a little sad to see changes happening, it has felt like family here at GD
and I would hate to see that change.
But I am also happy for you guys because you are receiving the rewards that you have so rightfully earned, and at the same time being spared some of the burdens.
We all have to do what is best for ourselves and our families, but I hope that you will always be a part of Dave's Garden, it wouldn't be the same without you.
Josephine

If and/or when you work on the "search" feature, Dave, could you make it work more like the major search engines? For example, I can google "fires" and "water" (without the quotes) and get all instances of web sites which contain BOTH words. I can also google "fires" and "-water" (also w/o quotes) and get all instances of sites which contain the word "fires" and DO NOT contain the word "water". I might be wrong, but I don't think DG's search engine has ever been able to do that.

Another search I would like is to be able to find any instances of a certain member POSTING WITHIN a thread. Right now one can only find those instances of a member STARTING a thread or instances where a member's NAME is mentioned by someone else within a thread.

Thank you in advance for any consideration you can make to this.

Marilyn

Dave is NameMedia Part of Thomas & Betts Corporation ? Thanks Paul

My goodness..what a surprise...I think it is great..and you guys have worked so hard. I have been happy with everything ..you guys have done for over 6 years.. I am sure..you will keep the handle, just as straight as it was. So glad you can all stay in your Texas ranch too...Neat...Best of luck...heheh...You are the best..

Smiles..Diana

Kassia, tell him you are trying to build a website (my garden has spiders in it - doesn't yours?), and you're having a hard time working the bugs out. You need help both with the hardware (that's digging) and software (weeding.) And if you get your plants or seeds from DG trades, that counts as Open Source! And hey, your garden is even wireless! LOL If he asks what programming language you're using, tell him you're going back to BASIC.

Ok, I need to stop while I'm ahead (probably too late..)

LOL Marylyn_TX!!

phicks, no, it has nothing to do with them. Why do you ask?

just that they are a up and comeing company World Wide i am from Boston or was till i moved here

This is a huge deal. :) Congratulations ! I'm not worried. I'm excited for you ! You have put your heart and soul in to this site, Dave so I'm confident you did a lot of contemplating, worrying and soul searching before making this decision.

Increase in subscription is no worry either. What is it like a dollar a month? SO... I'll buy one less plant a month on the clearance isle at Lowe's. I really don't NEED any more plants. LOL

phicks, ahh I see. I'd never heard of them before.

I don't mind paying more as long as we don't end up with the advertising that that other web site has now.

Congratulations to the three of you and congratulations to NameMedia.
I am glad that you are still onboard. Great, that you now are able to change focus and concentrate on the challenges, that mean the most for you.
Tonny in Denmark

I am another new person to Dave's. My one year anniversery was this month. I came here as a refugee from the other place of the dancing, blinking, jumping video arcade of crappy advertisement and rude forum moderators.

Actions speak louder than words and the actions I have seen in the last year from Dave, Terry, and Trish have been completely honorable, upfront and straight forward. It is scary to see Dave's Garden sold after that experience, but I take you as a man of your word and will wait and see what happens over time.

Regardless of what may happen, you have worked hard and the success is merited. Congratulations.

The advertising barrage was not the only thing that caused distress at the other site. To prepare it for another quick sale to NBC media the Terms Of Service were ammended to grant the company the same Copyright privledges as the submitters of all the content, words and photographs. With legal terms they granted themselves the right to use the content freely submitted in any way and in any media they saw fit for their own proft with no compensation to the original authors.

Let's face it. In the targeted demographic approach to advertising that the internet can excel at content is the key. Free content makes for more profit.

So my question for you Dave is, are the Terms Of Service regarding Copyright of submitted words and images going to change?

Respectfully,
ilima

Time will tell in all matters, Congrats Dave. Gotta wonder if the CNN Spot had any effect in this?

Dave, is it true NameMedia is affiliated with BuyDomains?

And, I'm curious as to the promise that nothing is going to change much - was this given in writing to you as part of the sale, or just promised?

This message was edited Jan 24, 2007 2:54 PM

Dave, targetted advertising is a primary part of NameMedia's business. How does that play into their plans for DG? More generally, what are their plans to make money from DG, other than how DG was generating income before the sale?

Victor

2zeus: Yes, NameMedia owns BuyDomains.com.

Victor: Basically, DG's revenue (subscriptions, advertising, sponsorships, PlantScout) will go to NameMedia. On top of that the value will be that I will be creating additional websites for them.

dave