A big announcement from Dave

All I can say is "WOW"...Congratulations to all of you ...NameMedia got the Cream of the Crop Gardening site....and Dave gets a Paycheck...Hope you held out for lots of Perks and Bennies... LOL

Seriously though, this site is the absolute best for so very many reasons...Management is top notch, and the people from all over the world who populate it are the absolute best at sharing everything from seeds and advice to trials and tribulations, and then helping you pick yourself back up again with encouragement...The Watchdog has saved us a fortune in bad deals, and the Plant Files have told us what will NOT grow where we live...and where for $2.08 a day can you find all that??

I for one, am here for the Long Haul, as long as Dave, Trish and Terry are...

DustyDS

Congratulations! I just wanted to let you know that I've loved DG since I joined and I have every confidence in you. NameMedia certainly knows talent when they see it.

Dusty -- that's $2.08 per month. I love DG, but will not pony up $760/year. LOL!! ;D

This message was edited Jan 25, 2007 11:03 AM

Apparently my ad option is off, I've never received an ad on DG. Where is the option located?? I have my Yahoo ad
option(s) turned off, but I did not know there were such options on DG.

Jeff, it's nice to see you here, you appear to be a nice, fun person with an up personality. Please tell us about yourself, your background, where you grew up, your family, etc. If you have already done that, please direct me to the post. Thanks for bringing the DG subscribers into the transition. SherryLike

Unlike others, I have a different opinion about something.

I think we need to see Jeff not only in the DG shirt, but also on a tricycle with some sort of flower head dress.

I think it's important for garden morale.... :P

I like that idea Badseed!

Oh yes, a true show of DG solidarity. I am sure he is busy wintersowing though- LOL
-Kim

I recognize that $25 is NOT a lot of money, but the rate of increase IS very high - 67%. Where else would such an increase be allowed? I looked through the membership stats and only 2.6% of the members of DG are paying subscribers - only about 7000 out of 270,000. Wouldn't it make more sense to encourage more of the "members" to become paid subscribers? If they aren't already, are they likely to become so with that large an increase?

Ann

You always have a different opinion Chele, albeit they are most entertaining!!!

Congrats, Dave, Trish, and Terry!

Welcome, Jeff and NameMedia. Hope you enjoy our family.

Lana

Ann,

I do agree that it is a huge increase all at once, but I also feel I get a lot of info for the price. There has to be a solution here.

You could renew now for the $15 rate...

Every time I see the congrats goin out to the three of y'all, I think they're meant for me too. I wonder why Terry? ;~)

TC

(Actually, I think all of us deserve a pat on the back for helping to make DG an attractive business option.)

Congratulations to Dave, Trish and Terry. You have shown in my short time here Dave, that you are concerned about quality and the happiness of the gardeners that you have cultivated here (sorry, had to do it!) Your willingness to be open and personally respond to our questions and concerns reinforces my faith in your integrity, so well done!

I am hopeful too that Jeff and NameMedia also represent that same type of integrity as well. I've been in big business, small business, and my own business, and there are pros and cons with all of them.

As long as you didn't sign a non-compete clause with them, they should just know that if it changes or they do not follow through and you guys go, your sprouts, seedlings and seedstock go with YOU (that would be we users..heh)

As for $25.00 a year - yes, percentage-wise it's a big increase, but it's still only a wee bit over 2.00 a month for oodles of information, scads of discussions and just plain wonderful people with wisdom they are willing to share. It is the first site I have ever paid to join, and I don't regret it one bit.

I love you guys and what you do here - and I'm looking forward to many more years to come.

~Sunny

I just wanted to add a big welcome to Jeff and all the people at NameMedia! I hope we can make gardeners out of all of you!!!! :))

AS for the increase....what was the percentage of the increase in the cost of Medicare this year??? Jo

The rate increase may seem steep, but in dollars, we're not talking about a lot of money to start with, so any increase seems steep as a percentage. (For example, if you had $10 and added $10 to it, that would be a whopping 100% increase. But if you started with $100 and added $10, that same $10 is only a 10% increase.)

More seriously, if we had upped the subscription by 10% a year, 2007 would be at $26.00 and change. And it probably would have felt like we were "nickel-and-diming" you every year with small ($1.50, $1.75, $2.00, etc.) increases.

I think if you look around at the sites that charge a subscription, you'll find that $15 was seriously behind-the-times, and $25 is still on the low end (and I hope we can keep it that way.) Many pay-to-use sites have gone to a monthly fee and charge anywhere from $6.95 to $25 or more per month.) In 1997 I was paying Consumer Reports $3 a month/$36 a year to access their content. It was good content, but it wasn't interactive, or updated daily, or nearly as much fun as DG ;o)

I have told people in the past that I would pay $100.00 per year to be on DG....PLEASE don't take me at my word...I really can't afford that much.....LOL

I read this announcement yesterday morning and was quite shocked. It's not something I would ever think that would happen at this site. Dave has always given me the impression that this was "HIS" site and no one would ever take it away from him, although he could close it himself. I also immediately thought about the date. lol I always look forward to his April fools message. :-)

After I read the message, I had to leave for the whole day and when I returned late last night, I immediately went to DG to read all the posts on this thread. Wow!! I read each and every post and saw some dissapointments and lots of excitement on Dave, Terry's and Trish's posts. It was after reading Trish's post that I finally heard some positive relief in her words that helped me feel more relaxed with this new venture.

I am also one of the "old timers at DG" and have seen this site grow to unbelieveable portions. It has changed alot, but I have never even thought about leaving. The information that I have learned from all these wonderful people has been amazing. Many times I don't realize how much I actually know, until someone asks a question about gardening, and I know the answer or can help them is some ways.

With all that said, I just wanted to let you all know that I am extremely happy for you with the new venture and wish you all the best. I just hope that it doesn't change like the other site did. I haven't been back there in years, but I have been told that it's gone down hill fast.

Congratulations to all of you.

BTW Jeff, I would also like to welcome you to my 2nd home. Please enjoy the peace and love that generates from all us gardeners.

Donna

LOL @ Badseed!!!!!!! Good idea, I'll drink to that.
Pati

Congratulations, Dave, Terry, and Trish! I'm new to the site, and am hopeful that the corporate types continue to realize what made the site so special, as to attract their attention in the first place. It is my continued hope that you, Dave, will truly be given the autonomy to run the site, in the way that you see fit. I will continue to submit images to PlantFiles and convey my personal experience with plants to the members of this site.

Sean

Congratulations Dave, Trish and Terry. Welcome Jeff, we look forward to hearing more from you.
I can't help but add my 2 cents worth about the rate increase. Sunday afternoon as I stood in line at the supermarket I started to reach for a new "crockpot" cookbook or more correctly booklet. I realized that I had seen a thread of crockpot recipes in the recipe forum. Being a cookbook addict, it's taken some adjusting my habit of buying a new cookbook when the fancy strikes, to turning to the DG recipe forum. You know it's a lot more fun sharing recipes and reading the member comments. (Thank you Adinamiti for your contributions to encouraging recipe sharing).
The money I save more than justifies the membership fee and that is without a consideration for the vast amount of gardening, ponding and garden watchdog information that I use regularly.
But most of all the sense of community and the information is priceless.

Some times BIGGER is better !
With you at the stern Dave I think this will be the case .
Congrataltions !

This message was edited Jan 25, 2007 12:13 PM

Good point, Edens. Not only do we have tons of plant info, but recipes too, and experienced cooks/chefs that are more than will to share their knowledge.

Congratulations, what you have created here is beyond fabulous and you all deserve the recognition and reward.
It couldn't happen to a more deserving threesome - I couldn't be happier for you.

As for the price change, realistically it's long over due.
Perhaps you'll consider a family plan where the second family member gets a price break.

Dove

Thanks Marilyn (see below)

A family plan sounds cool!

This message was edited Jan 25, 2007 12:47 PM

Per Dave above, anyone can purchase an additional one-year subscription at any time between now and February 15th for the current $15.00 price. It makes absolutely no difference when your current subscription terminates.

Marilyn

Yep, When I logged on this AM (I was gone yesterday) & saw that notice from Dave, I opened it & held my breath. Found it reassuring that things will only change for the good. I have read all the posts as probably each & everyone of us has. (Luckily not holding my breath through the whole thing!)
It was amazing to read how most everyone feels about being a part of DG, it's like coming home to come here. The warmth, kindness, generosity, & knowlege we gain form here & the friendships we have made is so unlike any website I have ever visited. You always read (or hear) about not trusting people on line, not so with the DG lot. I have only met good & nice people at RUs & at functions that we can meet at. I wouldn't hesitate to (& have) invite a fellow DGer to my home. What other site would you do that?!
Dave, it is because of your caring & standards that this is so, and I have every confindence that as long as you have your hand in it, this will be so.
I am adding my Congrats. to all 3 of you. I'm sure it was a hard decision, yet a wise one. I think That NM knows what a valuable asset you will make to their co.
Garden.com sounds like a great place for those who are beginners in the "sport" of gardening. DG can be a bit overwelming at first glance. But quickly becomes "home". I'll look forward to seeing how that is coming along.
Onward, through the fog! Bj

Thanks Marilyn!

Congratulations to Dave, Trish and Terry! When I first saw the announcement yesterday, I must admit that my first reaction was dismay, but after reading all of Dave's information and the discussion on this thread, I am reassured and now burning with curiosity about how DG and Garden.com will interact. I sure hope it won't lead me to be in front of the computer twice as much as I am now :-)

Sharon

LOL Chele!

Uh oh Jeff, you're in trouble now! ;-)

A big congratulations, Dave and gang!

Just wanted all of you to know that i am back and on the board again. Again I am overwhelmed by all of the wonderful comments that were posted yesterday, overnight and again today. It confirms why we at NameMedia wanted to work with Dave, Trish, Terry and all of you. Our team is hard at work supporting Dave in the launch of Gardens.com right now and they are all working just great together. It is cold in Boston today so it is kind of nice to think about gardening season on the horizon. Now that we are part of DavesGarden though we can garden every day of the year...snow, sleet, rain...no matter. Look forward to meeting more of you as we go forward. Thanks again. - Jeff

Congratulations to a great site by great people! Hope it just gets better. Flowerlou

I didn't have time to read thru all the posts, but the response here just confirms what I have always felt about this place is that we all have contributed to it as a group therefore it feels like our very own "home". It's always hard to move or throw away our most comfortable pair of shoes and this feels a bit like one of those times...a little uncertaintity of what the future holds.

Congrats Dave and crew for finding a wonderful win win solution! Your hard work and dedication really show on this site and I hope you have great fun now that you are just going to be free to create, create, create !
I trust what you say and I am very happy that you can turn over the problem areas of legal, and making ends meet to someone else!
What a relief this must be for you.

Welcome Jeff to our community of humurous, sometimes crazy, and genuinely helpful very nice folks!
I'm sure you will make good on your promises to Dave and I look forward to the new website...Garden.com

Best to You All,
Michelle:)

Just wanted to say congratulations to Dave and Trish, after reading all of these posts I shouldn't have any reason to be sad, but I can't help feeling it just a little (or alot). Maybe we all got too attached to each other.

It's kinda like when a child gets married. Don't think of it as losing a son or daughter, think of it as gaining more family. :)

That's a good one, Ticker. I've also read all the threads and the original msg and I'm ok with it. Like many, we don't like change very much. We kinda like to keep it the way it was when we joined and that's not possible. I was a bit concerned with the first big change but it went fairly well. I trust Dave. There's some people that I miss seeing posts from because they've gone to regional forums but I can go there and check them out too - if I have time. :)

Congratulations, Dave, Trish and Terry. Ya done good! :)

Congrats to Dave and the gang!

A hearty welcome to Jeff and his gang!

A photo of my Milkweed 'Soulmate' with a Monarch Butterfly on it taken last June.

Marilyn

Dave,

With this post, that makes 318. Might you want to start part 2 for this thread?!

Getting on the long side.

Marilyn

Go here for Part 2:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/687588/

dave