[CH] Open Fields- Rules, Info, & Invite. Longest post ever made :-)
wildpepper.com (jim@wildpepper.com)
Tue, 18 Sep 2001 18:46:54 -0500
Okay folks, here it is- the LONG awaited note telling you all you need
to know about the open fields. I will try to make it brief, but it will
still be rather lengthy. Some of you may get this twice if you
individually RSVP'd me earlier. Some of this information might also be
a bit redundant, but this note is going out to many who are not on the
chileheads list. Thanks Karen & Stu ;-)
If you plan on attending, and all are welcome to, please read.
Background: The open fields event was originally done to give away as
much of my excess crop as could be salvaged after the first hard frost.
Arranging a short notice trip of some distance proved too difficult
except for all but a very few die-hard Chile heads. Since those first
few brave souls attended the event, I have since tried to pick a date
when a sufficient amount of my crop was in that I felt I could spare a
good chunk of the rest. In recent years though, there has been less and
less 'excess' as the event has grown to gigantic proportions and the
demands of my business have doubled each year. Nonetheless- the event
goes on. I've got to tell you though, that an acre and a half of chiles
is MUCH smaller than many of you believe. With darn near 150 people
expected to attend this year, there aren't going to be that many chiles
to go around.
The fields are also NOT MINE! I rent the ground and am therefore at the
mercy of the conditions set forth by my landlord. These fields are in a
remote location that is (mostly) unsupervised and easy to get to. There
have been (non chileheads) problems with vandalism in the past and so he
is very touchy about who can and cannot attend. Anyone he catches at
the fields at any other time than the dates specified will be arrested
for trespassing- telling him you were looking for me will do you no
good. He works 20 hour days at some times down there and at all hours
of the day and night. Those of you that live close enough to 'drop in'
I encourage you not to do this! He does not fool around with people he
catches there. The landlord is a 3rd generation farmer whose farm
market and business likely will not survive to see the 4th generation
due to many reasons including land use pressure, governmental
regulations, and the changing marketplace. This puts him in even less
humor ;-)
Etiquette:
#1 This is above all else, a friendly gathering whereby chileheads from
all over the world can gather, camp if they wish (primitive), share
food, share stories (lies ;-), and generally have a good time. Alcohol
is not forbidden nor discouraged, but it is expected to be moderate.
Drunken behaviour and/or rowdiness won't be tolerated. I can absolutely
guarantee that you do not want to spend the weekend in the Morgan County
Lock-up with Billy Ray Bob and his toothless brother Bubba- except maybe
Rael who will feel like he's back in ol' Mississip ;-) We're all
supposed to be adults, even though most of us don't act like it ;-)
#2 People will be there with widely varying tolerances for heat. This
is not a 'I can eat hotter than you' event. DO NOT be offended if
someone politely declines to try your 'flaming tongues of death habanero
poppers'. Many of us there, myself included, are of the 'moderate
persuasion'. On the same note, please FEEL FREE to decline someones
offer of 'nuclear waste angel food cake'. :-)
#3 There are neighbours to these fields. At a reasonable hour of the
evening, I will expect things to quiet down a little. There are to be
no fireworks, firecrackers, explosives, or noisemakers.
#4 This is the single busiest time of the year for my landlord. There
will be a lot of traffic in and out of the fields as he brings in his
own crops. We MUST stay out of his way, not block the road or access to
the barn. This is a VERY busy time for me as well. This is a working
weekend and I will be disappearing for short stints as I shuttle chiles
out of the fields and off to the processing kitchen some 50 miles away.
Please do not be offended if I am not there all the time, though I will
try to be.
Rules!!
#1 There is to be absolutely NO picking of anything but chiles! I do
not own anything else there and cannot give permission to harvest
anything else. Even the apples that fall on the ground have uses and
are not 'waste'. Apple trees, which surround the fields, are VERY
easily damaged and this has been a poor season for my landlord so far.
#2 You may absolutely NOT drive anywhere other than where I escort you
or direct you. There are buried plastic irrigation lines all through
the fields. Driving even a short distance off the field runs the risk
of breaking a line. As I worked MANY long hard hours in the 70's
burying those lines with a pick and shovel, I sure don't want to have to
do them again :-)
#3 Please pick only what you need and be careful not to damage the
plants.
#4 Trash- we must pick up any and all trash. The only thing we may
leave behind is trampled grass.
It would be GREATLY appreciated if you could also find your way up to my
landlords' farm market and BUY something from them. Please mention that
you are there for the open fields and appreciate them allowing this
event to occur. You need only tell this to the adults- the part time
kids they have there won't have a clue what you are talking about.
Directions:
I am asking that everyone meet me at the Waverly Inn. It is a local
landmark and most everyone in that area knows where it is at.
From Indy, take HWY 37 south about 20 miles. After several
stoplights, you will come to the intersection of HWY 44 and HWY 37.
Proceed south about two miles and the Waverly Inn sits off on the west
(right) side of the road. It is a restaraunt famous for catfish and a
sign will tell you such. It is not a hotel- that would have been WAY to
convenient :-) Once you arrive there, call me on cell phone at 1 317
908 4144. I'll come get you or send a delegate out to escort you the
remaining 300 yards to the fields.
From Bloomington, take HWY 37 north past Martinsville- about 22
miles. Look for the Waverly Inn on the west (left this time) side of
the road. Call
From Franklin, take I-65 north to the very next exit- Whiteland
Rd. Go west on Whiteland rd about 20 miles, through several stops, a
couple of towns, and well out into the boonies. You will come to HWY
37- this is a dangerous intersection so be wary. Go south about 1/4
mile and look for the Waverly Inn as described above.
Dates & Time:
Open Fields themselves are October 6th & 7th although some of the 'out
of towners' are arriving on the 5th and are welcome to do so. Picking
is from whenever you feel like starting to whenever you feel like
stopping :-)
Additional:
This has been a little bit of a trying time for me. I expect the next
weekend after the fields to have to go out to Arlington National
Cemetary and help bury my sisters' husband, killed in the Pentagon
attack. I also hope to go to New York and help bury over 300 other
'brothers' as well. I PLEASE ask that you do NOT offer me any sympathy
or condolensces at the event. I know in Whom I believe and just want to
have an enjoyable weekend and forget about stuff for a bit. 'Nuff said
& thanks.
Hotel Info:
Here are the names and numbers and rates for a few hotels in the area. I
would encourage you to call fast if you plan on using them as they are
filling up. Hotel Campbell is already booked :-) CaJohns 'Hotel Red
Savina' (his trailer) was stolen last weekend and so is unavailable.
Work on that one Alex & Randy- Hotel Red Savina actually fits into the
song :-)
Southside Indy: (Harding St is HWY 37)
Days Inn 602 E Thompson 317 788 0331 $89.95 2 day min
Dollar Inn #5 4585 S Harding St 317 788 9561 $42.62/night
Ramada Limited 4950 S East St 317 784 0047 $50/night
Super 8 4502 S Harding St 317 788 4774 $75/night
Franklin: (where I live)
Carlton Lodge Franklin exit I-65 317 736 0480 $89/night
Days Inn Franklin exit I-65 317 736 7466 $64/night
Super 8 Franklin exit I-65 317 738 0888 $64/night
Quality Inn Franklin exit I-65 317 346 6444 $70/night
Martinsville:
Super 8 765 349 2222 $58/night
Comfort Inn 765 342 1842 $65/night
Camping:
My wife and I plan to camp in the fields as of Saturday night, possibly
Friday as well. Camping is PRIMITIVE. I intend to rent a couple of
port-o-lets and a 10 x 20 tent so that we at least can have some
comforts. There is a bit of road noise from the highway nearby so don't
expect total solitude ;-) Waverly is also Rael's kind of town (read:
redneck ;-) so sometimes they can get to carryin' on as well. Still,
you may hear a coyote, deer, racoons, and other such sundrys moving
about at night. No worry about any poisonous snakes except maybe a
water moccasin (cotton mouth) or two by the pond.
Business Stuff:
Several of you have asked to purchase stuff at the event itself in order
to save shipping costs. Please e-mail me your desire at last a few days
prior to the event & note that you intend to pick it up there. I will
VERY reluctantly do this as a courtesy but I do not intend to have any
sauces at the event, other than the gift packs to give away. CaJohn is
also donating to the 'grab bags' as long as supplies last. My wife,
greedy wench that she is, has made it clear that SHE intends to sell
everything and anything she can get her hands on. You will get NOWHERE
offering me anything- thanks but no thanks. That is not what this event
is about nor what I would see it become.
This is likely to be the last year of the event, due to my earnest
desire to contract out the chile growing next year. Never know though.
Anyway, I hope to see a lot of you at the fields and hope that you all
have a great time!
-Jim C
Mild to Wild
Lieutenant, Engine 113
Pike Fire Dept, Indianapolis Local 416