[CH] Open Fields 2008
jim@wildpepper.com
Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:47:55 -0500
As there've been a couple of inquiries, please consider this the first
official invite for one and all to the Open Fields.
The dates this year are the 26th (Friday) thru 28th (Sunday) of
September. Folks that are coming great distances (like Australia,
England, California, and Texas) are more than welcome to arrive early
and stay late.
For those of you that do not know what the open fields is, ask me off
list or search the archives. In short (even though this post won't be
;-), it is a totally FREE event where I throw open my fields to one and
all to help themselves to whatever they'd like of the CHILES found
there. No cost other than what it takes for you to get here & stay.
Camping is primitive, hotels within about 20 minutes drive. Recipes or
food to share greatly appreciated, especially be the freeloading host
:-) Keep it moderate!! ;-) It is a great place to casually meet many
of the folks who's names you see here on the list and more than a couple
of well known manufactures have been known to show up incognito. They
are 'incognito' because this is a completely NON-COMMERCIAL event. You
will not find stuff for sale (excpet that benefits the charity) and
there will be no vendor stalls. It is purposed to be a place where
chile heads from all walks of life can gather on equal terms and
celebrate all things chile.
No theme as been decided upon yet, so I'm open to suggestions. I DO
intend to repeat the hot sauce contest that Steve Foster (Scotch Bonnet
Steve) so graciously got started. Believe it or not, the trophies from
last year's contest are almost done- I apologize for the inexcusable
delay. Proceeds again will go to the StepUpforCharity.org cause. Look
for an announcement later. There was also a very lively auction emceed
by JenDaHen of a wide variety of chile related items that raised a
significant amount of money for the charities. It would be great if
that happened again. Included in it were a framed set of the chile
X-rays that can be seen on the left hand column of the hotsauceblog.com
Those are still available for purchase (donation) and downloadable from
that site. they wer the very first things to be grabbed at auction and
were done by our own Jeff S. It is hard for me to keep apart the 'dual
citizens' so if I left someone out of the recognitions that is a primary
member of this CH list, my apologies! That is why I truly resist
'naming names' because invariably, I'll leave someone (who I
shouldn't!!) out. Chimayo seed donate by tough-love.com- thanks Dave!
Occasional plants by chilewoman.org- thanks Susan! Looks like I ought
to frame some poetry, judging from the posts of late ;-)
For planning purposes, figure your travel to Indy. That will get you to
within about 30 miles of the fields. Location, though fairly well known
to repeat attenders (or is that 'offenders'? :-) is **STILL** NOT to be
published!
Though I've not stopped by the greenhouse to see how the plants are
doing, I expect to do so before much longer. If all goes well (ie
2/3rds of the plants aren't killed off!) there should be about 9,600
plants and 40 to 50 varieties. Included in this will be Naga's,
Trinidad Scorpions, Red Savinas(R), Fatalii's, and a few rows named for
the folks that have donated seed: Beth from Texas (DeLaReina), Scotch
Bonnet Steve, JohnT, and Chance (Chancellor of Chinense).
Invitation to the fields is done by sending me a note in mid-late August
for directions and the official rules of etiquette. The note MUST have
the subject header of "Open Fields 2008" or it will *never* get past the
spam filter. I beg, plead, and request (to no noticed effect ;-) that
anyone planning on attending email me so that I can get a rough head
count. I'm required to notify the too cool landlord of what to expect.
If you have questions to ask of me, please have the subject header read
"OF 2008- Questions". I'm happy to answer them as I can.
You can also ask most anyone at the Indiana Hot Luck & Fiery Foods Expo
the first weekend of April as most all there attend as well.
Thanks! Signing all of my alias's (alii?) here since folks have said
they're confused on who is who sometimes:
-Jim
Mild to Wild(R) aka "MWPH" aka wildpepper.com
StepUpforCharity.org
Patron Saint of the Moderate Corp
Lieutenant, Engine 111, Local 416, IAFF
and proud occasional knuckledragger ;-)