Re: [CH] Fwd: Bring them flags...

Jim (jim@wildpepper.com)
Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:13:43 -0400 

Rules & Regs, Direction, Info, and Invite (to one and all) for Open  
Fields 2010, September 24th, 25th, & 26th

Please note that this has been THE SINGLE toughest year for growing  
chiles in my 50+ year memory.  We had flooding amounts of rain in June  
& July and haven't had a drop since.  We are currently under 'Red  
Flag' warnings and several large field fires have occurred in the last  
few days.  The chiles have absolutely struggled.  They are very small,  
and very late as they did not get planted till August.  Folks have  
always told me that "it ain't about the chiles" and this would be the  
year to find out it seems.  I don't mean to scare anyone off, but I  
want them to have a clear picture of the state of the fields.  It is  
entirely likely that there won't be a lot of chiles to go around!

This will also be the last year for the event.  Circumstances have  
changed greatly in my life in the last year (in a good way, I guess)  
and I no longer have any ability, time, or money needed in order to  
continue this event.  It is sad, in many ways, considering the humble  
origins and the great times this event has brought me, but such are  
the vagaries of life :-)  It's been an incredible two decades!!

Background:

Open Fields primary purpose is as a 'thank you' for all that the  
ChileHead community has given me.  It is FREE.  It is a chance to hang  
out with old friends, meet new ones, try a TON of interesting new  
foods and see lots of interesting sites.  There are over 6,000 chiles,  
of over 40 varieties, just waiting for you to discover them.   
Everything from the very mild and tasty Diablos and Aconcaguas to the  
fierce Red Savina(R), Fatalii, and Trinidad Scorpion.  Help  
yourselves!  Pick and play with as many as you'd like :-)

The fields are also the last remaining source of income for the StepUp  
Fund, as is the large charity auction held on Saturday evening.  There  
will be some incredible stuff up for silent auction,  all kinds of  
raffle drawings for your choice of prizes, and some blind bids.  Based  
on the last couple of years, the only way you don't win something is  
if you didn't play!  ***While Open Fields is a free event, it is  
certainly appreciated if you take part in the charity efforts.***  http://www.StepUpforCharity.org 
  for more information if needed.

The Open Fields helps to support the Jason Baker Scholarship as well  
as several others.  The Jason Baker 5K run is on Sunday morning.   
Several chile heads and I are going up there to take part.  There is  
also a family walk in addition to the 5K.  If you are interested in  
participating, let me know and/or go to http:// 
heroesofpublicsafety.org/ to register or find more information.

On to the Rules, as failure to observe them will cause me more grief  
with my Landlord than I care to go through!  I only rent part of the  
grounds and must abide by the conditions he sets as terms of my  
lease.  There are a lot of things here besides chiles.  He is  
incredibly generous to allow me to have done this all these many years.

1)  Absolutely NO posting of the directions to this event on blogs,  
boards, or groups.  He does not want, nor tolerate, folks "stopping  
by" except for the dates of this event.  "Wandering in" on any other  
day, if you're close enough to do so, is called "Trespassing" and he  
takes a very dim view of it.

2)  DO NOT drive anywhere except on a clearly marked path, or where I  
direct you.  There are thousands of feet of buried irrigation lines on  
the property and they are very easily damaged.  Walk- anywhere, drive-  
nowhere.

3)  If it ain't a chile, DON'T TOUCH IT.

4)  If you have someone you wish to bring with you, by all means do  
so!  You'll be vouching for them so make sure they're aware of the  
rules and etiquette also.

Etiquette:

This is NOT a "I can eat hotter than you can" event.  We do not  
measure manhood, or intelligence, in Scoville units here.  Those that  
like the milder chiles are no less chileheads than those that like the  
hot ones.  Don't be offended if someone declines your 'flaming tongues  
of death cheesecake'.  You are also likewise free to turn down  
something that seems out of your range.  Folks will generally steer  
you in the right direction... with the exception of some guy with a  
Cajun accent and Mississippi plates ;-)  Believe NOTHING that man  
tells you... if he makes it here!

Quiet down by 10 PM or so.  The bonfire and live music will still  
likely be going, but keep the loud roars and shouting to a minimum.   
NO fireworks or noisemakers!  There are quite a number of houses near  
the fields and we must be good neighbors.  While there is just a *bit*  
of alcohol consumption that goes on here, this is still a FAMILY  
event.  No drunken behavior, being rude or lewd, and no belligerence  
will be tolerated for even a minute.

Help clean up!  If you don't haul it out with you, or help police the  
grounds, then I & a couple of regulars must do it for you.  We  
typically walk the entire grounds, picking up trash that isn't even  
ours, just to stay on the good side of the Landlord.

If you're particularly proud of a dish that you can cook, by all means  
cook it & share!  You don't have to cook enough to feed everybody, but  
enough for some folks to sample would be great.  It's a great way to  
start a conversation.

There'll will be folks here from all walks of life and parts of the  
world.  We've had people from The netherlands, Denmark, England,  
Canada, Australia, and nearly all 50 States.  If you have a State  
Flag, please bring it- we do a "U N" type display at the top of the  
field.  For those of you who know him, Horrible Haggis will be here  
from Australia.  'nuff said.  The rest of you can be surprised ;-)   
Ian from England is also going to make it.  No point in the rest of  
you trying for the prize for "furthest travelled" ;-)

Directions:  Email me off list for directions.  For planning purposes,  
figure "Waverly, IN" & that will put you pretty close.  Subject line  
must say "Open Fields" or I'll never see it.


If you're still unsure of things, just email someone who's been there  
before.  They'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Bring a love of chiles and chileheads, an appetite, and a couple of  
bucks for the charity and you'll have a grand time :-)

You are welcome to arrive as early as the 22nd or 23rd and stay as  
late as the 28th.  BE AWARE however, there will be NO, NONE, ZERO,  
ZIP, NADA picking of the chiles until Saturday morning!  This ain't a  
garage sale and everyone gets a fair shot at the chiles, especially  
given how few there are likely to be this year.

Thanks again & I hope you have a grand time.


-Jim C
http://www.StepUpforCharity.org