I am back (sort of!)....also posted this in the Dwarf area

**nctomatoman** · October 30, 2012

Hey all! My post-gardening disappearance was a bit deeper than usual - combination of a very hectic, intense summer (saving seed from 210 tomatoes, 280 peppers and 60 or so eggplant was kind of over the top - will definitely back off a bit next year). Plus all of the observations, pics, etc.

I am also working on a tomato article for The American Gardener, as well as the text for my tomato book with Storey Publishing (NOT on the Dwarfs - a general book on tomatoes), as well as a few local workshops early next year. So my conversion from corporate type, pharmaceutical industry, consultant, to garden writer is happening. And it is different....the daily motivation, forming new habits and routines - all quite interesting! Plus we had our annual two week escape to the Outer Banks.

So here is where I realize I am behind - I've received seeds from many of you, there are lots of PMs and posts asking to join the dwarf project, I've got many emails from SSE members that resulted from my article on the dwarf project in the Harvest edition - so lots more North American volunteers for next year.

I know I need to ensure I've gotten as many updates from my own dwarf plants as possible - and I do want to update many of the summary threads. I need to catalog all of the seeds sent to me, ponder next year's priorities and assignments, and track progress in the Southern Hemisphere.

So, not too much to do! I think my presence at Tomatoville will be a lighter touch throughout the next year, with so much on...but within the next week or so, threads should be updated, numbers assigned to vials, and responses made to PMs.

Fusion_power · October 30, 2012

Welcome back to the work house. Let us know how the book is going.

DarJones

ddsack · October 30, 2012

Glad to see you checking in with us, Craig. It surely was a busy summer with all the varieties to tend to. Good luck with the tomato book, I can't think of a better person to do the writing!

I'm way behind in seed packaging, all my dwarfs (and others) are still in their coffee filter dryers. I'll try to get them to you soon, as well as get my final reports posted. We have such a short time before the ground freezes, that I've been spending my time trying to get my garden beds in shape now, to save me time in the spring. We had almost 4 inches of snow a couple of days ago, but it all melted and it looks like I can get another week of hard labor in the garden.

salix · October 30, 2012

Good luck with that, Dee - woke up this morning to minus 20 C and over a foot of snow! I guess the last dozen leeks can just sleep outside for the winter, lol.

RobinB · October 30, 2012

Wow, I can't imagine having to keep track and save so many seeds! I had nearly double my normal number of tomato plants and still haven't really gotten to take a nice deep breath... No snow for us yet, but it has gotten down in the 20s a couple of times.

My seeds and final reports are still coming too. Hopefully in the next week you'll have them.

Robin

October 30, 2012	#1
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I am back (sort of!)....also posted this in the Dwarf area Hey all! My post-gardening disappearance was a bit deeper than usual - combination of a very hectic, intense summer (saving seed from 210 tomatoes, 280 peppers and 60 or so eggplant was kind of over the top - will definitely back off a bit next year). Plus all of the observations, pics, etc. I am also working on a tomato article for The American Gardener, as well as the text for my tomato book with Storey Publishing (NOT on the Dwarfs - a general book on tomatoes), as well as a few local workshops early next year. So my conversion from corporate type, pharmaceutical industry, consultant, to garden writer is happening. And it is different....the daily motivation, forming new habits and routines - all quite interesting! Plus we had our annual two week escape to the Outer Banks. So here is where I realize I am behind - I've received seeds from many of you, there are lots of PMs and posts asking to join the dwarf project, I've got many emails from SSE members that resulted from my article on the dwarf project in the Harvest edition - so lots more North American volunteers for next year. I know I need to ensure I've gotten as many updates from my own dwarf plants as possible - and I do want to update many of the summary threads. I need to catalog all of the seeds sent to me, ponder next year's priorities and assignments, and track progress in the Southern Hemisphere. So, not too much to do! I think my presence at Tomatoville will be a lighter touch throughout the next year, with so much on...but within the next week or so, threads should be updated, numbers assigned to vials, and responses made to PMs. __________________ Craig

October 30, 2012	#3
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	Glad to see you checking in with us, Craig. It surely was a busy summer with all the varieties to tend to. Good luck with the tomato book, I can't think of a better person to do the writing! I'm way behind in seed packaging, all my dwarfs (and others) are still in their coffee filter dryers. I'll try to get them to you soon, as well as get my final reports posted. We have such a short time before the ground freezes, that I've been spending my time trying to get my garden beds in shape now, to save me time in the spring. We had almost 4 inches of snow a couple of days ago, but it all melted and it looks like I can get another week of hard labor in the garden. __________________ Dee **************

October 30, 2012	#4
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Good luck with that, Dee - woke up this morning to minus 20 C and over a foot of snow! I guess the last dozen leeks can just sleep outside for the winter, lol. __________________ "He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." -Cicero

October 30, 2012	#2
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	Welcome back to the work house. Let us know how the book is going. DarJones

October 30, 2012	#5
RobinB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Near Reno, NV Posts: 1,621	Wow, I can't imagine having to keep track and save so many seeds! I had nearly double my normal number of tomato plants and still haven't really gotten to take a nice deep breath... No snow for us yet, but it has gotten down in the 20s a couple of times. My seeds and final reports are still coming too. Hopefully in the next week you'll have them. Robin