Now Jeff....would I do that?

Seriously folks, I don't think anyone has ever regretted attending a swap. (Ok, I'm sure some of us regretted the Spring of '06 "Ms. Cheap" swap, but that's an unusual situation.) It's a good time to be had by all.

I do wish to temper Jeff's cries of "FREE STUFF" with the caveat that this is supposed to be a swap. Sure there are always some things to be given away (occasionally without the recipient's knowldge) but that isn't the focus. The idea is to share, swap, learn and grow as gardeners. Not to be cheap greedy people only interested in what they can get.

If you are just starting out and have nothing to trade, don't stay away. Come and be a part of the experience and you will most likely take something home. But come with your hand out looking for freebies with no interest in the people involved and I for one will give you the cold shoulder. (Sorry. I guess I'm one of the ones regretting the Ms. Cheap incident.)

Also I can give personal testimony to the Buffalo River canoeing. Cathy and I took the half day trip a couple of years ago and it was very nice. Been meaning to get back down there but just haven't made it. Jan & Jim are great people who deserve much more than we can ever repay them.

See you all at the River!

Joe "ChefZiggy" Weaver

Uh... yes you would - in a heartbeat!
I do agree with Joe that there have been some hiccups along the way especially in 06 but that was the exception to the rule.

Let me clarify the "Free Stuff" comments with the Latenight with MTPS Top Ten List

10. The swap is free. (No admission fee try getting into most events for nothing).
9. Parking is free. (I pay $10 to park a mile away when I go to a UT football game!)
8. The lunch is free. (You do need to bring something though.)
7. The lecture is free. (How many lectures and seminars can say that?)
6. The Q & A is free. (Ok the lectures, seminars and Q&A at the Bass Pro Shops Spring Classic are free but most arent.)
5. Hanging out with the nicest folks in the World is free. (How often do you get that opportunity?)
4. Spending the day in a beautiful scenic surrounding is free. (Alright, most public parks are free but to reserve space isnt.)
3. The information from extremely knowledgeable people is free. (The knowledge you gain at a MTPS is pure GOLD.)
2. Swapping plants is free. (You do need something to swap with though).
1. and the side entertainment of watching me unravel and go down in flames twice a year is always free! (Not that its worth much either.)

By my count, thats a whole bunch of FREE STUFF!!!

Looking back to '06, two years after the fact, makes me now realize that it really wasn't THAT bad! Yes it was a logistical nightmare for a lot of us but lord knows it could have been MUCH MUCH MUCH worse; it could have been a total unmitigated disaster. But thanks to the regular members that stepped into the breach as well as several first-timers (Martha in particular) that helped save the day, I think that it was salvaged to be one of our finest hours. We took what could have been a terribly chaotic situation and made the best of it that we possibly could. Personally I feel like it brought a lot of us closer together sharing a traumatic event. It kinda gripes me that what gets lost is that Marty gave an incredibly excellent lecture on TN native plants! So considering that we had four times what we were prepared for show up... it was ok. That doesn't mean that I EVER want to go through that again; my heart and nerves simply wouldn't take it!!!

BTW Zig, when I said, "Give these first-timers something to whet their appetites on so they can get a feel of what to expect."...that wasn't exactly what I meant dude!!! I'm pretty sure you can do better than that. :-)