Questions regarding the future of TaterMater...

[alan]

Tom, one thing I know you are working on is a way to get your Tomato and Potato creations out to the general garding public, if in any way any of us can help, please do let us know.

One thing that I was wondering about is how much thought you have given to the first wave of types you would like to release. I know you have spoken in the past of you "heirloom hybrid" idea and was wondering if you would like to elaborate on what you might like to release first from these possible lines and their discriptions no matter how rough they are.

Also I was wondering if you would elaborate on what the names and descriptions of the first tomatoes and potatoes you would like to release in the future are.

For example, the much touted Verde Claro, is this a type you could see yourself releasing in the first wave of new tatermater seeds?

Also, with regard to potatoes, what lines, names, and descriptions would you like to release first as well as their virtues and with potatoes would you like to release tubers or true potato seed?

Thanks for your time and the answers.

Alan

[tatermater]

Alan,

I don't want to try to do too much with the
TaterMaterSeeds.com
unless I can properly fund the enterprise.
There are a lot of I know I's.......

I know how should offer Breeder's Seed

I know I should sell a number of my potato varieties

I know I should be available for speaking engagements

I know I should hire out as a consultant of some sort.

I know I should inspire like-minded people to get involved

I know I should be open-minded

I know I should have demonstration gardens

I know I need to offer Dollars for ground rental

I know I can't cowbird the rest of my life

That said, you mentioned the Verde Claro. I believe it could be a winner. The perverse side of me says to allow this variety to dance in the wind to attract more publicity, support, partnerships, grants, beneficiary input, I don't know. The altruistic side of me says to go public now with anything and everything.


I have more potatoes of my Skagit Valley Gold than I have a right to have. I need to promote why I think it is such a winner. I will have to assess what the potatoes should be sold for, the mailing rates, and whether or not the proceeds of such sales can be legitimately used to springboard the rest of the Tater Mater collections.

The nutritional aspects of some of my potatoes will be touted.
The colors of such
The flavors of such

I am thinking about a few F-2 populations to feature as a way to get others to help select for regional adaptation of special types of tomatoes. I hope to talk with a few people to see if this effort could be funded by special efforts to ensure the public sustainability of my work. Otherwise the 'not for profit' or f'or profits' efforts will be explored.

Tom Wagner

[tatermater]

Today I am looking into yet another person helping me with my TaterMaterSeeds.com website. It looks hopeful so far.

More on that later, but all of these delays are taking a toll on me.

Tom

[grungy]

Hang in there, Tom. Rome wasn't built in a day. We'll keep our fingers crossed.
val

[clarkbar2311]

You're doing great. You've got cheerleaders rooting for ya.

[clarkbar2311]

alan said:

if in any way any of us can help, please do let us know.

I second this sentiment.

[kctomato]

Use sales of something (like the potatoes) to fund legalility issues*, possibly PVP something like Verde Claro and help with field/development costs. Then sell that seed yourself on your website or along with another vendor you trust for ONLY exhorbant Marianna's Peace/Julia Child like prices. Make sure you get the most $ out of it that FIRST year because you know afterward people will be trading it and there's nothing you can do about it (unless of course you figure out a way to make them male sterile or hybrid etc). Then start releasing new lines in a similar way each year. You are worth it so dont sell yourself short!

*have a lawyer help with the legal wording and requirements for selling the seed

PVP application is now so financially limiting it may be something to overlook completely or limit to one or two. In the long run you might spend more on paying lawyers to help enforce PVP than you would lose. If some other entity does pick it up and sell it - great! What a compliment and free advertising! You would have to accept the fact your name might not follow along but that is what you can use your website for- self promotion, documentation of and reference to those varieties.

[tatermater]

Keith,

Thanks for the encouragement.
What do you think of websites like Laurels or L.I.S.P.?

I have, too, thought of PVP. I think most of us know that it is out of the reach of the majority of us, and will likely be for a long time.
I have had several folks, mostly large farmers who have nearly succumbed to this temptation. But even for multi-millionaires, they balk.

Tom

[clarkbar2311]

I personally like the way LISP handles "sales". I still get the seeds and like to think I am helping to fund a worthwhile project. I'd gladly "donate" to tatermater to be able to grow something different.

[tatermater]

Thanks

The purchase of a 'share' of seed carries a (research by cooperation) of a community, and less of a sales only appeal.

Tom

[clarkbar2311]

I personally can't wait to see what treasure grow out of all the LISP stuff I purchased shares for this year.

[grungy]

Sounds like a good way to go, Tom. What ever you should decide.
Cheers,
Val aka grungy

[alan]

I particularly like the set up of Liseed.org in that nothing there feels like a sales pitch and that Ken is going against the grain and being very experimental with his crosses and unstable material, allowing gardeners to do their own selections and crosses.

I am planning on setting up a similar, however interactive, site for Hip-Gnosis seed development later this year. It will be similar with my writings and my seed list like www.liseed.org however it will differ in that people will be able to interactively post notes and photos of their selections of and growouts of our seed and breeding lines to share with others. Also they will be able to trade back and forth between one another their new selections for new members or members who are already growing and selecting their own versions who may want to do backcrossing or further experimentation. Of course like I said before, I'm not one to try to make money, other than a research donation off of my seed and I like the idea of open source, copy left, seed breeding and sharing. For someone hoping to make a living off of seed sales this may not be the way to go, though it could be a start and could be a way to get some of the varieties that you don't consider "prime" material out to the public, get your name floating around some more, and put a bit of research money in your pockett until you can come up with a more economically sensible way to distribute your seeds and clonal lines.

[clarkbar2311]

Alan and Tom,

If any of us can lend any help please don't hesitate to ask.

Jim