Pods For A Cause (milkweed)

[Allegheny Tom]

I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the response has been quite good. It's also the bad news.
My stash is almost gone...maybe one or 2 more orders left. I musta sent out 500 or more pods. You guys have been so generous. Thank you.
The other bad news is that our area here has been slammed with a bad drought this summer and some of my best milkweed patches are barely alive, let alone producing any quality pods. Not sure what I will do to keep this going. It might be slim pickings for a while. I'm sure I'll have my head on a swivel looking for them while I'm driving...I hope St Christopher watches out for me!

I still have a couple hundred dollars from the last few orders that needs sent to SOWF. I will update the total when I have the receipt from them.

Stay tuned...I'm gonna pick more when I can find some. I will keep this alive as long as you guys still want this to continue.
Thanks for all of the generosity. Rock on, stay safe, and good luck hunting!

 

[Blacksmith]

I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the response has been quite good. It's also the bad news.
My stash is almost gone...maybe one or 2 more orders left. I musta sent out 500 or more pods. You guys have been so generous. Thank you.
The other bad news is that our area here has been slammed with a bad drought this summer and some of my best milkweed patches are barely alive, let alone producing any quality pods. Not sure what I will do to keep this going. It might be slim pickings for a while. I'm sure I'll have my head on a swivel looking for them while I'm driving...I hope St Christopher watches out for me!

I still have a couple hundred dollars from the last few orders that needs sent to SOWF. I will update the total when I have the receipt from them.

Stay tuned...I'm gonna pick more when I can find some. I will keep this alive as long as you guys still want this to continue.
Thanks for all of the generosity. Rock on, stay safe, and good luck hunting!

I can pick lots of it here when dried. I can send you a box full to distribute if needed. Ours wont be dry for awhile yet. Thank You Sir for all you're doing.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I can pick lots of it here when dried. I can send you a box full to distribute if needed. Ours wont be dry for awhile yet. Thank You Sir for all you're doing.

Im out scouting for pods as I type this. I am finding some really nice ones in one patch, mediocre pods in some other patches, and a couple patches are flat out dead.
None are ready to pick yet...maybe a month or so.
I'm cautiously optimistic that I will find enough.
Thanks for the offer.
I will take you up on that if I need to.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Drum roll....
This has been going for just short of a year and the grand total donations is $2,005! I'll post the thank-you letter when I get it from SOWF.
God bless all the generous people that donated.
I'm currently out of pods but I've found some pretty nice ones that aren't quite ready to pick yet.
I'll let you guys know when I have dry pods to ship. No reason to stop this now. I guess I may need to pick a few more than I did last year.
Thank you to everyone.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Add another $20 to the total.
Guys are contributing just for the sake of doing something good...I had no pods to send them, they just want to help.
Class people on this site!
$2,030

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Here's the latest acknowledgement from SOWF.
I apologize for not getting the latest donations sent sooner...I have reasons, but I don't have excuses for not sending them the check a month ago.
Regardless, our total donations for just one year of pod collection is $2,030! In my wildest dreams, I never thought that the response would be this great.
I picked a few hundred more pods last week and they are drying as I type, so I'm preparing to continue this if you guys want to keep it going.
Thanks again for all your generosity!
I hope everyone has a great season.
Tom

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Okay...I have several hundred pods picked and drying. Some are ready to use and some still need a few more days.
We are back in the game.
PM me if you want to help a great charity.

 

[Bowmanmike]

Okay...I have several hundred pods picked and drying. Some are ready to use and some still need a few more days.
We are back in the game.
PM me if you want to help a great charity.

You got enough pods Tom? They are about ready here in NY and i can pick a bunch for you if you want. My supply is taken care of.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

You got enough pods Tom? They are about ready here in NY and i can pick a bunch for you if you want. My supply is taken care of.

I should have enough. Its hard to predict how many orders I will get.
I appreciate the offer to send me some but I am very particular about the pods I pick. Its surprising how many are not usable, even on the same plant. They can look identical on the outside but the floaters on the inside can be crap. If the floaters are brown or even off-white they are not suitable. I have no idea what causes the inferior floaters but I check every pod to make sure they are of the size and quality that I would use for my own hunt.
I would rather pick and send my own. If someone gets a bad pod then I know that I was the one who goofed up.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[Bowmanmike]

I should have enough. Its hard to predict how many orders I will get.
I appreciate the offer to send me some but I am very particular about the pods I pick. Its surprising how many are not usable, even on the same plant. They can look identical on the outside but the floaters on the inside can be crap. If the floaters are brown or even off-white they are not suitable. I have no idea what causes the inferior floaters but I check every pod to make sure they are of the size and quality that I would use for my own hunt.
I would rather pick and send my own. If someone gets a bad pod then I know that I was the one who goofed up.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

ok. I noticed that too and thought maybe it has to do with maturity of the pods? I see many plants that only have a few that are about to open and more that are still green.
It depends.on elevation and availability of sunlight i think.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

ok. I noticed that too and thought maybe it has to do with maturity of the pods? I see many plants that only have a few that are about to open and more that are still green.
It depends.on elevation and availability of sunlight i think.

I suspect a bad pod might be due to some sort of insect.
An immature pod will have off-white floaters that don't expand as well (almost like a partially opened parachute) so they wont drift as well but a mature pod will have pure white floaters that fully expand like a round, fluffy ball. There is a big difference in how well they float on ultra light wind.
The floaters that are brown are garbage.

 

[sojourner]

Kudos to [mention]Allegheny Tom [/mention]!

I have access to more milkweed than I need. I also wanted to give some to hunting buddies. And I wanted to support the families of our war fighters, those who choose our nation over self.

It was a no brainer donating to pods for a cause and getting some prime milkweed pods from Tom.

He sent prime milkweed pods rubber banded close, with clips to attach and some documentation on the worthy cause he is supporting. He also sent a shipping tracking number. Everything is more than expected.

Be part of the good karma that Tom is putting out there. Get some prime milkweed pods and know your funds are going to our counties finest.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I have the latest report. $200 more from you generous patriots. Thank you!

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Here's the latest. Thank you all and have a blessed Christmas!

 

[GCTerpfan]

I was listening to a recent Stickboys podcast with Barry Wensel and he mentioned you @Allegheny Tom and this fundraiser. He said he has always used some type of polyester (if I remember correctly) as his wind indicator but, was amazed at how much better milkweed worked. I think he was talking about it during the part of the episode where he was talking about people teaching him new tricks. In typical Barry fashion his other example was a detailed story about how he learned to not wear underwear.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I was listening to a recent Stickboys podcast with Barry Wensel and he mentioned you @Allegheny Tom and this fundraiser. He said he has always used some type of polyester (if I remember correctly) as his wind indicator but, was amazed at how much better milkweed worked. I think he was talking about it during the part of the episode where he was talking about people teaching him new tricks. In typical Barry fashion his other example was a detailed story about how he learned to not wear underwear.

Yes I heard that podcast. It made me feel good to hear someone of his stature basically say what I've said for years. There is no better wind indicator than a pristine milkweed floater. Barry asked me to send him some more.
One minor correction to his podcast...the charity is Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Barry mentioned it is Wounded Warrior. I chose SOWF because it had a better rating by Charity Navigator.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

It seems like the interest to continue doing this is starting to fade. When we 1st started doing it, I could barely keep up with the orders. Now it's weeks between sending out pods to guys.
I'm wondering if we should switch it up a little bit and do a different charity? Not that there's anything wrong with SOWF, but I'm wondering if we can reignite interest in Pods for a Cause if we try a different foundation? Opinions??
I recently learned about Travis Mills and his foundation. This guy is absolutely amazing and worthy of our support. I believe he's one of only 5 surviving soldiers that are now quadriplegic. He's also a motivational speaker, and he's pretty funny, too.
He's been on One America News and the guy is so inspirational and uplifting. He's built an amazing complex in central Maine where wounded soldiers and their families go to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities and emotional support.

So, I'm asking how you guys feel about switching to TRF, or would you all like to just continue donating to SOWF?
BTW, Charity Navigator rates TMF 100/100 so we know donations aren't getting eaten up by "administrative expenses".

And you don't need milkweed, or Saddlehunter, or me to donate to these great causes. Send them a few bucks on your own. Instead of buying that new piece of gear (most likely made in China) that you probably don't really need, donate to something really worthy of our surrport.

Check out the website and if you aren't fight back from bawling, then you are stronger than me!

Retreat for Recalibrated Veterans in Maine | Travis Mills Foundation

Travis Mills Foundation supports post-9/11 recalibrated veterans and their families through long-term programs to help these men and women overcome obstacles.

travismillsfoundation.org

 

[Islandshooter]

It seems like the interest to continue doing this is starting to fade. When we 1st started doing it, I could barely keep up with the orders. Now it's weeks between sending out pods to guys.
I'm wondering if we should switch it up a little bit and do a different charity? Not that there's anything wrong with SOWF, but I'm wondering if we can reignite interest in Pods for a Cause if we try a different foundation? Opinions??
I recently learned about Travis Mills and his foundation. This guy is absolutely amazing and worthy of our support. I believe he's one of only 5 surviving soldiers that are now quadriplegic. He's also a motivational speaker, and he's pretty funny, too.
He's been on One America News and the guy is so inspirational and uplifting. He's built an amazing complex in central Maine where wounded soldiers and their families go to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities and emotional support.

So, I'm asking how you guys feel about switching to TRF, or would you all like to just continue donating to SOWF?
BTW, Charity Navigator rates TMF 100/100 so we know donations aren't getting eaten up by "administrative expenses".

And you don't need milkweed, or Saddlehunter, or me to donate to these great causes. Send them a few bucks on your own. Instead of buying that new piece of gear (most likely made in China) that you probably don't really need, donate to something really worthy of our surrport.

Check out the website and if you aren't fight back from bawling, then you are stronger than me!

Retreat for Recalibrated Veterans in Maine | Travis Mills Foundation

Travis Mills Foundation supports post-9/11 recalibrated veterans and their families through long-term programs to help these men and women overcome obstacles.

travismillsfoundation.org

I’ll keep contributing to any cause you want, Tom!! I‘ve prolly got enuff milkweed for three or four seasons, but keep me on the list for more. Thanks for your efforts in supporting a good cause.

 

[GCTerpfan]

It seems like the interest to continue doing this is starting to fade. When we 1st started doing it, I could barely keep up with the orders. Now it's weeks between sending out pods to guys.
I'm wondering if we should switch it up a little bit and do a different charity? Not that there's anything wrong with SOWF, but I'm wondering if we can reignite interest in Pods for a Cause if we try a different foundation? Opinions??
I recently learned about Travis Mills and his foundation. This guy is absolutely amazing and worthy of our support. I believe he's one of only 5 surviving soldiers that are now quadriplegic. He's also a motivational speaker, and he's pretty funny, too.
He's been on One America News and the guy is so inspirational and uplifting. He's built an amazing complex in central Maine where wounded soldiers and their families go to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities and emotional support.

So, I'm asking how you guys feel about switching to TRF, or would you all like to just continue donating to SOWF?
BTW, Charity Navigator rates TMF 100/100 so we know donations aren't getting eaten up by "administrative expenses".

And you don't need milkweed, or Saddlehunter, or me to donate to these great causes. Send them a few bucks on your own. Instead of buying that new piece of gear (most likely made in China) that you probably don't really need, donate to something really worthy of our surrport.

Check out the website and if you aren't fight back from bawling, then you are stronger than me!

Retreat for Recalibrated Veterans in Maine | Travis Mills Foundation

Travis Mills Foundation supports post-9/11 recalibrated veterans and their families through long-term programs to help these men and women overcome obstacles.

travismillsfoundation.org

Yep, I'm good on milk weed but I'll send you some money again to donate to either foundation. I like the idea of a larger donation going in in the name of saddle hunters. I appreciate you taking the time to organize this every year Tom!

 

[sojourner]

[mention]Allegheny Tom [/mention] I am in for a couple orders of milkweed. I’ll be gifting them along with the pamphlets you provide on the cause that is being donated to.

I am good for myself, but it is nice to support such a good cause and your hard work and spread the milkweed and info. on the cause to my hunting buddies.