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Pods For A Cause (milkweed)

I received my pods yesterday. I just wanted to throw a big thanks out to Tom. What a class act! The pods came with everything needed to hunt. Those of us who are new to the use of Milkweed will be very well equipped as Tom provides documentation on everything you need to know about its care and use. Along with the pods comes a pamphlet on the SOWF and the support it supplies to families of the fallen and wounded.

Thanks Tom for your time and energy!
 
mattfish said:
I received my pods yesterday. I just wanted to throw a big thanks out to Tom. What a class act! The pods came with everything needed to hunt. Those of us who are new to the use of Milkweed will be very well equipped as Tom provides documentation on everything you need to know about its care and use. Along with the pods comes a pamphlet on the SOWF and the support it supplies to families of the fallen and wounded.

Thanks Tom for your time and energy!
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Thanks and it's my pleasure.
 
Thanks again for helping all these guys out!!


Don’t forget, guys... these are beneficial native plants that would benefit your area. Drop the seeds somewhere you can keep an eye on next year and grow some of your own!
 
Allegheny Tom said:
Another update for you guys waiting for my pods and a tip for milkweed rookies that want to pick their own.
The good news is we have lots of local milkweed that's doing great this year.
The not as good news is I think Ive learned that you cannot "speed dry" the stuff. I've never had to hurry this process. I've always just picked when it starts to dry on the plant but since I'm shipping this to some guys, I wanted to get it processed and mailed asap.

It seems that, in order to produce a quality floater, the pods need to remain on the plant until they start to dry. I guess Mother Nature has designed these to float effectively and if you pick too soon, then the floaters aren't really ready to float.



The pod on the left is from last year's picking which was harvested when the pods were on the verge of naturally starting to split on the plant.
Notice how every fiber separates and makes a nice, fluffy floater. They will drift on the air currents great.

The pod on the right is from a picking last week. The pods looked mature on the plant but they were still green and very moist. I put them in the food dehydrator for 36 hours and they dried out completely. However, there must be some sort of sap that remains on each floater and the little fibers will not separate completely and they won't easily unstick from each other. The floaters from artificially dried pods will not drift well...they drop almost straight to the ground unless there is a substantial breeze. The true value of milkweed is that it shows the slightest air current...the kind of air movement that we can't even feel, the kind that allows deer to bust us. But a crappy floater won't show ultra light air movement.

So, for you guys waiting for my pods, just hang on...I will pick and ship when the time is right. If you can't wait, let me know and I will remove you from the list. I won't pick and send pods until I know they will produce quality floaters.

For you guys that are picking your own, have patience. Don't pick them until they are on the verge of naturally splitting on the plant.
I gotta admit, a crap-quality milkweed floater is not very impressive. A quality floater is worlds-apart. Wait until the pods are ready until you pick. It's the way Mother Nature designed them.
6867bfe087f1fe2318847df1d698b038.jpg


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I have used milkweed for over a decade . in northern Minnesota sometimes the milkweed doesn't dry out and wont open until spring ( its strange) but I've almost always picked them up here green , i think they just need time to slowly dry and air out. Ive never tried to rush the process. I just tape them with a couple bands of clear scotch tape and place the pods on a paper plate in a high spot in the house and then once dry ill cut the scotch tape off while holding it closed and then tape the pod with friction / hockey stick tape and once done ill cut just enough off the tip to be able to pull one or two wind floaters out at a time without the brown seed attached. Then just attach the pods to my lower bow riser using a rubberband or some string. The fibers are always seperated like In your pic on the left.
 

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Slickiron said:
I have used milkweed for over a decade . in northern Minnesota sometimes the milkweed doesn't dry out and wont open until spring ( its strange) but I've almost always picked them up here green , i think they just need time to slowly dry and air out. Ive never tried to rush the process. I just tape them with a couple bands of clear scotch tape and place the pods on a paper plate in a high spot in the house and then once dry ill cut the scotch tape off while holding it closed and then tape the pod with friction / hockey stick tape and once done ill cut just enough off the tip to be able to pull one or two wind floaters out at a time without the brown seed attached. Then just attach the pods to my lower bow riser using a rubberband or some string. The fibers are always seperated like In your pic on the left.
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I've always left the pods dry for months. too. I normally pick next years pods this year and just let them take their time drying out.
This is the 1st year that I'm sending pods to other guys and I did not have a stockpile of dry pods to cover all the orders, so I needed them to dry as fast as I could get them dry, but, at the same time, I didn't want to pick too early. I had a small time frame to pick, dry, and ship.
I am picking next year's supply now. I will have lots of the stuff "on demand" for guys that want them when they want them.
At this point, there will not be a 6 week wait time like some of the other gear suppliers...LOL.
 
Just want to give a shout out to Tom. Package arrived today and everything is very well put together. Instructions for noobs and everything.
I really appreciate it and what you are doing - I think many others will as well.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
Wasn't trying to cut you out @Anobody.
I'm happy to go out and harvest some pods and I thought it might be an opportunity for SOWF to benefit from my efforts. Donations are not required...I will still send them and ask only for shipping costs, but if someone wants to kick in an extra few dollars, it'll be a bonus for everyone.
God bless our troops.
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I'm would like to get some. can you message me please.
 
Received the poss today. Great job Tom!! Above and beyond. You should have my donation already, if not let me know.


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Thanks guys. You guys are really stepping up. We have received some generous contributions. I say "we" because these donations are on behalf of all of us on this forum. When someone sends me XX dollars, he is sending it to all of us.
BTW, not a big deal, but shipping is costing me roughly $5 per package. ~$3.75ish is the postage, but it doesn't cover what it costs me to put together a package. I've gotten a few donations with odd change in the amount. I'm assuming those folks are paying only the postage cost. Like I said...not a big deal, but just thought I would mention it.
Thanks again. I will try to post the running total sometime tonight or tomorrow.
 
One of this odd amounts was me! Told the wife send donation plus what’s on the envelope. Lol.


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b73 said:
One of this odd amounts was me! Told the wife send donation plus what’s on the envelope. Lol.


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Hey bud...I will not call anyone out by name here for tiny, tiny discrepancy.
However, if someone stiffs US, I may mention it. LOL

I know how threads go... They often get long with many posts and guys new to the thread may not read every post, so I will remind a few things because I keep getting questions about things that have already been answered (either in the thread or by PM)...
I've been putting 7 pods, 2 clips, adequate number of zip ties, SOWF pamphlet to better explain who we are donating to, a SOWF decal, and a
write-up thanking you and offering advice for how I feel milkweed should be used, stored, etc.

Postage has averaged $3.75ish plus .35 per bubble envelope, a few more cents per clips and zips. I figure $5 for shipping cost is more than fair. Send $5 for shipping and add the donation of your choice to my PayPal (which I PM my info to you when you give me your FULL SHIPPING info via PM) Friends and family, please...saves having to pay a fee, so more will go to SOWF.
Please put "SOWF Donation" in the note.

I want donations to go thru me, so that we can contribute a larger sum, rather than guys donating directly to SOWF individually. Plus, sometimes we have well intentions on sending a contribution, but the days turn into weeks turn into months and the good intentions are forgotten and never gets done.
Donations will be made on behalf of "Saddlehunters" and I will post the receipt from SOWF.

And please, please, pay attention to your PMs. I've gotten requests for pods, along with either partial, or incorrect shipping info, and when I ask for corrected info, the guy goes ghost on me. I don't know if they still want the pods or not.
I need your FULL SHIPPING INFO... Full name and correct address. And please make sure you type the info correctly. It's easy to mistype a number.
I wasn't very popular at the post office the other day. Long line behind me while the postal worker processed over 20 packages and some of the addresses were not valid, so it took more time and effort to figure out where the mistake was. I walked out with a few packages that could not be sent because of incorrect info. And one guy still hasn't replied to correct it. If you change your mind, please let me know!

I'm glad to do this. Guys would like milkweed so it helps them. The generous donations helps the fallen heroes' families. It's a win-win.
I'd like to continue doing this for as long as you guys want to keep this going.
Just one request...please help me and provide accurate info, prompt response, and a donation of your choosing.

A special thanks to the guys that have donated without requesting pods. They just wanted to help the cause. Stand-up guys, right there!

Thanks for reading this.
 
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