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Where is 'the list' at? It isn't on this thread that I can see, and I can't see any reference links on any of the posts.
Is there a setup fee, and is the setup on grass, pavement, gravel? It's been awhile since I've been to that Gower's, so the parking setup is a bit fuzzy to me.
I'm thinking about coming and setting up again with my heritage rabbits, but I'm worried about the heat/humidity. I've had to bow out of several of the
TSC swaps at the last minute because I was concerned over the heat and the humidity, especially on asphalt. Chickens deal with it better than my big meat rabbits, so I don't like to move them around when it's oppressive. I didn't sell many at Erin's swap, but I was able to talk to a lot of folks about them and since breed conservancy is my thing, I still considered it worthwhile to attend, and am going to try to support these swaps as I can. I was able to talk to folks about raising endangered rabbits, poultry, hogs, honey bees, cattle, and had a good time. It was hot, but it wasn't quite so humid. I did sell one to a little girl who was excited about having something unique to put on the 4H show table, so that was the highlight of my day. If anyone else has 4H kids, I'd suspect that she would welcome a little competition sooner or later.
In addition to rabbits (6 litters of AMs in blue,white and black, and a couple of litters of SF), I also have juvenile Muscovy, but someone contacted me Tuesday and is supposed to pick up all 10 today. If she's a no show, then I could bring them. Have a hen setting another clutch now, so might have ducklings within a few weeks if anyone has interest.
I also have a couple of adult roos, a Welsummer and a black Maran, from my bullpen that I could let go if someone has a need.
I haven't really worked with them much so I'm unsure of the temperament, especially on the Wel. He has beautiful color, but he seems to eyeball me a lot when I walk by so the jury is still out on his disposition. Fair warning, I'm much more experienced with rabbit breeding standards, and have only begun to scratch the surface of selectively breeding my chickens, so you have to rely on your own judgement as to quality and faults. I can send pics if requested.
Heck, I also have fully pedigreed Dexter bulls, ranging in age from a few months to 2 1/2 years for sale, both black and dun. They're small and I might be able to stuff them in my trunk for you... If not interested in keeping them as breeders or lawn ornaments, but have a hankering for the best designer beef you'll ever taste, we can talk about that too. Or heritage pork... or pastured poultry...or the kitchen sink
Even if it's too hot to come and officially set up, I'm still going to come and pick up a couple of roos, so I guess I could drop off if anyone wants Americans or Silver Fox or anything else.
Email me privately if you have interest in anything. This swap happened a little sooner than I expected, so I wasn't able to time a hatch, but I can hatch just about any of the poultry in my sig line in small or large quantity(288 egg incubator), or can provide hatching eggs if you'd like to do it yourself.
One final thing to wrap up... I'm not fire and brimstone about it or anything, but would like to be devil's advocate and provide counter view of the "no pre-sales" policy. In addition to the fact that a lot of the deals made are among folks on here who do it ahead of time and pre-opening is the only time when vendors can "shop" amongst themselves a bit, what the policy of no sales before official opening essentially boils down to is saying that you need to turn away an actual paying customer on the premise (and hope) that someone will show up later and buy the very same item. That seems kind of a stretch. I've worked arts and crafts shows for many years, and I've never been to one that would tell you to do that. On the other hand, something I've noticed with these swaps that seems to occur which would never be allowed to happen at other types of shows (and which burns me as a customer) is when vendors actually close up and leave before the official closing time. It's one thing to sell out and close your flaps, but another to just try to get a jump start on heading out. As an example, I've attended the Harper's Ferry festival, which is a fairly big deal, for over 20 years, and closing down early is the fastest way to get dis-invited to the next one. Again, not angry like others who complained, so won't stomp around either way. It's your show and you get to make the rules, but thought you'd might like a differing view. I don't blame anyone if I go to a show, or a yard sale, or an auction, and have missed out on something because someone else got it first. Good for them. Unless it's a 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card, there will always be another.
Sorry for the novel,
tom
