Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I just wanted to say hello and ask the question: Why be shy when the potential for finding some super finds may lie just feet away? I did start off being shy and afraid to ask permission, but after the first couple of 'Sure; go ahead.' I was hooked on trying. In the past thirteen years of TH'ing here in Virginia, I have been told no about six or seven times. What normally happens is I ask permission to search one yard and the neighbor comes out to ask what I am doing. Once they realize what I am doing/looking for they normally invite me to search their yard. I usually get invited back to search areas such as gardens and flower beds in the fall/winter when everything has died. I always tell the owners what I would like to do, after first introducing myself and my TH'ing buddies if they are with me. I take the time to show my finds at the end of the day. I also make sure to show the owner all the junk that I have recovered and explain that the broken glass and metal items that were found will be recycled. I do show all my finds and sometimes what you thing is just junk turns out to be a long lost item of sentimental value. I once found a 'junk' bracelet and when I showed it to the two sweethearts ladies that owned the property, I thought I had done something terrible as one of the ladies got all teary eyed. I asked Virginia if she was alright and then she explained that the bracelet had been a gift to her mother and that she had bought it at Niagara Falls, Canada in 1929. She was not even aware that it had been lost but was so happy when I handed it to her and said 'Here is your bracelet'. I also go a bit out of my way to pick up any trash that I find, bury leaves and small branches, but most importantly I fill my holes so that the grass might not die. Ruth and her sister Virginia have had me as well as two of my other TH'ing buddies go over their double size yard about a dozen times and every time we find Indian Head Cents, Wheats, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, and the back off an old pocket watch, but this was 14K White Gold! I was invited to search four of the surrounding yards. The small town dates back to the early 1800's and had a Civil War encampment in it.
Well I guess the bottom line is get over your shyness and knock on the door. Believe me when I say you need only to explain what your hobby is all about and how you would like to do on their property. I have a 'search agreement' form but to date I have only had to use it twice. Most people don't care as long as you do a good job of taking care of the property.
Keep us posted and show us what you have found on all those properties that you asked for a got approval to search. The finds are endless and you will make new friends to boot.
Best of luck, have fun and do right in all you do. :-)
Dave Mork
THing4CSA
'Digger-Dave'
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!
. Did alot of internet research on how to use this machine. I can't wait to get it all figured out. Topsoil is a nice brown dirt......instead of the red stuff that is all over the place in most areas. Gotta get a smaller digging tool, this full size shovel is for the birds.
