Knocking on doors

[Shogun610]

Just asking advice best ways to present myself to land owners. There are 3 locations on private property I’ve scoped out for air layering/ collection in spring 22 They are all on farm cow pastures or in old unkept orchards.
Anyone have experience with knocking kn doors and asking / describing your intentions?

 

[Pitoon]

Ask politely and offer something in return.

 

[Carol 83]

I work for an agricultural co-op, so I see farmers every day. They will probably think you're crazy, but will tell you to knock yourself out. Now, if you didn't ask and they saw you on their land, different story.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Be humble, introduce self and present honest interest to property owner.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Write a note telling about yourself and your plans, and let them call or email you back if they're interested.

 

[sorce]

Just asking advice best ways to present myself to land owners

There's always work to be done on a farm!

Sorce

 

[hinmo24t]

Write a note telling about yourself and your plans, and let them call or email you back if they're interested.

Gonna think jehova but not a bad idea

I feel like trying to make a phone call. Big hoopla out my way recently 3 young men selling door to door solar assessment at 8pm. Walked up and pressed sale to lady alone w her kids and stuff.

Have to be careful these days. Flagging an owner down if they're visible could be way to go. Lotta people edgy about security these days after the behavior we saw all summer long every night last year. Sadly people lost trust. Look at sales of firearms and the value of homes/priv property

Good luck and admirable idea too

 

[Rivian]

Its probably a strange idea for normal people so with a letter you can mentally ease them into it

 

[ponderingsage]

Yes, a letter has worked well for me in the past. People are pleased to open something that isn't a bill. Plus, it doesn't put them on the spot.

 

[rockm]

I would go in person. A letter out of the blue might work, but if I got something like that in the mail, I'd be creeped out...I agree with Hinmo, probably the best way to approach them is to look for them when they're outside. This is how I sometimes used to ask permission to hunt deer on someone else's property. Along those lines, do you know someone who knows the landowners? That can be a great way to get in touch with them, since you have someone known to both of you involved. This is going to take some time. Be patient. Be prepared for when you make contactwith the landowner. Bring Photos of your bonsai along with a coherent explanation of why you want to dig up trees on their property. You're going to have to explain bonsai to them a bit. The mention of "bonsai" on their property CAN lead to assumptions by some landowners that they are somehow sitting on some kind of gold mine with valuable bonsai trees. Some landowners will be cool about it, others not. Be prepared for rejection and quizzical looks. You might offer some cash in exchange for the trees--like $25 or something, if you get resistance. Above all be humble and polite. Assure them you will not harm anything on their property--this include FILLING IN HOLES completely. Holes in a used pasture can break cows' legs. Close gates behind you.

and FWIW, at first skip asking to air layer stuff on someone else's property. You're going to have to regularly go on their land to take care of those, which can be a big obstacle. People aren't really going to understand WTF air layering is. That might be down the road with landowners who let you collect trees...Pick your battles...

 

[Shogun610]

I would go in person. A letter out of the blue might work, but if I got something like that in the mail, I'd be creeped out...I agree with Hinmo, probably the best way to approach them is to look for them when they're outside. This is how I sometimes used to ask permission to hunt deer on someone else's property. Along those lines, do you know someone who knows the landowners? That can be a great way to get in touch with them, since you have someone known to both of you involved. This is going to take some time. Be patient. Be prepared for when you make contactwith the landowner. Bring Photos of your bonsai along with a coherent explanation of why you want to dig up trees on their property. You're going to have to explain bonsai to them a bit. The mention of "bonsai" on their property CAN lead to assumptions by some landowners that they are somehow sitting on some kind of gold mine with valuable bonsai trees. Some landowners will be cool about it, others not. Be prepared for rejection and quizzical looks. You might offer some cash in exchange for the trees--like $25 or something, if you get resistance. Above all be humble and polite. Assure them you will not harm anything on their property--this include FILLING IN HOLES completely. Holes in a used pasture can break cows' legs. Close gates behind you.

and FWIW, at first skip asking to air layer stuff on someone else's property. You're going to have to regularly go on their land to take care of those, which can be a big obstacle. People aren't really going to understand WTF air layering is. That might be down the road with landowners who let you collect trees...Pick your battles...

The air layer possibilities aren’t too far from me , but I hear you… I’ll just have to try and articulate my wording…. They are awesome crab apples , I’m talking the most gnarled trunks I’ve ever seen with small orange apples… the cow pasture might be my first though, I always see the man on his tractor.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I tell people I'm a collector of conifers through a letter, and that I'm offering a small amount of money if they allow me to dig it up. In my country, nobody usually shows up unannounced. We call even when visiting someone a block down the street. If you ring someone's door while they aren't expecting you, they assume you're either kicked out of the house or running from something. EDIT: Or selling solar panels/gas/cable/internet/fiber/insurance/religion.

I use letters or emails if I can find out who the owner is. Something along the lines of "Hi, my name is XXXXX I'm a big fan and collector of conifers and I want to expand my collection with something I've seen growing on your property from the side of the road. I can get this at a garden center for cheap, but I'd rather pay a person in person for an adult specimen. Of course I will offer you something in return; money or a replacement of a similar type or something else if you'd like. Feel free to contact me at: phone number and email. Please note that to have these plants survive, the best window for digging is spring, but I'm willing to try other times.".

I once made up a story about recreating the rock cliffs of the French alps in my backyard to dig some sabina junipers, but unfortunately the lady didn't want to get rid of hers.

 

[penumbra]

I tell people I'm a collector of conifers through a letter, and that I'm offering a small amount of money if they allow me to dig it up. In my country, nobody usually shows up unannounced. We call even when visiting someone a block down the street. If you ring someone's door while they aren't expecting you, they assume you're either kicked out of the house or running from something. EDIT: Or selling solar panels/gas/cable/internet/fiber/insurance/religion.

I use letters or emails if I can find out who the owner is. Something along the lines of "Hi, my name is XXXXX I'm a big fan and collector of conifers and I want to expand my collection with something I've seen growing on your property from the side of the road. I can get this at a garden center for cheap, but I'd rather pay a person in person for an adult specimen. Of course I will offer you something in return; money or a replacement of a similar type or something else if you'd like. Feel free to contact me at: phone number and email. Please note that to have these plants survive, the best window for digging is spring, but I'm willing to try other times.".

I once made up a story about recreating the rock cliffs of the French alps in my backyard to dig some sabina junipers, but unfortunately the lady didn't want to get rid of hers.

A reminder that it varies significantly by area and probably by culture as well.
Now about those solar panels, do they come in purple?
And for those who haven't figured it out, don't literally give your name as XXXXX. It could cause misunderstanding.

 

[rockm]

The air layer possibilities aren’t too far from me , but I hear you… I’ll just have to try and articulate my wording…. They are awesome crab apples , I’m talking the most gnarled trunks I’ve ever seen with small orange apples… the cow pasture might be my first though, I always see the man on his tractor.

I would not get ahead of myself. I would stick to the tree collection first and see where things go with the landowner. Pushing for air layering, collecting trees, asking to repeatedly come on his property to care for the air layers (and no, they're not "set and forget"--you have to insure they don't dry out and weather doesn't remove coverings etc.) is a bit much all at once. Good collectors build relationships with landowners. It's not a one-time thing. You will likely find stuff when collecting that you didn't see initially. You can COME BACK FOR STUFF if you develop a relationship with the owner...Acting like a kid in a candy store and trying to get everything all at once will lead down a bad path for you and the owner of the resource you're asking to use. I've been on both ends of this. As a landowner, I want to know who is rummaging around my property, for what and why. I don't want someone asking for all kinds of things all at once--at some point it begins to sound suspiciously like some kind of hustle...Slow is better...

 

[HorseloverFat]

Be humble, introduce self and present honest interest to property owner.

This has always been the best way, for me.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Also.. be careful of “flagging down owners”.... There’s LOTS of signs around here, boasting Wisconsin’s “Trespassers can be shot” laws..

 

[Lutonian]

I would go in person dress smart not in suit (they will think your Mormons or the cops or selling stuff) be polite take no as no and leave your contact details. I have also send my partner she is a woman and this can help as some people don't like 6'. 3" male weirdo's at there door asking odd questions, sometimes a feminine approach will work better on both men and women. Also a little bribe can help money booze yard work ect (don't offer weird things like massages though lol)

 

[Shogun610]

I would not get ahead of myself. I would stick to the tree collection first and see where things go with the landowner. Pushing for air layering, collecting trees, asking to repeatedly come on his property to care for the air layers (and no, they're not "set and forget"--you have to insure they don't dry out and weather doesn't remove coverings etc.) is a bit much all at once. Good collectors build relationships with landowners. It's not a one-time thing. You will likely find stuff when collecting that you didn't see initially. You can COME BACK FOR STUFF if you develop a relationship with the owner...Acting like a kid in a candy store and trying to get everything all at once will lead down a bad path for you and the owner of the resource you're asking to use. I've been on both ends of this. As a landowner, I want to know who is rummaging around my property, for what and why. I don't want someone asking for all kinds of things all at once--at some point it begins to sound suspiciously like some kind of hustle...Slow is better...

The air layered potential trees aren’t on the same farmers property but yes I agree. The collection is a good first step, you’re right there probably would be more, as the cow pastures go all the way down to stream beds with old oaks, willows and crabs, and who knows what else.

 

[Shogun610]

I would go in person dress smart not in suit (they will think your Mormons or the cops or selling stuff) be polite take no as no and leave your contact details. I have also send my partner she is a woman and this can help as some people don't like 6'. 3" male weirdo's at there door asking odd questions, sometimes a feminine approach will work better on both men and women. Also a little bribe can help money booze yard work ect (don't offer weird things like massages though lol)

Lol I’d most likely go and as on my way home from work. I’m 6 2” so I hear you but I’m from the area I don’t have any issue with talking to farm owners as I work with them in my career.

 

[rockm]

Also.. be careful of “flagging down owners”.... There’s LOTS of signs around here, boasting Wisconsin’s “Trespassers can be shot” laws..

Try doing this in Texas...There ain't no signs, just a rural unspoken understanding trespassers are fair game.