Recent issues with the site, did anyone else see this?

Well well. Good research Kate's OH. I have often wondered who now owned the site. Can't be good news that they have gone into liquidation though :(

To be honest Kate, I've been hearing this song for years - "we are on the threshold of obliteration." I know this site can be more than it is. It's got scarcely a presence in Canada or the US - maybe 4 members total. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise, but we are still here.

Hi Karen and Julia, yes it’s a real worry. Goodness knows what will happen next??

Hi Bathgate, seems to be based in Hampshire here, or it was. The owners I should say.
Hopefully, like you say..you’ve been hearing all this doom and gloom for years and it’s still operating. Fingers crossed x

My fingers will stay crossed too.

Mine too. I’m sorry if I have over-reacted to the loss of the photos. I am a bit of a worrier and I would miss this site.

Funny how some members have continuous issues, but I feel like you guys are just down the street, lol, not a glitch. Could the issues be zonal?

Not good news have others though what site they would switch to as an alternative,i know quite a few of us use alternatives I do for specialised plant groups.there are many and most seem to operate through facebook but do not store photos or blogs in the way Goy does,at least not the ones I have looked at,there are also a few odd balls best left alone.

I've been looking this up myself after reading this and 4Rounds ltd are due to be dissolved on 28th September 19 although they started "winding up" the company in June 18.
On reading through the papers for insolvency, a couple of times in Assets it said "sale of website" so we can only keep our fingers crossed.

Oh Wow! That all sounds depressing, I only belong to this one and don't 'do' Facebook, so it would be a tremendous loss.

Hi everyone ...
apparently Grows on You has been sold to a private company (I was not told the name) and is no longer owned by 4 Rounds, so all is well … No need to worry then :)
… although 'well' is not exactly what I would call it with the faults it has at the moment, but it is still going.

If the site was to just disappear do we all lose touch?

I suppose we do Denise, unless we see each other on a different site, or have someone's private email address. I don't suppose it will come to that though from what I have been told.

Hi all, fingers crossed if the company sold it is maybe just going through some transitional maintenance issues!
It would be very sad if we all lost touch...

These issues were raised on the 23 May 2019 in Garden Questions. Let' hope that it can be resolved. It will be sad if we loose Growsonyou as it has been a more than a useful and informative site for lots of us.

That is good news Hywel. Thanks.

I don't like the uncertainty of it all, not surprised in the slightest though, it has been on the cards for a very long while now, cannot really be surprised that we seem to be without a helmsman, the way I understood it many years back was that Dave had took it on as a favour to Peter and Ajay, sadly it wasn't the money spinner they hoped it would be which was a crying shame, however they were only youngsters and needed to prioritise, work and family had to come first, I completely understood when they had to let Goy take a back seat, I guess we can only hope that it continues somehow..

This site is so antiquated, I'm surprised it lasted this long - dead links, no videos, no live discussion or anything. No marketing game at all, no strategy to draw in members. Some old cows here are good at driving members off yet make little or no contribution at all. This is why the site is foundering. Nobody willing to invest the time & effort to bring this site up to date. It's slowly becoming more and more obsolete.

Well I can see some things haven't changed that much Paul, "old cows indeed" ...Yes its old but many of us love it and DO NOT want to lose it, there are still members on here who've been here from the beginning, we're spread far and wide and actually never met but have still become friends, we've weathered many a storm at times but stuck with it, I don't post as many blogs as I used to but after all this time my garden has not changed enough for me to write without repeating myself, if and when I have altered something I post about it, that doesn't stop me participating though.. We know its not a chatroom, its blogs, questions, photographs and that is what we like about it...
I told you a long time ago that I'd found some good gardening groups on FB, I still belong to the same groups and wouldn't want to lose those either, I'm greedy, I want the best of both...

I wasn't referencing you Linclass, no need to take offense. I've been here long enough to know who is genuine and who loves drama. Yes, several members have left this site due unfriendliness, backhanded remarks, spitefulness and the such like. I've been on the receiving end of it too. There's always room for new members and new ideas.

I joined facebook once, but I didn't like it. I joined some of the garden groups on it but didn't like them either. I don't look at it now.
I like GoY as it is. I don't want it turning into a chatroom. That's what facebook felt like and that was one reason I didn't like it.

I belong to another two garden websights and they are also rather old, like GoY, but they feel slow and leisurely and it is relaxing to look at them. That's why I like them. They have friendly members too.

I wonder who the old cows are ?? I remember some in the past (male ones and female ones) but they don't seem to contribute any more. There are plenty more old cows on facebook.

Paul I can assure you I did not think you were referring to me but it was uncalled for, you surely must be able to see that, I will be VERY disappointed in you if you can't, there will always be people who leave whether its because they've had a falling out with someone or just plain bored with it, or some other personal reason, it still does not give you the right to try and stir things up by making such a comment, I've known you a very long time Paul...Of course there is room for new members and new ideas, nobody is denying that and hopefully if someone takes us on board that could happen but at the moment we work with what we have and be grateful, still very frustrating for members when its going wrong though..

I'm not trying to stir things up. I'm speaking from my own personal experience and feedback I've gotten from others who are no longer here. I know people come and go, but that's not what I'm talking about. I don't want to call anybody out specifically. They know who they are. I'm just saying we all must be mindful of promoting a positive and welcoming atmosphere especially towards new members.

I still say it was uncalled for Paul and might I suggest a little thought before writing your own comments then, any new member reading yours would probably think twice before staying around anyway, you say be" mindful, promote a positive, welcoming atmosphere" and then slate the site uphill and down dale, you can't have it both ways so which is it going to be, I'm not being awkward Paul just like you I'm saying it how it is..

OK let's just leave it there.

Paul, it made me feel very uneasy reading your sudden harsh response to what has happened on here and it definitely was a bit of a shock.

Bathgate I understand what you say, this is the only site I belong to and yes when I first joined 9-10 years ago I was naive and manipulated by others (who mostly have since left) by my not understanding group dynamics and how it works and I suspect many of us do this when we first join such sites.
The way I got around this was to stop reading my personal messages and only use the public part and things improved for me 100% although in certain areas I feel I am still in 'Coventry' but I prefer not to follow their lead and keep to the areas I know and feel safe in.
I do think this site is old fashioned but that is it charm it is just about gardening and not gossip. Sadly if it does come to an end I will accept that a gardening site is over for me and not try another one. So lets hope this great site can continue with the same values even if it is updated.

Some of us have had our ups and downs on here, that is very true. But its been a lovely site and such a great gardening tool. When I joined in 2010 I was a very keen gardener and I found the site by asking a question. And was so chuffed to find that my Mum was already a member so it opened up more opportunities for us to share our hobby-in-common. Sadly, now she has left. But I still enjoy Goy and agree with those who have said it is generally leisurely and friendly and gentle. I have no doubt upset more people than I am aware of on here from time to time, but people are generally forgiving and will give the benefit of the doubt if I might write something that comes across as a bit brusque or harsh. We all make mistakes. But what I am trying to say...as I waffle on...is that GoY has made me SO much a better gardener. I have been inspired, encouraged, and corrected by so many friends on here and that has been really wonderful. I have to say, I don't really enjoy the FB groups in the same way. There are too many people on there and so much to trawl through, and not the same level of interaction as we have on here. I hope that someone will take on the site - I'd do it myself if I had the tecchie know-how - and run it as it could be run, bringing in new members across the globe, offering sound advice to questions, and a good place to share our love of gardening. :) And can I just add....I am so grateful for Terratoonie who has helped out running the admin side of things for years through thick and thin, when her own circumstances were really tough. Brava Terra!

Well said Denise and Karen, I don't really know what I'd do without my goy, we have weathered many a storm over the years but we're still here faithful to the end, I know I've upset people, usually by sticking up for someone else or just by trying to calm things down, luckily I have never been one to give up or throw toys out of the pram, lol..I too have learnt so much since joining and still do, made many new friends over the years, even though we've never met, yes Paul I still consider you one, lol.
I use three on FB, one is massive but very closely monitored, that makes all the difference to me, the others are small, therefore quite easy to keep up with, really friendly people always willing to advise, have a laugh or lend an ear when needed, I've even met up with one of them this summer, it was just like meeting an old friend, however its not blog writing, I've never yet found one like our goy..I'm hoping with all my heart that we do get to keep it..
Denise and Terra have helped make this site what it is and both of them have really suffered in the past, some of it very abusive, I commend them and also add my thanks to you Karen for mentioning them, not forgetting Bamboo, Tug, Seaburn, all the ones on the questions pages, been there as long as I've have, willing to help with any query, whether a member or visitor, are too many to name but think we all know who I mean....

How about a GoY coffee mug featuring the Monarch Butterfly since it's now an endangered species (I'll take 6), a sweatshirt?, tea towels?, a GoY calendar for 2020?, something we can show the world?, a virtual tour of Karen's garden?, a recipe corner for my chili stuffed peppers topped with melty sharp cheddar?, Dotty's banana bread?, my mint lemonade?, an art gallery for Janey's & Marjorie's art collection?, help section: how to prune an apple tree for maximum yield?, homemade insecticides, how to use epsom salt in the garden, how to set up a water butt, composting do's and don'ts, what is vermiculture?, how to over winter dahlias, how to transplant an acer tree, who's not well or who passed and how do I reach out?. This is how this site can be a 'rainmaker'. Instead of 'no, no, no and no, no, no, let's try a yes, yes.

Why are my friends leaving very quietly? Paulspatch, Klahanie, Janesplant, havent' seen Siris or Waddy in quite a while. Am I making this up? Take a look at other sites to see what's going on? Facebook? This is what I'm talkin' about!? Why did my photos disappear - - again?

Of course we are still friends and I don't mean to step on toes and I know I'm about the least popular person here right now, but give me a chance to vent a little. I'm trying to help this site. We need new ideas.

Ach Bathgate! We all love you! And how kind of you to mention my garden. Thank you! I’m sorry I didn’t mention Denise...I didn’t know she was in the admin team...sorry Denise! :)

LOL thanks Karen. Virtual tour is the next best thing. Something like this, but the garden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRaCYyH27a0

I have made two 'rehearsal' videos of the garden...maybe one day I'll get enough fine weather to film it properly!

Its all over now Paul and my toes are okay you missed them, not sure about anyone else, just don't get in a tizz like that again laddie, lol.
I don't know why Klahanie left, as with many others, I have lost touch with a lot over the years, Paulspatch left because he felt that his blogs weren't getting as many comments as they used to, we are friends on FB, he is very busy with his comedy entertainment act, his granddaughter who is a little beauty and growing up fast and his garden, Waddy will turn up again, she always does, yes she is on FB, in the same group as I am, we chat a lot, so is Siris, Dawn, Karen and many more, I told you why I joined the other groups, I couldn't access my goy for months, for all we know it could be the same for many people... You can vent Paul, we all do at times, I did at you last night, just be a bit more careful how you word things please, now that's me trying to help you, lol.......Incidentally what have you actually got against FB, without it, if this site did fold I will have lost touch with nearly everybody....

I've never been to the FB site and don't like what I'm hearing about it from various sources. Maybe that will change. Frankly I'd like to see more people from US.

That is the answer I was expecting Paul, I used to be scared because of what I heard from other people, then I actually tried it, to be in touch with my family at first, saved a fortune on writing materials and postage stamps, lol. I have family in Yorkshire, I can see my nieces children growing up every week, follow their lives and activities in a way I never did with their mum's, was lucky if I saw them more than twice a year as my brother was in the forces, its not all bad Paul, you just have to be careful, that's the same as anything online....

Thanks Linclass, well said.

Can I just make it clear I am just a volunteer on the site I edit pics and blogs for Goypeadia (time permitting) and that is all I do.

Hiya Denise, don't fret, its a compliment, wasn't implying you were admin or anything, just putting forward that you deserve a thankyou as well, which you do....

Yes, indeed. Thank you Denise! :)

Thanks for that Lincslass and Cottagekaren.

I always appreciated you Denise especially with all those photos I send you for Gopedia. You are very diligent. Thank you 😊

Thanks Bathgate

You're welcome Denise and I love that you get the job done without tooting your horn and oh so much drama. It shows class. I wish others would take notice.

Just to say I was contacted through the the site by Peter one of the cofounders along with Ajay only last week, so obviously he is still involved here.

Janey that is good to hear, thanks for passing that on....

Lincs, I think the easiest thing to set minds at rest is to contact him and ask about the site. I've been a member since 2008, and admit I do come and go like lots of members because of personal commitments...

I do like the fact that GoY seems to have stayed true to its original format, a type of therapy away from all the stress of today's high faluting technology...so I'm not a fan of a massive expansion plan. There are plenty of sites aren't there if you want something huge and fast paced. I personally want to garden and not spend a lot of time on the Internet....

Have just come across this blog.....it would be a great pity if GOY folded I have been on here since 2009 and made several friends along the way..........and yes it is a tad old fashioned.......
and could do with updating...
One it would be nice to be able to show videos of our gardens, and two the size of photos is very limiting and extremely frustrating at times, other than that it is a very special site.......and although I use FB and Instagram...FB drives me mad at times........but I love Instagram.....
I know a lot of people have left over the years......but that’s nothing unusual.........some drop in from time to time, but, none of us are getting any younger are we? so it is inevitable ........
Paul thanks for mentioning my banana bread.......I made Janeys fruit loaf yesterday.......was catching up on some old blogs......how many sites keep old blogs these days...
Of course this site wouldn’t be able to stay afloat if it wasn’t for the advertisements.......so we do need them!
Well if anyone has any more up to date information please keep us posted....

How ironic, I just made the banana bread today. The whole family is enjoying it after dinner with a little butter and of course coffee. What a treat! thanks Dotty.

Ironic indeed Paul.....glad you enjoyed it...one of our favourites.....