What a PGVG Membership Offers and How to Join

Updated

A Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers (PGVG) membership is for gardeners who want to stay informed about the club's events and take part in its community. According to the organization, members receive updates on all upcoming events, including weigh-offs and seed sales. To join, go to the membership page at https://www.pgvg.org/membership. The site does not publish membership pricing or a step-by-step signup process, so the page itself is the place to confirm current terms.

What the Membership Gets You

The clearest benefit stated on the PGVG site is communication: members get updates on upcoming events, weigh-offs, and seed sales. That matters because the club's calendar includes deadlines as well as event dates, and seed sales are tied to the growing cycle.

Beyond updates, membership connects you to a community with a specific shared interest. PGVG describes itself as an association of gardeners focused on the competitive hobby of growing very large vegetables. Atlantic Giant pumpkins and squash are the usual headliners, but the club recognizes all fruits and vegetables on the international competition list defined by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC).

The organization also states its intentions toward members: it strives to treat all members equally and fairly and to keep improving for their benefit. It frames the hobby as something families can enjoy together, and says it wants gardening and giant-vegetable growing to be fulfilling, rewarding, and fun.

Who It Suits

Membership fits two broad groups:

  • Curious beginners. The site explicitly welcomes people who are "just interested in learning more about the hobby," not only experienced growers.
  • Competitive growers. If you plan to enter weigh-offs, event and deadline updates are the practical reason to join.

If you are mainly looking for a one-time visit, you do not need a membership to attend — PGVG says it would love to see seasoned growers and newcomers at its events. Membership is the way to get ongoing updates rather than a requirement for showing up.

How to Join

  1. Go to https://www.pgvg.org/membership.
  2. Review the membership options and any instructions shown there.
  3. Complete the signup as directed on that page.

The public site does not list dues, payment methods, or a signup form flow, so treat the membership page as the authoritative source for cost and process. If the page does not answer a question, the site lists contact roles you can look for, including a Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership-adjacent positions such as the Seed Committee chairs.

What Else the Club Does

Knowing the event lineup helps you judge whether membership is worth it. PGVG hosts annual weigh-offs and other community events, including the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Its site also promotes sponsorship packages aimed at local businesses, citing 25k+ potential local customers at its events — a signal of the scale of the gatherings.

The club is run by named volunteers, including a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Weigh Off Coordinator, Social Media Manager, Fundraising Committee Chair, Seed Committee Chairs, Outreach Chair, Webmaster, and Members At Large. That structure is useful if you want to volunteer or direct a question to the right person.

Practical Notes Before You Sign Up

  • Check the events calendar first. The site has an events calendar and a separate list of upcoming events and deadlines. Confirm that meetings and weigh-offs are within reach before paying dues.
  • Ask about seed sales timing. Seed sales are one of the stated member updates; if you want specific varieties, ask when they open.
  • Confirm what your dues cover. The site does not itemize benefits beyond updates, so ask directly whether membership includes event entry, seed access, or other perks.

For anyone weighing it up: join if you want a season-long connection to competitive giant-vegetable growing in the Pacific region and want event and seed-sale news as it happens. Skip it if you only want to attend a single public event — the club welcomes visitors regardless.