For all important announcements and news regarding GardenStew.com, new features, competitions etc... Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:14:16 +0000 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:14:16 +0000 GardenStew https://www.gardenstew.com/forums/site-news.17/ Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:00:50 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/bookmark-posts.45487/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/bookmark-posts.45487/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
Another new feature on GardenStew - bookmark posts

Here's how to do it:

1. Find a post you'd like to bookmark and click the Bookmark link below it to bookmark it. You will be asked if you want to leave a note alongside your bookmark (optional).
View attachment 39919


2. Click the Bookmark List link in your menu or alternatively click...

Bookmark posts]]> 4 Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:11:50 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/thank-you-frank-for-the-new-like-button.45482/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/thank-you-frank-for-the-new-like-button.45482/ invalid@example.com (Anniekay) Anniekay that you gave us options for likes !! So very kind and thoughtful of you !! After having to fiddle with the site to fix the bot issue you went on and gave yourself another chore !!

Much appreciated !!

Oh, and BTW, what do the sunglasses next to the thread titles mean? If you don't mind saying.]]> 3 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:38:11 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/gardenstew-is-20-years-old.45219/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/gardenstew-is-20-years-old.45219/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
I wanted to post about this on the 25th but unfortunately my power was out for days because of our most powerful storm in over 60 years.

But get this, GardenStew was 20 years old on the 25th of January! To say I find this hard to believe is an understatement! When I started the website I was just a few years out of college but now I'm in my mid-forties

Throughout the years it's been a pleasure reading about all your garden adventures and viewing all your...

GardenStew is 20 years old!]]> 41 Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:29:19 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/custom-title-shoutout.44188/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/custom-title-shoutout.44188/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
Remember this?
https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/user-titles-for-members-with-over-500-posts.1984/

Well it's time for a refresh If you have over 500 posts, send me a DM and I will add your custom title for you.

// frank]]> Wed, 24 Mar 2021 01:22:10 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/handling-larger-image-uploads.37453/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/handling-larger-image-uploads.37453/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank

@waretrop alerted me to the fact that the site may have been having a problem handling larger image uploads. Sure enough I found a setting server-side that was setting a bit too small of a limit on the size of uploads. So I increased the limit and if you have received rejection messages for your images in the past, you will see less of that now.

Having said that, larger image uploads are more taxing on the system so I will monitor how it goes and if...

Handling larger image uploads]]> 10 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:48:18 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/blogs-gardens-and-plants-areas-are-not-currently-working.37714/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/blogs-gardens-and-plants-areas-are-not-currently-working.37714/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
I upgraded the server this morning but unfortunately this broke a lot of stuff on the site. For the moment the Blogs, Gardens and Plants areas are crashing hard. I'm working hard on getting them back up and running so don't worry if your blog and other stuff seems to have disappeared. They will be back! The forums are operating as normal

I'll update you all when this nightmare is over
// frank]]> 2 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 12:02:29 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/lack-of-new-members-this-week.36031/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/lack-of-new-members-this-week.36031/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
I don't know whether you noticed a lack of any new members this week. Well this was because yours truly made a code change last week which botched up the registration system. The thing is I didn't notice until today, doh!

It's fixed now. I'm off to have a tea...
// frank]]> 2 Tue, 12 May 2015 02:09:49 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/gardenstew-upgrade-whats-new.34672/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/gardenstew-upgrade-whats-new.34672/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
I'm so happy to finally welcome you to a new look GardenStew! There will undoubtedly be changes to your everyday Stew routine so apologies for that in advance.

I've compiled a quick list of some improvements that I can explain in details over the next few days:
- Larger photo size uploads
- Multiple photo upload
- No longer lose your list of Latest Posts (due to closing your browser)
- Draft auto save on messages (posts) and conversations (PMs)
- Mobile...

GardenStew Upgrade - What's New?]]> 51 Sat, 07 Mar 2015 02:16:26 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/possible-website-downtime-march-6th.34974/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/possible-website-downtime-march-6th.34974/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
Just to let you know that our hosting provider will be performing some maintenance today so there may be some downtime from 6:00 PM GMT / 1:00 PM EST onwards. It shouldn't be too long
// frank]]> 6 Sun, 08 Feb 2015 17:09:04 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/whats-with-the-title-under-my-username.34694/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/whats-with-the-title-under-my-username.34694/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
Noticed a Title under your username like Hardy Maple, Young Pine? Just what are those?

These are Titles that automatically change depending on the number of Messages you have written on the forums. Here is the full list:

Lurker: 0 Messages
New Seed: 1 Message Written
Seedling: 50 Messages Written
In Flower: 250 Messages Written
Young Pine: 1000 Messages Written
Hardy Maple: 2500 Messages Written
Strong Ash: 5000 Messages...

What's with the Title under my username?]]> 6 Sat, 07 Feb 2015 15:20:26 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/that-gnomes-been-messing-about-again.2300/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/that-gnomes-been-messing-about-again.2300/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
Just made a major design change to the topic pages. Your profile on posts now appears to the left of your posts and also the post text is slightly smaller. Everything is far tighter

Feedback welcomed! Thanks.

Signed the Meddling Gnome ]]> 10 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 15:15:23 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/important-info-password-reset-for-your-gardenstew-account.34655/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/important-info-password-reset-for-your-gardenstew-account.34655/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank

In case you missed the announcement a few days back here's a summary - we are upgrading to a new forum software in the next few days.

There are two items of note:
- Your password
- Site downtime

Your password
Unfortunately since the old software and new software are quite different your existing password will not work with the new system. Therefore you will have to...

Important info - Password reset for your GardenStew account]]> 9 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:24:32 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/10-years-special-competition-winners.34622/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/10-years-special-competition-winners.34622/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
I just performed the random draw of members who posted in our special competition thread and I'm very excited to announce the winners!

So in no particular order the winners are:
cuatro-gatos - Post #17
wannabe - Post #15...

10 Years Special Competition WINNERS!]]> 12 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 14:09:23 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/10-year-competition-results-soon-plus-an-announcement.34615/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/10-year-competition-results-soon-plus-an-announcement.34615/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
Just to let you know that I've closed entries for the 10 Year competition. Thank you all for the entries, they were really something! I'll perform the random draw really soon so stay tuned.

Now an Announcement!

As you can imagine over the course of a decade a lot of things have changed about the way people browse the Web. With the advent of smaller screens like smartphones websites have had to adapt. Here at GardenStew while the design has changed the software...

10 Year competition results soon. Plus an announcement!]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2015 10:39:50 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/gardenstew-is-10-years-old-win-special-mug-or-t-shirt.34589/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/gardenstew-is-10-years-old-win-special-mug-or-t-shirt.34589/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
To celebrate GardenStew is giving away 3 Special Edition prizes, which feature a choice between a mug...

GardenStew is 10 Years Old! Win Special Mug or T-Shirt!]]> 21 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 03:12:08 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/what-are-seeds-outdated.20470/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/what-are-seeds-outdated.20470/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank Update: Seeds have now been replaced with Likes.
-------------------

Hi all,

Just added a new, small little feature this evening called Seeds. Look to the bottom-left of this post and you will see a 'Give a Seed' link. Go ahead and click it, it wont bite You have just shown that you like this forum post by giving it a Seed.

Many times you want to show your appreciation for a forum post, be it informative or witty, but just don't have the right words at that moment to...

What are "Seeds"? [OUTDATED]]]> 21 Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:59:07 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/the-gardenstew-mug-has-arrived-also-view-mug-shots.31954/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/the-gardenstew-mug-has-arrived-also-view-mug-shots.31954/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank The GardenStew Mug has arrived. Also view "Mug"sho

Hi all,

By popular request the GardenStew Mug is now available to order! I have tried to make the mug as customizable as possible and keep the price as low as I could. Zazzle.com is the website I used to handle the product ordering and physical creation / printing of the mug itself. They require that I add a minimum commission of 5% onto the price for myself but I will use this as store credit to offer future special prizes on...

The GardenStew Mug has arrived. Also view "Mug"shots!]]> 56 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 12:07:29 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/patch-watch.27882/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/patch-watch.27882/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
I'm going to start this topic to update you on new Patches added.

Jerry suggested an Experimenter Patch so it is now added:

Perhaps you can use it when a member is about to experiment with growing a new plant, cooking a new dish or trying a new craft
Thanks Jerry!]]> 12 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:24:03 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/introducing-patches-a-new-way-to-reward-members.27861/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/introducing-patches-a-new-way-to-reward-members.27861/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
I've just added a new feature that I had been working on for quite some time. I saw how much you all loved using the Seeds feature and thought I would advance on that by introducing an extra way to reward members for posting great info/stories/photos. So now we have Patches!

I've prepared some help that you can read here:
What are Patches?

I will soon be...

Introducing Patches, a new way to reward members!]]> 5 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 02:22:37 +0000 https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/woodworking-forum-added.27708/ https://www.gardenstew.com/threads/woodworking-forum-added.27708/ invalid@example.com (Frank) Frank
Have noticed that there is a need for a dedicated place to discuss woodworking and associated projects so now we have a Woodworking forum: http://www.gardenstew.com/forum-47.html

I've already moved some interesting topics into it.
Enjoy!
// frank]]> 6