Hi all. I was thinking about something cool. At least I think it would be cool. I’ve been planting letterboxes in my area and have several more to plant. I was thinking of something that I might call and add-a-letterbox location. The idea of course would be to add letterboxes to the area or surrounding areas. While coming to hunt the box that is local to me, the clues would include a request for hunters to add a box of their own to that area. For example, I could plant one box in a cemetery. The title of it or the clues for it would include the phrase “add a box,” and those who come hunting my box would be invited, or encouraged, to add a box of their own to the same cemetery. Which I guess is already kind of an unspoken thing in letterboxing world… to hope that others add boxes in areas where they go. But adding a box would kind of be the idea behind the original box. I’m not sure about any other details. Maybe I’m just letterbox hungry and want some other boxes around my area and surrounding areas to find. Has this ever been discussed or explored before? Is it a silly idea? What else can I include in the clues to encourage other people to bring a box with them to plant while they hide the one I planted? I

Interesting Idea,if Space is Big enough!

That reminds me of a series called "Lost Things." Choi planted a series celebrating things lost on the trail. He encouraged people to add their own box. Now there are lots of lost things to be found there.

https://www.atlasquest.com/results.html?typeId=1;name=lost+things;title=Hudson%2C+MA+%2815+mi%29;coords=42.3906835432,-71.5698770632;rad=15;location=hudson%2C+ma

Interesting Idea,if Space is Big enough!
We have found a ( add on Box that waz a Camping series... Letterboxers left all sorts of ( camping stamps).....last box was called Moab mother of all boxes.....had about 7 separate Stamps in it.

While coming to hunt the box that is local to me, the clues would include a request for hunters to add a box of their own to that area. For example, I could plant one box in a cemetery. The title of it or the clues for it would include the phrase “add a box,” and those who come hunting my box would be invited, or encouraged, to add a box of their own to the same cemetery.

Interesting idea. Would it be added to the same series? That would mean that they hide it and you (as the original planter) would add the clue (that they send to you) to the series.

Maybe I’m just letterbox hungry and want some other boxes around my area and surrounding areas to find. Has this ever been discussed or explored before? Is it a silly idea? What else can I include in the clues to encourage other people to bring a box with them to plant while they hide the one I planted?

Well, aren't we all a little letterbox hungry?

It is a silly idea, but I like silly ideas. Isn't letterboxing a little silly anyway? I mean, what could be sillier than making art and then hiding it? It's not like we're hiding painted rocks. ;-)

I don't know if it has been discussed before, but I like this idea. However, I think that this will also create a lively discussion.

Wouldn’t have to be a series, no. I was actually thinking of a whole bunch of random, unrelated, disconnected boxes being all there in the same area. And I would keep an eye on them all if they were local to me.

I DO like the lost things idea though, where people add things that are related. Sounds like a lot of fun to hunt that series!

Has this ever been discussed or explored before?

2 words... Hog Heaven

I love it! Hope you have one near us!

What else can I include in the clues to encourage other people to bring a box with them to plant while they hide the one I planted?

The WOM icon. Make the clues WOM and only give it to them if they say, "I promise."

there's also the "What's Your Sign?" 'series' in Marlborough MA

as well as numerous Tors all over the place.

We have an island in the middle of the Nicasio Reservoir up in Marin Co. CA.....I put in two boxes (eventually 17) and invited anyone visiting to bring a box or two to plant.....the theme was "Scottish".....Olde Oak took my up on it and then a lot of others did too.....I'm pretty proud of it actually.

Here are my originals, if you search nearby boxes you'll see how many there are:

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?boxId=153503

Then there's Hog Heaven set up on the same idea (and actually the precursor for mine):

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?boxId=7462

A similar box has been planted in Zachary, LA called ‘Lagniappe’, where the planter has invited others to put their clue in this box, and hide theirs within a 30 mile radius.

Your idea is a good one and even though it's been done before, you could add your own spin to it to make it fresh.

For example, I could plant one box in a cemetery

I personally would worry if subsequent planters didn't hide their boxes in a respectful manner in regards to a cemetery location and/or the cemetery received too many boxes in general. Your thoughtful and respectful box might get linked with an inappropriate plant.

The St Louis, MO area boxers have done this successfully several times. There is a Christmas Ornament series on a trail in St Charles County. A small group met together first and then drove there to scatter and plant. In the clues, it encourages others to plant ornaments when they visit to find. Others did. There is one contact person who coordinates the clues, and lists the boxes in the correct order on the trail. One year with really bad winter weather, boxers were encouraged to plant snowflake themed boxes in a park named Winter. The boxes are scattered throughout the park, and are each listed separately. Several years later, we used the same park to plant boxes with an Ugly Sweater theme. Even poor carvers like me could do this one (mistakes overlooked here.) The most recent cooperative effort encouraged boxes with a dog (or other pet) theme to be planted in a large park which still houses the national dog museum. (The museum will be moving to New York, but the boxes in the park will remain.) The later theme attracted more out of area boxers to contribute. Of course, we have many dedicated boxers here in our area, so these cooperative efforts succeed well here. Good luck!

We have something similar in Love Park in St. Louis. It's not official, but some people mention it in their clues.

https://www.atlasquest.com/results.html?typeId=1;status=9;subFlags=8;coord=38.5917441784,-90.4774843025;location=38.5917441784,-90.4774843025;title=Letterboxes%20near%20Love+Grows