Rich’s Story

Believe it or not. I wasn’t always a metal detectorist, but I do think I was destined to be one..

              Born in 1987 in New Jersey. I was surrounded by a great family with a love for antiques, and Native American artifacts. Especially colonial antiques. My grandmother had an antique store, and soon to follow, my mom had an antique store. I remember being very little, at work with my mom in her shop.  Always asking her what things were and how she knew what something was worth. Slowly, one antique at a time. I learned a lot about them. What was good and what was collectible, and what wasn’t worth buying. Since then, my interest has grown over the years. Although, I know nowhere near as much as my mom, I strive to keep learning and collecting. I don’t currently sell antiques, but I would love to someday.

              We moved to a very historic area in Pennsylvania, very close to Washingtons Crossing. This is where I spent most of my childhood. Our house which my parents still live in was built in 1743.  An old Quaker farmhouse, which has everything from old colonial pottery and glass to clay pipe stems, buttons, and even native artifacts and tools washing up when it rains. As you can imagine, this was hours of fun for me growing up. I was so excited to take the pottery sherds inside so my mom could teach me about them. I don’t live with them anymore, but I still pick up pottery every time I go visit. Behind the house when I was young, there was nothing but farm fields and woods. My mom would pull me around the fields in a little red wagon looking for native artifacts. Since then, unfortunately the land has been developed. I would give almost anything to be able to walk those fields now to see what I can find. So much history covered up, it’s a shame.

              Growing up my other interests were always sports. I have played most sports except hockey and lacrosse, and for some reason I have never liked watching sports on tv, and still don’t. One thing I do enjoy very much is watching the super bowl with my dad, we always have and we always will! Swimming was what I did the longest, and what I did best. Although football was a close second. I swam for multiple teams, which often meant more than one practice a day, while still going to school. In high school swimming was intense. Long practices after school, and no Christmas break. I practiced every day! I stopped swimming at 18 or 19 and soon was very interested in playing in a band. I started playing guitar when I was 14, but didn’t join any bands until my 20’s. I have had a few bands with my friends, and that was a real lot of fun. Playing shows in Philly and Atlantic City and New York. I don’t play much anymore, but will always remember the good “crazy” band times.

              In my early 20’s I got very interested in farming. I always loved the outdoors and gardening, but I couldn’t wait to get onto a farm. I think my interest started with my grandfather who was a county agricultural agent in New Jersey. Now, after almost 15 years of farming and growing, I know a lot about it, and I wish my grandfather was still around so we could talk about it. Now, I strive to have my own small farm. Helping people by way of good healthy food. We all need it! My interest in plants and farming will never leave, there is just something about working with nature that I love so much.

              As I got older, into my 30’s. My love for the colonial period and native artifacts came back full throttle. It wasn’t long before I discovered metal detecting on youtube. Shortly after that I got my first metal detector. A Garret Ace 400! One day, metal detecting my own colonial back yard, my neighbor comes out and tells me his friend Doug metal detects, and is part of a youtube channel. At that point I did not put two and two together.. It wasn’t until a week later my neighbor told me the name of the youtube channel. It was QUARTER HOARDER! I couldn’t believe it. I had already been watching them, and they were my favorite because I could tell from their videos, they were in my area. Little did I know, I lived 5 minutes from Dog Tag Doug! That night, I emailed Jason. Explained my neighbors connection to Doug, and invited them to come metal detect at my parents colonial house. I knew I couldn’t just ask to go with them if I wanted a response. They must get 100 emails a day! So, I invited them to come with me. Jason answered my email, and the next day Dog Tag Doug himself knocked on my door. We talked awhile, and he agreed they would come to my parents house the following weekend. We all hit it off, and I have been with them ever since.  My Mom is now, Lynndiana Jones, and I am Rich Van Winkle! I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends to metal detect with. All the guys are the nicest, funniest, most generous people I know.

              Other than metal detecting, my hobbies include. Growing plants, collecting lots of things, and blacksmithing. I started blacksmithing in 2016 and I love it. My goal is to farm and blacksmith as a career. I make everything from knives to jewelry to bottle openers, and my favorite is recreating colonial items such as candle holders and trivets and hooks. I have a blacksmithing page called Smithville Forge. There isn’t a lot on there yet, but there will be!

              If I could give one piece of advice to everyone, it would be to always make time to do something you love. I don’t care if I ever make money blacksmithing or metal detecting, I will always do them for the love of it. Although, it would be a very nice way to make money!

              Get out there and do what you love! There are no guilty pleasures, JUST PL3ASURES!

-Rich Van Winkle