I admit to a self-centered fascination with wordpress stats. I know, write for good content, write for enjoyment, write to write, the subscribers will follow. I still look at the numbers and marvel at what drives them.
Oddly, one of things I learn when examining my search term stats are that a great deal of the googlers in the world find me by using the search words: Ant Farm.
Ant farm? Ant farm. Yes, I did post a photo of my youngest son’s Christmas present over a year ago as I marveled at the ants working together and likened it to a crop mob helping at a local farm but for this to be chart topping is a bit perplexing. I googled Ant Farm myself. My blog is nowhere to be seen in the first few pages of listings so I have no better idea of how or why it drives traffic. But I did come across this story of Milton Levine, the founder, creator and entrepreneur behind the Ant Farm.
Ant Farm Entrepreneur
You see, Milton Martin Levine died two weeks ago at the ripe age of 97. He was in his thirties at a family gathering when while watching an industrious group of Pogonomyrmex californicus, he told his brother in law, “We should invent an antarium.” In the days, weeks or months that followed, they fashioned a clear cigar box with a frame and Uncle Milton’s Ant Farms became commercially available for $1.98.
Levine’s business grew quickly through his use of television advertising placed during kids’ programming. He expanded the line with larger ant farms and those with upscale frames. We’ve certainly had more than one grace our home and if you’ll remember, the ants never arrive with the farm. Rather you have to send in a coupon and wait for your 25 worker ants to arrive at a later date. Because of Levine’s death, I learn that federal law prohibits shipments of queen ants across state lines. Therefore, once your workers have expired, you either dig your own or order again. Today, ant farms sell for upwards of $10 and last year Milton sold Uncle Milton’s Ant Farms for upwards of $20 million.
Agrigirl’s take on the Ant Farm
What’s intriguing about this story for me is not the fact that a novelty item put Levine’s three kids through college. Rather, I love that Milton and his brother in law, EJ Cossman acted upon an idea. And in retrospect, it was a fairly random idea. How many times have you had an idea that you let expire like a worker ant?
I keep a google doc open all the time called: Ideas and any time a thought strikes me like “I should make an antarium” I log it. And darn it if a couple of times I haven’t watched someone else launch one of those very things that I have written down quite successfully. No, I never thought of ant farm but do you remember me writing about Jim Killeen? What would it it take to explore an idea deeper? What does it take to get it off the page and in between two pieces of plexiglass and a wood frame?
Is this simply entrepreneurial spirit or is there some greater germination process in order to move ideas forward?
Agrigirl's Blog 
dianescholten
/ February 19, 2011I know! Isn’t it odd how people get to us! One of my top queries is co-housing. Great blog, Tammy!
Tammy McLeod
/ February 19, 2011Diane,
I think that is actually how I found your blog!
humanitarikim
/ February 19, 2011The Google search “boy scouts” brings people to my page. It’s odd, but I am totally with you on the stat thing. I admit, I check them a lot.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 19, 2011Boy scouts?
Artswebshow
/ February 19, 2011It is curious the odd ways you can be found.
My top search tern is chef poems.
But i’ve had a result for shmancy before.
That is a word one person used once in one comment on one post. lol
Tammy McLeod
/ February 19, 2011Oooh great. Now it will appear in my search terms too. lol. But I am going to check out your chef poems.
montucky
/ February 19, 2011I’m not so interested in stats, but I do find the mechanics of Google search interesting. It’s fascinating to see what people are interested in and WordPress stats does give us a little glimpse into that.
Over the years I have made some very good friends with whom I became acquainted through my blog.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 19, 2011I’m finding the same thing. It’s the way to build a community.
nrhatch
/ February 19, 2011I love seeing the words that lead people “to my door.” 🙂
Ant Farms are fascinating to watch. Watching the ideas arising in our mind can also be quite fascinating. Especially if we capture them for further exploration.
Thanks, Tammy.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 19, 2011Sounds like you have a few of your own. 😉
Andrew Greess
/ February 19, 2011A couple of interesting facts about ants:
Ants are critical to life on earth. Without ants, the earth would be covered in organic debris many, many feet deep.
Ants are among the most violent creatures on earth. A leading entomologist and ant expert once said that if ants had nuclear weapons, life on earth would be over in a week.
On the subject of ideas: I once read that a messy desk is a contributor to creativity and new ideas. As you are going through the piles on your desk, you find things you thought were interesting and connect them with new ideas and projects. I don’t know whether its true or not, but it helps me feel less guilty about the mess in my home & work offices.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 19, 2011Ah Andrew! Perfect feedback from an expert in natural pest control. Thanks for reading. I did look for some information on ants to show their connection to “growing things” but decided to go down the Levine path of “growing ideas”. And I hear you on the messy desk syndrome.
E. Baron
/ February 19, 2011I love the idea of an always open idea doc! I think I’ll give that a try. I truly believe that the simple act of articulating ideas and intentions in writing increases the chance that they’ll materialize. I realized with surprise a few days ago that two things I’d written about as intentions in a personal mission statement process about 14 months ago have become reality…with no real plan in place beyond stating them “out loud.” If your ideas somehow manifest in other people’s actions, I suppose there’s some good in that too.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 19, 2011I agree that there is good in both and I’m so impressed that you’ve accomplished what you set out to do. It will make a great blog post Eleanor.
Hannah
/ February 19, 2011Ooh, I really like your idea about the ideas document! So often I think of things that I’d like to do/have in my life, but without putting them tangibly in writing, it’s easy to forget/let life slip by. Though, to be honest, I’m not likely to be getting an ant farm anytime soon! 😛
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Yeah, even when I first showed the ant farm, I felt a little bad about it.
souldipper
/ February 19, 2011Yes, the Google Search has fascinated me from the beginning, Tammy. The most popular seach for the past few months is angel visitations. Mmmm – glad to be considered part of an angelic theme. Please don’t burst my bubble if there’s some dreadful drug or something out there called angel visitation!! 🙂
Other fascinations with Google Search – the way people put phrases together and their spelling. Highly entertaining.
I relish stories of people totally loving an idea and making a fortune off of it. When rooted in good, it blossoms with good.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Cracking up Aimee as I’ve learned that an agrigirl is also known as a mail order bride! Oh well. I’m certain that angel visitation has another meaning and we’ll just have to humor ourselves.
kateshrewsday
/ February 20, 2011Classic, classic post. I LOVE ant farms, and so does my son. you have inspired me to get one for our half term here. Thanks, Tammy 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011They are actually amazing and I was surprised at how many people have filmed theirs on youtube.
nursemyra
/ February 20, 2011I still get a lot of hits on an old post via this word: paraclitoridiennes
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Damn Myra. I would only think of a word like that coming from you. And yes, you’re still a page one hit with it.
nancy at good food matters
/ February 20, 2011I have no idea what words drive people to my blog door–maybe I should find out.
But, as far as great ideas and their manifestation are concerned, I like to think about it as a kind of partnership between the Divine, or Creative Force and us entrepreneurial humans. Genius, be it in the form of a poem or song or meal or business plan, is always looking for Its distributor. We do seek out our affinities. And, we gotta show up, be open, and act!
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Great comment Nancy. I so agree and I have to remember to be open.
bermudaonion
/ February 20, 2011I can’t figure out why one of my posts is so popular either. My son had an ant farm way back when and had very little luck with it.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Actually, the one in the photo was also totally unsuccessful.
Kath (My Funny Little Life)
/ February 20, 2011It’s strange by which search terms people get to my blog! Пианино – what does tht mean?!
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Put it into google translator and you can see. I get those and they are usually the names of houseplants.
Debbie
/ February 20, 2011I forget so many of my “ideas” . . .even when I write them down. But I really hope some of yours take off like Uncle Milton’s Ant Farm. ( we had those too! . . .and one with tadpoles and one with caterpillars that morphed into butterflies. ha!)
One of my search terms were drip deb. ! I stopped looking at those stats after that. ha!
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Ouch – drip deb would make me sad!
OysterCulture
/ February 20, 2011I too admit to checking the stats if only for the daily chuckle of some of the off the wall ways people have found my blog. Makes me curious if I’ve caused someone to grin in my desperate searches for information.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Good way to look at it Louann. I’m sure that we have both caused someone to chuckle at some point.
Todd Pack
/ February 20, 2011Until recently, it seemed the No. 1 search that drove people to my blog was “plastic baseball helmets for ice cream,” because I mentioned it last summer. Lately, it’s “men’s hats.”
I know exactly what you mean about failing to develop ideas. I mean, how many people have thought, “I’ll bet kids would love to wear rubber bands shaped like animals on their wrists.”
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011EXACTLY! You got it Todd.
Kristen (swanky dietitian)
/ February 20, 2011I used to love seeing how people would find me. I also have to admit that I would google certain words and see if I would come up. Ok, too much free time on my hands.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011It sounds like that fascination is widespread.
Betsy (Eco-novice)
/ February 20, 2011I would enjoy an ant farm much more than I’m enjoying the 15th an invasion in my bathroom. Certainly, there are no shortage of entry points (and no shortage of crumbs to be had when they arrive), but still. I wish they’d stay outside (or in an ant farm, if I had one – but if I had one, would my 3-year-old shriek if he saw me kill one?)
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011I am also plagued in the summer by the kitchen sugar ants. Arrgh. I read that Levine paid up to $3000 a week for people to catch ants!
Sonya
/ February 20, 2011The VandeKerkhof family is in love with all the recipes you post! Thank you! Elk Rapids, MI
Tammy McLeod
/ February 20, 2011Thank you Sonya! I didn’t post one this week as I couldn’t quite figure out what went with Ant Farm. Next week though…
Rosa
/ February 21, 2011It is sometimes funny how people find us…
Cheers,
Rosa
Tammy McLeod
/ February 21, 2011I would be curious if you get more food hits or more photo hits.
Carol Ann Hoel
/ February 21, 2011Of all the search engine terms that are mentioned on my site, its meatloaf with sage and oregano. What makes this odd is that I only occasionally post a recipe and only for fun. I’m just a regular, everyday cook. This is disappointing in that I’d rather see searches on other subjects. There are other searches that show up, of course, but the food search comes up often.
Ideas. Wow. The ant farm idea was incredible. I think the idea that goes further than the idea page would be the one that sparks enough enthusiasm to grab the thinker’s heart and push him forward. We must invest in an idea to turn it into an invention or a product. Therein lies the question. How much may I invest? Can I absorb a failure? Do I care enough to embark? I think some people are gifted with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 21, 2011Yes, there’s some combination of risk tolerance and yearning that seems to drive those folks forward.
Carrie (Carrie on Vegan)
/ February 21, 2011Well, that’s probably the most random way I’ve heard someone finding a blog about food. 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ February 21, 2011I have a few others that are equally random but I’ll save them for future posts.
Jennifer
/ February 21, 2011If you google swiss chard and mushroom quiche, my blog is the first to appear. I get at least four hits per week on that search term, even when swiss chard isn’t in season. The best part is that my family hated the quiche, they wouldn’t even eat it. I suppose it is my small contribution to the world of greens.
I also keep a living idea document, I call it my hook book. I went over it last month and I had actually implemented or wrote about a number of those ideas. One of my goals for 2010 was to wake up my creativity and reviewing my book made me feel so creative and alive. As always Tammy, another great idea and approach to living a full life. Keep on writing.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 21, 2011Thanks Jennifer. and funny about the quiche!
Robin Mullet
/ February 21, 2011Back in the 50’s (I’m dating myself) it was a very popular thing to give a child an ant farm. A lot of classrooms, including mine, had one as part of the “science” area. I have to admit that in the back of my mind I always felt a little sorry for them.
As for the random idea, everyone has them. But it takes action and organization to make them come to fruition. That’s where most of us don’t follow through.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 21, 2011Yeah, it is a little sad knowing their destiny but kids do seem to enjoy them.
Simply Life
/ February 21, 2011oh that is too funny about the ant farm!
Tammy McLeod
/ February 21, 2011and there are some other search terms that are even funnier.
Kathleen
/ February 23, 2011I have not given it much thought……have not looked for myself to pop up somewhere………. but now I am curious. LOL. Yes, we have been through the whole ant farm thing. I think my children’s ant farm is packed away somewhere with Barney and Buzz Lightyear. Enjoyed your post. blessings,Kathleen
Tammy McLeod
/ February 23, 2011Hope you are well Kathleen.
nancemarie
/ February 24, 2011ideas are pretty fun things.
fun to share and sometimes fun to do.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 24, 2011pretty fun little comment.
croquecamille
/ February 24, 2011The stats are fascinating, aren’t they? I get a lot of hits from people searching for “french beer” “french pizza” and “french mac and cheese.” I kid you not.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 24, 2011Hey French beer (I even remember your post!) and french mac and cheese? I am sure that my family will show up at your house AGAIN.
brittany220
/ February 24, 2011I noticed your blog today after I read gmomj’s post about mayonnaise (http://gmomj.wordpress.com/), so that’s how I ended up on your page! 🙂
I’m fascinated with the site stats too. I’m relatively new to blogging so I’m still trying to figure out how to get more people to see my site and get more interest, but it seems like you’ve been really successful in getting a lot of interest! Congrats! 🙂
The three search terms that pop up for me are swing dance, project made on shyness, and auction hand project. Since my blog’s all about confronting shyness basically, I’m surprised how the other terms have been part of my top search terms since they were mentioned once. It’s certainly interesting!
Look forward to reading more of your blog, I’m now subscribed!
Tammy McLeod
/ February 24, 2011Thanks Brittany. I really appreciate it.
25BAR
/ February 25, 2011I had done a post about my experiences of getting from one small city to another in the south of India on one of my older blogs. I did the trip seven years ago and did the post about 4 years ago. It still brings me hits aplenty!
Tammy McLeod
/ February 25, 2011hmmm, nice to know that the aura can last for years.
msbetterhomes
/ February 25, 2011I get lots of people searching for ‘thrifty vegan’, which is not too surprising.
When I was writing my thesis I found the ‘ideas’ folder essential for the days when I could come up with a million and one useful ideas – but none on topic for the work at hand. Once I ‘shelved’ them in the folder, I could settle and focus on the work I was actually supposed to be doing.
Tammy McLeod
/ February 25, 2011oooh I’d be proud of thrifty vegan. And I think what you’ve experienced is the cleansing effect of emptying your mind. it’s a great feeling.
Kimberly Hosey (Arizona Writer)
/ March 2, 2011Well, I found you through mutual blog friends and interests. But it is really funny to see what leads to our blogs sometimes. My recent tally had “pink puke,” “I just made you say underwear,” and “Dirty words A to Z” as the top results. I think I’m doing it wrong.
Tammy McLeod
/ March 2, 2011Now THAT is funny.
Martha
/ March 14, 2011My husband had a very proper and conservative woman friend who late in life became a surrogate parent to her step-son’s young children. She had on her dining room table an ant farm for them. I could not believe it.
That was suddenly the detail that I remembered about her as we stood in the hospital lobby, remembering her as she lay dying.
One of the children remained close to her. The one for whom she had the ant farm did not. I hope that one day he will realize that he should have been there too.
Anybody who risks having an ant farm in their very proper house is just a good soul.
Tammy McLeod
/ March 14, 2011What an odd little tale. I also hope the one for whom she bought the ant farm comes around.
burcidibollyreview
/ July 3, 2012i actually searched for ‘ant farm blog’ in google images. so it’s the image that’s popping up, not necessarily the page. I followed the image here!
Tammy
/ July 3, 2012Well, glad to have you.