I have just returned from a five day trip to South Carolina to visit some friends. Usually when I visit at this time of year, I begin to see the beautiful colors of spring. But this time, the weather was much warmer than usual and the leaves had not started their change yet. I hear that the weather turned cooler right after I left! Poor timing, I guess…But I digress…
On the five hour plane ride, I caught up on my magazine reading. Have you seen these two magazines?
They are fabulous…
Mary Janes Farm Magazine has been around for about five years, but only recently switched to a bi-monthly format with subscriptions. The subtitles on the magazine are: The American Organic Original. Simple solutions for an everyday organic lifestyle. Food as celebration/Passionate gardening/Nostalgic crafts and Stitchery. Yes, that is a mouthful of subtitles. But it is hard to put this magazine into a simple category. It is so packed with information, you need to read it more than once!
The magazine is the brainchild of Mary Jane Butters who has an organic farm up in Idaho. She is a “farm girl” with many, many talents. She has been an organic farmer for 20 years, but also has been a carpenter, waitress, upholstery, milkmaid, wilderness ranger, environmental activist, and an entrepreneur. Her magazine (mail order business and her many books) focus on sharing simple solutions, gardening tips, crafting, home decorations. She encourages her readers to embrace a more authentic, wholesome lifestyle. Here is a video about who she is: Meet Mary Jane.
The other magazine I read on the plane was the new Positively Green Magazine. Its subtitle is: Good Simple Solutions. The very first issue of this magazine came out in August and it has Rachelle Begley (co-star of Living With Ed TV series and wife of Ed Begley) on the cover. I really like this magazine. It describes itself as a “women’s magazine” that is also an environmental magazine. It’s goal is to show you how to live a rich life that is also eco-friendly.
Positively Green had some great information on reusable shopping bags, something I wrote about here a few months ago. They listed a few new web sites with cute bags, such as Skeeda Bags. And information on “green” school supplies and clothes for the kids: Simple Shoes (shoes made from 100% sustainable products) and RedAppleSupply (eco-friendly supplies).
Although neither magazine is a “garden” magazine, both cover food, lifestyle issues that relate to gardening, nature and the environment. Check out your local bookstore for the latest issues.
About the Author
Theresa Loe blogs here about taking the garden full circle while striving for a more local, fresh-from-the-garden lifestyle. She is a TV producer, video host, freelance garden writer and a wrangler of chickens and children. (Not necessarily in that order.) For more information on these topics, you can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Theresa Loe is the award- winning Co-Executive Producer & Canning Expert on Growing A Greener World TV. She blogs here about Living Homegrown®, local and fresh-from-the-garden. 
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I hadn’t seen the first but purchased the second one. There’s some potential there, I think.
P-
I agree! The information was good in Positively Green and I really like the layout. I think issue two comes out this week. I am anxious to see where the magazine takes us.
~ Theresa
I’m thoroughly intrigued by MaryJane’s Farm, and will look for it next time I head to a bookstore.
My first reaction to Positively Green was: too glitzy. But, I’ll also check it out because I don’t like to pass judgement until I’ve actually read an issue or two of a publication.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Teresa-
You will like Mary Jane’s Farm mag and books. It is right up your alley with all the stuff you do.
As for Positively Green, I had the same reaction. I saw it three times before I actually bought it. It wasn’t until I sat down to read it that I decided that I liked it. I tore out several pages of info for future reference. I always think that is a good sign.
~Theresa
D’oh!! Flakey me just went to the bookstore today and completely forgot to look for those. Maybe I’ll just order the recent copies online while I’m thinking of it.