Blasphemy ?

[Shallot Man]

As someone who has purchased KG since issue four, is it my advancing years, or are the contents of KG not coming up to my expectations. There was a time when I eagerly waited for my copy to drop through the letterbox, but no longer. I have noticed this for the last eighteen months. I have placed my steel helmet on my head awaiting the returning fire. Shallotman

[Chantal]

I suppose it all depends on what your expectations are. I'm very happy with KG and think it's better than ever.

I think if you make this kind of statement, you should back it up with saying exactly what you DO expect from it, otherwise you may well need a tin hat.

[Primrose]

I'm only in my second subscription year, so still find lots of interesting topics. I guess that when a magazine has been going for a certain length of time it becomes increasingly difficult to find a new slant on the usual growing articles. Also, the more experienced a gardener you become, the more you know and the less you tend to rely on the informed advice of others so perhaps that is why you feel you're getting less out of it than you were originally.
Now that times are becoming economically difficult it would be interesting to have an article showing how much money can be saved by growing your own, both in a small garden and on an average sized allotment. In my early stages of growing vegetables I used to keep a little notebook, weigh my crops and fictionally "charge them up to myself" at retail prices, just to convince myself that economically it was worth the effort. It was an interesting exercise.

[Weed]

I think I know where you are coming from SH...

Having taken KG for about six years I still enjoy reading it and it is one of the best presented magazines around (but don't tell them that )

Maybe it is a case of variations on a theme...I have to admit I do tend to cherry pick its contents more than I use to.

I used to be editor of a small trade magazine and still write regularly....I have suggested a new idea that they are going to run with...If it works I will pass it on to KG for consideration

[peter]

No wisdom from the web / forum in August.

[Monika]

Just coming back to this month's KG and the missing forum extract: I wonder why there aren't more monthly references to the forum in the magazine. The two must complement each other and would certainly not be in competition. Many other magazines are very proud of their websites (as KG should be because it's a good site) rather than denying its existence. Any comments from "them that know"?

[KG Steve]

Hi Gang
Your editorial team (Emma and I) are always looking for interesting new features. I hope for example, that you enjoyed the look at Bulldog Tools and tour of the great kitchen garden at Pashley Manor as well as the updates on oriental veg, apples, plums etc that appeared in the August issue.
We always try to include a balance of features to interest both new kitchen gardeners and those, like many of our regular forum visitors, who are already accomplished growers. Having said that, one comment I often get from readers of KG that have been gardening for years is that they still like features such as the Jobs For The Month pages since they act as a reminder so that nothing gets missed.
Of course I appreciate that you are bound to cherry pick since not all crops hold an interest for everyone - cherries for example! So we try and keep the content as broad as possible so that there is bound to be something for everyone and one thing is for sure, you won't find features which give you so much up-to-date and in-depth info as those in KG, anywhere else.
We are always pleased to receive ideas however, since if we know what you would like to see, we can then get to work in supplying it, if at all possible - although it might not happen overnight of course!I've posted a response to Monika's question re links between the mag and website on the appropriate thread and again welcome any ideas.

[oldherbaceous]

I think you are all doing a pretty good job myself, and have a job finding any faults, much to my annoyance.

[Mike Vogel]

I'm with Primrose - my second year as a subscriber and I will renew, but I do wonder for how long. Once you've covered all the veg I grow, what's left?

Yes, the features are interesting and I'm sure I'll continue reading it. By the way, is the Organic Gardening magazine published by the same people? I sometimes pick up one and find I'm reading the other.

mike

[KG Steve]

Yes we are the publishers of Organic Gardening magazine too Mike. It's excellent....but I prefer KG! Hmmm, could be biased I guess!