Kitchen Garden Forum

I have copied my earlier posting (to Shallot Man's "Blasphemy?") because I really would like to have an answer:

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"?

I agree with Monika that you should highlight the KG website more in the mag. The exchange of ideas and information is extremely useful and the general chat interesting to say the least.

Hi Folks
I am genuinely sorry if some of you are feeling neglected. I am looking at ways to link the mag and website more closely - the KG Online column is one attempt to do this and it's interesting and encouraging to know that you look for it in the mag.

It was only missed from the August issue as we didn't have room for the Readers' Exchange page, the page that the feature usually appears on, that month. Have no fear - it will be back in the September issue.

I am very proud of our website and especially the forum, which I have seen grow from strength to strength over the past two years and will continue to look for more ways to link it with the mag in the coming months. Any ideas gratefully received of course - I know I can always rely on you guys to come up with plenty of those!

Thank you Captain Carrot, that's been very helpful. I always read the magazine from cover to cover (including the adverts!), usually even those articles which are of little relevance to our garden and allotment. My personal favourites are those articles which look at other allotments or gardens, just to see how other people manage things, but no doubt other readers have different preferences.
Overall, I think the magazine is great and so is the website!

I must confess I am not surprised they haven't used much from here recently. Apart from the excellent contaminated manure thread, which was probably after copy date, there hasn't really been a lot of technical growing discussion. A lot of failures caused by starting too soon or the vagaries of the weather but not really newsworthy.
Mind you, although I still read it cover to cover, the magazine is a bit bland as well. Andrew Tokely's monthly thinly disguised advert for his employers T&M is starting to irritate. I like Undercover but I notice it wasn't attributed this month, I am trying to make more Winter use of the greenhouse so that might be why I like it. Many of the the Bob Sherman articles have had little real content. I know the balance between new and old gardeners is difficult but I would like a few more "I hadn't thought of that" experiences.
It must be another wet morning depressing me, perhaps you should ignore this!

Hi Captain Carrot,

It's nice to see the regular wildlife articles, but I feel that there is a whole load of newer gardeners out there that are not sure what is a pest and what's not, in the insect world. I'm sure there is a lot of unneccessary killing due to not knowing what the insect is. Years ago, as kids we knew what all these things were as it was part of growing up, but it's not like that now is it. Perhaps there has been an article on this that I missed some time ago, but if not, it would be good to see it promoted a bit more.

Thanks for your input guys. It is all being noted down for future reference! We do of course have plans already in the pipeline for 2009 that I hope you will like and we will do our best to incorporate as many of your ideas as we can, so keep them coming.

Hi PJ,
Great thinking! Edwin Oxlade did a very good series about weeds a while ago which I thought was exceedingly good for beginners. One on Friend's and Foe's of the insect world would be of great importance to those just starting out.
You are certainly correct in people killing beneficial insects such a Ground Beetles and Centipedes and the likes.
JB.