I'm not sure I'd necessarily agree with that assessment. While it may not have much 'meat' of interest to a professional horticulturist, I think the content is very appropriate, appealing and informative for the average gardener. There is always some sort of discussion about new plant introductions or less common plants, good design tips, interesting plant combinations and various gardening techniques, all well illustrated. I quite liked the article on some common myths or fallacies regarding organic gardening practices and brought a dose of realism into what is often a blindly followed practice just because it seems like the environmentally correct, "green" thing to do, especially pointing out the high toxicity of some organic pest controls that many average gardeners are not aware of. Many think that because it is labeled 'organic' it is 'safe', which is not necessarily true.

My weakness is paper clutter - I am pretty good with clearing out clothes/dishes/books/etc. but paper is an obstacle for me that I struggle with. What I found to be the BIGGEST HELP EVER to my paper clutter habit was not to let it into my house. When I receive catalogs or advertisements or other mail I can't help but read it or "keep it to read later". Even though I know it's junk and should be tossed. So I went on a CAMPAIGN not to let it into my house in the first place. It was initially time-consuming, but SO worth it. Here are the steps: 1. Go to the DMA's website (the Direct Marketing Association) to register for the Mail Preference Services by filling in the online form. It takes about 30-60 days for it to kick in. On that same webpage is also a credit card solicitation opt-out service which I recommend both to decrease junk mail, and to decrease chances of identity theft (identity thieves could take a credit card solicitation addressed to you, fill it out, and get a credit card in your name). 2. Call all your magazine subscriptions' 800 numbers, and tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 3. Call all your credit cards, and and tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 4. Call any catalogs that you want to continue getting, but tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 5. Call all your utilities (phone/cell phone/electric company, etc.) and and tell them "Please mark my account so that my name or address is not rented or sold to other companies." 6. Call any sweeptstakes 800 numbers when you get a sweepstakes solicitation and get them to remove you from their lists. Just takes one call to each sweepstakes company. 7. Whenever you donate money, purchase something on the internet or via a catalog, write in the "comments' box in capital letters, "Please do not sell my name or address". 8. Call 1-888-567-8688 or 1-888-5OPTOUT. This will remove you from junk mail sent by Trans Union, Equifax, innovis, and Experian. Whew! That was a lot of work! But once I finished, after a few weeks my mailbox ONLY contains mail I want. I would say my mail has decreased in volume by at least 70%. Good for the environment too. And that's 70% less paper on your island, and 70% less work for you every day sorting through your mail. A very nice payback for the time you have to spend initially. Here is a link that might be useful: DMA's Mail Preference Webpage

I have never had a subscription to a cooking magazine - the only subscription I did have was to Illuminatrice, an Italian lighting magazine, and that was at work. The only magazines that I buy at the newsstand are Italian design magazines, some of which are quite expensive (I used to buy men's Italian fashion magazines, when I was more fashionable), and I have saved every one of them. I also buy Architectural Digest, Interiors, Veranda, etc. when they publish photos of my furniture designs, and I keep these also. My old magazine collection takes up one shelf in my garage, and I do refer to the Italian magazines from time to time for inspiration. I do collect clutter, but books and magazines are not part of that. I have one shelf of cookbooks in the hall next to the kitchen. I once bought a magazine on Feng Shui, but I decided that the magazine was clutter and got rid of it. I spent last week-end trying to declutter my bedroom because I also bought a new mattress that will be delivered tomorrow, and I want my room to look nice. Yesterday I made a runner with the fabric left over from making new drapes for my bedroom (to be able to block out light) and put it on the wide dresser beside my bed. The dresser on the other side of my bed has a runner I made from fabric left over from when I made my bedspread. I find that decorating or trying to coordinate rooms helps me get rid of clutter. However, I did put a bunch of books on the wide dresser using bookends. I don't have room for another bookcase. If I need to get more books, I will get rid of old ones that I have. Lately I have been buying and reading books on Anthropology and early human evolution. I read them at night to help me get to sleep, and so it takes a while to get through them. I cannot stand to watch Hoarders, but I will watch Clean House if I need inspiration to declutter. Making my house and yards look as beautiful as possible is one of my top priorities, and this helps me let go of clutter. I haven't gotten rid of it altogether, however, and so I think it is an on-going process. I have a hard time getting rid of old clothes that no longer fit, and I am convinced that sometime in the near future, they will fit again. Anyway, that is my goal. They may be terribly out of style or inappropriate by that time, however. Getting rid of old clothes is my biggest problem. One of the things I came across yesterday while decluttering was a printout from a Cooking Forum thread from 2005 that I started asking what was in everyone's freezer. It included a post by Ann_T on pitahaya (I happened to have some in my freezer at the time) that she had copied and pasted, bad Google translation and all. The translation was hysterically funny. Lars

I don't buy magazines anymore - they are way too expensive for my budget. I used to love Martha Stewart for baking and crafts when there were more articles than ads. I love cooking magazines especially Fine Cooking and the new Food Network magazine. My sister buys all the cooking and decorating magazines so when I go to visit her that is what we do - sit and look through magazines. That is her luxury and she buys them all. LOL My niece gave me a subscription to Chatelaine magazine but I don't care for that one so I usually just pass it along to someone else. I do like Hello Canada and Rayalty but my SIL gives me them after she has read them. At Christmas I may buy a holiday baking magazine for cookies but now I am realizing there isn't much new with cookie recipes these days. They just rehash the old recipes LOL I did used to buy the Collectors magazine but I don't even know if it is around anymore. My Sister always brings me home a Southern Living when she comes home from St. Louis but it is also for sale on our newstands. I like the recipes. I only get the Windsor Star if my sister goes away and has her paper rerouted to me which happens often. The news is old having been on the local television news the night before so it is no great loss if I don't get the paper. If I want really want to look at a particular issue of a magazine I can go to the library and read it. Anne