18 years ago, GardenRant began as a grassroots alternative to establishment garden writing.
Four gutsy American writers thought it was time to do something different in garden media. And they did.
It wasn’t that they had an issue with telling people how to grow a tomato. They simply felt that, when it came to growing anything, there was backstory to an “Easy-As-1-2-3-story” — and that there might be fellow gardeners and thinkers out there interested in hearing about it.
Their opinionated, independent commentary, willingness to take on controversial subjects, and big-picture thinking gained an immediate following. And that following had an opinion too – expressed and debated in comments, guest rants and emails. With the advent of social media, the conversations got even bigger.
We’ve had many Ranters and Guest Ranters over the years, and we’ve covered many topics. In the last three years we’ve brought on two British Ranters, and enjoyed the broadened perspective this has given all of us. 18 years is a long time in the digital age, and we’ve effectively come of age while the world grapples with a massive shift in media. Most of us write for other platforms and journals, and thus we are very aware of the scope of that change so far.
So, in the background we’ve redesigned, relogo-ed and shifted to a third-party ad service to keep our opinions free of influence and our platform our own. We’ve also kept the platform subscription-free to allow as many people as possible to join the conversation and share the conversation.
We are different here. And we like to think that we are more than a little courageous. Our aim is not to fill this site with content and key words, but with substance and key ideas. We may not always be right; but we’re willing to have the conversations necessary to debate our opinions. Even when passions run high.
Bottom line, we revel in the freedom that this platform gives our voices – and yours – to continue to debate establishment or hive-mind thinking in horticulture. Not for the sake of instinctively opposing it, but for the ability to hone good ideas and discard bad ones through vigorous, respectful discussion. In doing so, we all benefit.
I know I can speak for all of us when I say how fascinating it is to watch some of those discussions unfold. I am as delighted by seeing familiar names pop up as I am hearing what those names might think about a particular issue.
18 years later, our manifesto is still our mantra.
We are convinced that gardening matters.
We are bored by perfect magazine gardens.
We are in love with real, rambling, chaotic, dirty, bug-ridden gardens.
We are turned off by any activities that involve ‘landscaping with plant materials.’
We are appalled by chemical warfare in the garden.
We are flabbergasted at the idea of a no-maintenance garden.
We are delighted by people with a passion for plants.
And yes, we are still gardening our asses off and having a hell of a lot of fun.
Perhaps after all this time, I would only add one more statement if I could.
We are convinced that curious, engaged, and courageous gardeners matter.
That’s you.
Thank you for that engagement, and the diversity of thought that makes this nearly two-decades old platform the vibrant community that it is. We hope you enjoy each other as much as we enjoy you.
And thank you for helping us remain independent with your eyes, with your clicks, and with your shares to help create other engaged, curious, and courageous gardeners just like you. In a digital age, getting dirty really matters.
Happiest of Thanksgivings to you all.
Garden Rant Is Still Independent. Thanks To You. originally appeared on GardenRant on November 28, 2024.
The post Garden Rant Is Still Independent. Thanks To You. appeared first on GardenRant.
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