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Re: Information from Mel

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Doreen Howard wrote:
>As a freelance magazine writer, photographer and editor and as the author of
>several books on gardening, I can testify to the fact that Rodale does NOT
>give a writer a fair deal.  The first tip-off is their instance that all
>rights be granted to them.  In other words, for a small pittance, they own
>your intellectual efforts.  You can never use your own words again.  If you
>wonder why gifted garden writers seldom or never write for Rodale and
>Organic Gardening, you should know now.  I sold them one article early in my
>career, and that was the cheapest lesson I ever learned--looking back on the
>experience.  I wish Mel luck and certainly will register my protests with
>Maria.

I'm simply appalled. Despite Cyn's protests that this is the norm, that
doesn't wash with me. How sad that an organization which has been so
responsible for promoting high *values* with regard to the earth, soil and
gardening can't extend those same values to other areas of life -- viz.
authors and publishing. Pitiful. 

Just because *it's the way it's done* elsewhere doesn't mean that's the way
things SHOULD be done. I think it's incumbent on conscious people and
organizations (and I would've been tempted to put Maria Rodale in that
category after reading her book) to promote and display those same
*conscious* values in other areas of life, and fight exploitation
everywhere, starting with their own house.

Patricia
Zone 7b, West Georgia
who is thoroughly disgusted and contemplating never buying another Rodale
book (even while realizing that's probably not practicable or feasible)

P.S. John -- I have an idea. Is it possible to set up a section of your
page on Mel's story for people to post their comments? At some point you
could forward them to Maria Rodale.


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