On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA February-March 2016 | Page 19

2016 MANTS Publishers, too, have responded with the largest offering ever of books on subjects ranging from heirloom vegetables, organic backyard gardening and heritage apples, to indoor marijuana cultivation and straw bale gardening. Subjects some in the publishing world wouldn’t touch a decade ago have now found a new and burgeoning consumer market. The number of farmers markets rose to 8,476 in August 2015, according to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. 1,755 3,706 8,284 8,476 This group is about half of the nearly 100 GWA members who were spotted during the three-day run of MANTS in Baltimore. 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1994 2004 2014 2015 GWA Secretary Maria Zampini and Executive Director Maria Ungaro present a check for $2,500 to the Horticultural Research Institute. The funds were donated by GWA directors and other members. This issue of QT marks the beginning of an on-going series about new directions in garden writing. In future issues, you will hear from those in the field of seed production, organics, edible garden projects and others. Our new food gardening committee thinks this area of garden communication has been neglected in our organization, and we hope that you will enjoy these new perspectives. GWA member Jim Long is a garden columnist, book author and organic herb gardener. He markets his herb health formulas and books through his website, www.longcreekherbs.com and travels the world searching for new and unusual edible plants. PHOTO S COUR TE SY K IR K R. B ROW N We seek story submissions for this column. Please ask the editor for details ([email protected]). (Left to right) Mark Osgerby from Proven Winners, Lorraine Ballato, and Chris Hansen of Chick Charms, meet GWA’s new Deputy Director Ashley Sullivan and Executive Director Maria Ungaro (right). 19