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Jeff Rugg
EMAIL: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it I would like to hear from you with questions and comments on any topics in the gardening, landscaping and nature fields of interest. There are a few guidelines you should understand when you write to newspaper columnists. Some of the questions received are not appropriate for the rest of the audience. They may be too specific or they may be too late in the season to be beneficial, at this point in time. Some of the questions are saved until the following year when they do make for a good column, but if you miss the paper that week you may miss the answer. Your question may get answered right away, but you could still miss it and we can not always respond directly back to you. I answer as many questions as I can, but I can not go out to look at your yard, even if you live close by. I do make an exception for my mom because she feeds me when I visit. I do look for questions that will apply to a larger audience and ones that can be used in this season, but that should not stop you from asking what you need to know now, since I often (but can’t always) respond back to individuals directly. Many of the papers that use garden columns only use them during the summer, even though I write the articles year round. Some weekly papers have limited space for columns, especially if there are not enough advertisers in a particular week. So, sometimes the article with your answer is available to the paper, but they may not print it. Sometimes, articles are saved by the newspaper and printed at an inappropriate time. If you like my column, then tell your local editor that you want to see it run every week and year round. Editors like to have feedback, both positive and negative; they want to know if you find a column useful. I do get samples of books and products from vendors from time to time. I do not get paid from them to test things. I do give an honest review. If you have a garden, wild bird or nature product and you want me to test, send me an email about it. Products mentioned on this web site are ones that I believe will perform well for you, if you use them in the proper manner, but I can not be responsible if it does not work for you. So, what does this all mean? I do try to answer all questions, even if they will not appear in the paper, but I am sorry, I may not get to all of them. Please write anyway. |