One of my classic wintertime activities is to attempt progress on my seemingly perpetual goal of de-cluttering; in particular, I am talking about tackling the various catalogs, magazines, and industry related detritus that seems to accumulate when I turn my back.
In this process, I am always torn about which and how many magazines to keep. Well, it just got a little bit easier, thanks to Horticulture Magazine, who recently issued a DVD compilation of all past issues spanning 1997-2006.
Upon arrival of this higher-tech tool, I was able to recycle my past issues of the magazine, and reduce a least a bit of clutter.
But that’s not all – the real benefit is that I now have a practical, useful record of the magazines. The DVD has loads of search options – I can search by topic, issue, feature, keyword, you name it! Much more functional than a stack on magazines sitting on a dusty shelf!
Similarly, The American Gardener is another magazine that is largely available electronically. Access to the online archive of The American Gardener is provided as a benefit of membership in the American Horticulture Society (AHS). Subscribers can find the password, which allows access on the members-only section of the AHS website, inside the front cover of their magazine. The online archive includes the full contents of each issue since January 2001 and there is some additional content dating back to the Nov/Dec 1998 issue.
If I find something lengthy that I want to read fully, I do find it more comfortable if I print the article on my desktop printer. But, if you’re like me and you’re looking to reduce clutter, and you don’t mind doing your initial browsing on your computer screen, this format might be one to consider.
