Publisher’s Letter
Years back– well, actually generations ago– the term “home and garden,” had a very different connotation than it does now. Today, home and garden is the trendy title or theme of countless television shows, magazines and websites, all designed to provide viewers or readers with a variety of ways to decorate their interiors or tend to their personal plot of earth. The fact that there are entire television networks devoted to the topic of bettering your residence and surroundings should con- firm that these subjects have become extremely popular.
But generations ago, entire families often lived together far longer than the families of today. I grew up this way, and every family member was responsible for their fair share of tending to both the home and the garden. My sisters and I would help in the fields, picking fruits and vegetables to sell or to serve at family meals. Older kids would be charged with taking homegrown produce or farmraised hens to market to help keep a roof over a family’s heads, and mom and dad were overseeing the bigger jobs, like actually building their homes, barns and sheds, and cooking or processing the foods harvested on their land.
In this, our Home and Garden Issue, we take a deeper look into the real meaning of the term in today’s environment. According to recent surveys, Americans are planning on spending 30 percent of their home’s value when undertaking a renovation, remodeling or major home- improvement project this year. In 2010, that number was 25 percent. No doubt, we Americans love to nest, and we want to be comfortable and surrounded by beauty.
Inside our pages you will learn about many different ways to make your house a home and to ensure your garden flourishes beautifully. We understand how central your home and your garden are to your overall well- being. No matter if your green space is a few potted palms in your studio apartment or a half- acre covered with huge, ripe tomato plants and flowering bougainvillea, our stories in this issue will give you new insights into all things home and garden.
But you will also find great resources to help you get the job done, like Robb & Stucky International. Those who remember this Fort Myers furniture company, which began here in 1915, will be pleasantly surprised by the fresh, new direction president Steve Lush is taking the business. His goal is to keep the best of the old company while making it more relevant for today’s customers, and the merchandise and interior design services you’ll find confirm that.
So from decorating with the perfect personal flair that matches your individual style to letting nature fill your plate with the treasures you can grow right outside your house, our Home and Garden Issue will fill you with a renewed passion for your abode and the grounds on which it sits.
Some may look back with fondness on a simpler time, when families literally lived off the land. We hope you do too and that it inspires you to embrace today’s new appreciation for cultivating edible plants and reaping their bounty. We hope the fresh, exciting ideas packed in this issue encourage you to take on that overdue project and transform your house into the home of your dreams.