‘Tis the season for April showers, fresh blooms, and bursts of sunshine. Here at Gus HQ, we’re channelling all that spring energy into nurturing our own little shoot — the first-ever print issue of Asparagus Magazine!
We can’t wait to share it with you, the campaign contributors who made it possible. The issue will be filled with practical advice about living sustainably, as well as thoughtful stories from around the world (printed on 100%-post-consumer-recycled paper, of course).
Whether you’re buying sunscreen, travelling in a country with unsafe tap water, shopping for clothes, or exploring your local farmers’ market, our first print issue will help you do it more sustainably. The magazine will also feature insightful analysis and storytelling from our journalists, who are delving into tricky issues like the ecological footprint of palm oil (which you’ll find in at least half the products on grocery store shelves) and the problem with viewing Indigenous pipeline activism through a purely environmental lens.
My fellow editor Alia sent out a newsletter yesterday, and had this to say about the coming issue: "I’m particularly inspired by a pair of essays about connecting with nature. Our parenting columnist Brianna Sharpe looks at how kids who study outside at forest schools could shape our society. And Filipino-American writer Dana Poblete shares how volunteering with a conservation organization in LA has given her a sense of home, and showed her the connections between environmental and racial justice in her adopted city."
Most of our crowdfunding supporters opted to receive the issue, but if you're one of the 30-or-so who made a monetary contribution without claiming any rewards, now is the time to subscribe! Become a subscriber today and you’ll be among the first to receive a copy, as well as free admission to our issue launch party in June. (Can't remember if you're getting the issue? Send an email to asparagusmagazine[at]gmail[dot]com and we can check for you.)
And, of course, if the description above sounds like something someone you know might be interested in, you can always send them a gift subscription. Otherwise, just sit back, relax, and keep an eye out for something bright and green arriving in your mail 6-8 weeks from now.
Happy spring!
Jessie
p.s. A reminder that if you want more regular updates on Asparagus' activities, I recommend signing up for our email newsletter. Newsletters typically come out once a month, and contain links to our most recent online stories, as well as any other exciting news from the asparagus patch.