Hi all

Just found another set of Herb's mags on Ebay, these are from 1996 the ebay item number is 310012989882

Same deal as the 1995 ones, buy it now of £2.00 plus £3.50 postage. If anybody buys them, let me know, soon as they're gone I'll delete the post. Below is the description from ebay that tells you what is in each issue.

Debs

SPRING 1996 - contained - Saffron - a precious flavouring + recipes - Thyme aromatic in garden and kitchen - Profile of RHS Wisley herb garden - Herbs at Congham Hall Hotel - Herbs a promising source of phytomedicines and drugs - Understanding proprietary potions - Herbal spring cleaning to create your own natural bath and beauty products + recipes - A 9th century monastic herb garden

SUMMER 1996 - contained - Thinking with your nose the new borders of Chelsea Physic Garden -An Essential Oil Treasury - Lavandula the need for new research - Preserving the Scents of the Rose + recipes - A French Herbal study tour - In Search of Jatamansi travel to Himalayas to find the herb with which Mary Magdalene anoined the feet of Jesus - Current Research on medicinal Plants - Themes for herb gardens - A taste of Italy - recipes.

AUTUMN/WINTER 1996 - contained - Return of the herb garden - Food, family, fiction and gardens at Chawton - The gifts of Herbs + recipes of gifts to make - Medicinal and Aromatic Plants South Africa plant heritage  - Practicing Planetary Herbology - Travel in Eastern USA - Angelica, recipes plus information - Coost the Immune system - Natural Products from plants - The Patio herb garden

Thanks Deb for this pointer. I've placed a bid, so who knows. Will let you know if I get them.

I have quickly looked through the ones I bought from ebay last week, and the one you kindly sent me, and I have to say that my first impressions are that there is so much more in the old magazines, when compared with the current ones. There was so much more going on, at least to my untrained eye, and there is so much more information about all sorts of things. The articles are far more interesting to read, and seem to me to be more relevant. Granted, it's not so glossy, and has no colour pictures, but I don't think that matters in the least. It's the content that matters.

I hope I'm not treading on any toes by saying this, but I couldn't help but be struck by the difference between them and the current issues.

I agree with you, Sue. I often use articles from back copies of Herbs as reference points for some of my handouts. When I was doing one on sowing and propagating plants I learned massive amounts that I didn't know before.

The new magazine is a pleasant read and beautifully put together, but the articles are aimed, as most "womens magazine" articles at an audience who enjoy being entertained rather than informed and challenged. I'm always left at the end of them thinking...oh is that it?

It would be interesting to know where the Editor is aiming to pitch her commissioned articles and who her proposed readership is.

Best wishes

Sarah

Hi Sue & Sarah

Having had the opportunity to be able to compare some of the old issues, I have to say that the articles and the subjects covered in the 80's and 90's were of more interest to me than a lot of the ones in the 00's. Don't get me wrong the magazine is interesting and has some lovely articles now, but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of recipes or things to make. I don't know why that is, maybe it's because I'm more hands on and that sort of thing appeals to me. I don't mind reading about places in South Africa etc but as I'm never going to go there I'm more interested in places I can visit in the UK.

What do others think? Are we behind the times? (ones always tempted to type thymes lol!) What would a perfect issue of 'Herbs' contain for you?

Debs