PlanTea, Inc.
PO Box 1694, Kodiak, AK 99615
Contact: Marion Owen
Phone: 1-800-253-6331 (907-486-2500) 9 to 5 Pacific; Email: marion@ptialaska.net
Date: September 2, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
When One Email Makes a Difference
Alaska Gardener Featured in National Lifestyle Magazine
Kodiak, Alaska gardener
and writer Marion Owen is featured in September's Delicious Living magazine,
a publication that's distributed in 1,800 health food stores nationwide. The
article appears on page 20 in the magazine's monthly feature, "Why I Do What
I Do" which provides an overview of an individual's lifestyle, be it hiking,
diet, eco-travel or business.
In Owen's case, she was interviewed several times last spring. "Christy Wohlford,
the writer, asked me about lots of things--photography, teaching, my philosophy
on life, gardening and what it's like to live in Alaska," recalls Owen. "The
finished article focuses pretty much on how organic gardening has played such
an important role in my life."
With a monthly circulation of 425,000 and a readership of over one million,
Delicious Living represents a great exposure. And Owen almost missed
the opportunity.
"In April, I received an e-mail message requesting an interview,"
says Owen, whose photographs, articles and interview have appeared in TIME,
Organic Gardening and Vegetarian Times. "I almost deleted it, thinking
it was just junk mail. I'm glad I followed up."
Jeff Cowells, a spokesman for Delicious Living, says the annual September issue
is his personal favorite. "The magazine has been around for almost 20 years
as a natural lifestyle publication. In each issue we touch on diet, fitness,
food, healthy topics and recipes. But in this month's issue, we include a lot
of great recipes and a section on men's health."
How did the editors find Marion Owen all the way in Kodiak, Alaska?
The publication, based in Colorado, found the garden writer through her www.plantea.com
web site, which has been online since 1996. "Ancient history," says
Owen, the site's webmother.
"Web sites are important these days," says Owen, whose site is bolstered
by "content" such as gardening articles, photography tips, recipes
and "life in Alaska" sketches, "but they're not the Holy Grail
of marketing.
"When trying to make a presence in a very competitive market, you need
to hit all fronts: Mailings, a dynamic web site, bricks and mortar, networking,
personal contacts and so on," she adds. Owen, who conducts business seminars
through the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, will be teaching a How to Get Publicity
for Your Organization workshop next month at the Master Gardener Advanced Training
Conference in Port Townsend, Wash.
Candy Falatko, co-owner of a local health food store, Cactus Flats Natural Foods,
says the magazine is a popular feature in her store and in many stores around
the U.S. "I haven't been in a health food store where they didn't have Delicious
Living, And the photo of Marion in her garden is great because it shows
how beautiful Kodiak Island is, and that you can really grow things here."
"My hope is that after someone reads the article," says Owen, "They're encouraged
to try their hand at organic gardening or take on other goals they've always
dreamed of doing."
The entire Delicious Living article is posted online at:
http://www.healthwell.com/delicious-online/d_backs/sep_03/update7.cfm
-- END --
PlanTea: The organic plant
food in tea bags. http://www.plantea.com
Copyright ©1996 to present: PlanTea, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PO Box 1980,
Kodiak, AK 99615-1980 USA
Questions or comments? marion@plantea.com
Phone: Toll Free: 1-800-253-6331 (US and Canada); 907-486-2500
