Modern Farmer

We told you there were a lot of great new magazines out there.  Modern Farmer gives us a -- well -- modern look at today's farmer.   We are not talking about Ma and Pa Kettle and the kids on the lower forty.  We are talking about space, the final frontier.  Farms dotting the globe.  Articles by former President Bill Clinton.   This publication is no issuu project.

The founder and editor in chief, Ann Marie Gardner,has worked for The New York Times and Tatler magazine.  Like many people, she noticed and uptick in interest in farming and conceived of a magazine that might address farming in the 21st century.   To make her vision a reality, she proposed the idea to gazillionaire investors and Frank Giustra said give it a try.  Giustra, who was once the chairman of Lion’s Gate Entertainment was becoming interested in farming himself, after venturing into olive oil production in Umbria.  While no one is talking  money, it was clearly enough to produce a glossy magazine with a nice sized staff.

While their focus is farming, you won't find articles about planting an herb garden, unless you are planting it on the moon.  You will find artisan cowbells, an illustrated 1941 farm journal, a chef who eats dirt, and the hows and whys of illegal milk crates.  Recently, they offered up three of London's hottest farm-to-table restaurants, featuring The Grain Store whose chef, Bruno Loubet, is our Cookbook Of The Day.

Modern Farmer offers up a modern digital edition, complete with a web site; as well as a traditional print issue. 

Broadway + Thresher

In our dreamworld, we would get a magazine every day of the year, and two on Christmas.  We have been loving a new crop of digital magazines appearing on the horizon, or the desktop as it were.  Today we are giving a shout out to Broadway + Thresher.  We saw an early edition of this magazine and then promptly forgot the name of it.  We spent weeks trying to retrace our steps to find it again!  We succeeded. 

Andrew Kohn and David Gobeli both worked for magazine and often crossed paths.  Like many a magazine worker they thought, "Hey we could do this."     Kohn had worked in Washington, D.C. before heading to Ohio to open a bed & breakfast.  Gobeli longed fro the bright lights and big city and when he got there, wanted a more pastoral life and found both in Madison, Wisconsin. Haunting a flea market, Kohn found an old street sign.  When Gobeli saw the sign,  their idea was cemented.

Broadway + Thresher was exactly the lifestyle they wanted to convey.  A modern, urban sensibility in the countryside.  The best of both worlds, really.   Broadway + Thresher has a bit of fashion, a taste of farming, a bite of food, a piece of art, and a cocktail or two.  Who doesn't love that?

Broadway + Thresher is using issuu, so there will be some slow loading.  A subscription will cost you $20, but it is well worth it.  The Preview issue as well as Issue 1 can be viewed for free to get a feel for the magazine.  After that, you will simply have no reason not to subscribe. 

Paprika Southern

Yesterday we posted about the cool new game, Lords and Ladies.   Today we thought we might tell you where we fist heard about the game -- in the pages of Paprika Southern. Paprika Southern is a digital magazine originating in Savannah, Georgia. 

Programs like issuu have made it possible for anyone to be their own digital publisher, much like the Polaroid camera made everyone a photographer.   If you have ever seen old Polaroids, you know that just because you can take a picture, doesn't mean you should.   All of you creative types out there probably have at least one good magazine in you.   But publishing a magazine is hard work.  Doing it on a consistent basis and doing it well is tough.  After one or two sporadic issues, most would-be publishers abandon the idea.   Paprika Southern just published their fifth issue and it looks like nothing will be stopping them.

 In the 1950's savvy young women intent on publishing took the bus to New York City, stayed at the Barbizon and wore gloves to work.  Ten years ago, savvy young women flew to New York City, found a third floor walk-up in Chelsea and wore flip-flops to work.   Now days, savvy young women can find a place they love, live in affordable housing, and start their own magazines in their pajamas if they are so inclined.

Sharing a third floor walk-up in New York City,  Siobhan Egan and Bevin Valentine would probably be getting coffee for a senior editor, or running errands, or supervising an occasional photo shoot.  Instead, they are producing a lifestyle magazine with a Southern flair that is regional without being provincial.

Seamlessly integrated in the pages of Paprika Southern the reader will find fashion and farming, beer and opera, art and commerce, and much more.  You will be missing out if you don't take a look at Paprika Southern.

PS:  If there is a problem it lies with issuu which is rather slow at loading the pages.  This had always been an issue with issuu, so don't let this slow you down.