Michigan Gardener is a regional gardening magazine founded in 1996 by brothers Eric and Jonathon Hofley. The magazine can be picked up free of charge at over 250 locations throughout Southeastern Michigan. MichiganGardener.com features an archive of articles and features from the print magazine as well as listings of current events, news briefs, garden resources, and more.

History

Eric and Jonathon Hofley began the initial brainstorming sessions for Michigan Gardener in the fall of 1995. (And yes, the early notes were made on napkins in a coffee shop!) Eric was a new homeowner at the time and fully captivated by plants and gardening. He also had experience producing newsletters for his garden club as well as publications for other groups. Jonathon had just graduated from college where he was the managing editor for his college newspaper and ran a gardening business during summers away from school.

Knowing that they wanted to create a publication of their own, gardening was the natural choice. The duo combined their interests and skills, and during the winter of 1995-96, they diligently prepared to launch the premier issue of Michigan Gardener in May, 1996. For the first few years, the brothers held their day jobs while producing the magazine during all other available hours. In 2000 they transitioned to Michigan Gardener full-time as the magazine continued to grow. They handled editing, advertising, and graphic design, as well as a large portion of each issue’s delivery, and continue to do so today. They also produce the Michigan Gardener E-Newsletter and maintain their website, MichiganGardener.com, making it the region’s best online resource for gardening information.