June 20, 1997
SpotLight -- Carol Wallace
 | Carol Wallace is the managing editor for all the gardening topics at Suite101. In addition to her duties as a managing editor, she is the contributing editor for her own Virtually Gardening topic. Looking around the gardening topics you realize that she is successfully managing one of the most popular areas of Suite 101. Let's find out how she does it. | When and how did you get started on the Internet?
Would you believe my doctor prescribed a modem as a cure for job stress? That was about 4 years ago. He thought I could use it to play games. Instead I found USENET the first night, with an antiques group, and one for gardening. And I was hooked. My husband became a computer widower, and resignedly got me a separate phone line so that he could use our main phone for real, voice-to-voice conversations. And I've been here ever since. How did you become involved with Suite 101? Did you join as a member first, or were you a Contributing Editor from the start?
I got here in a roundabout way. Julie Bradshaw saw the web page of a friend of mine and invited him to be the gardens editor. He's shy. He sent the message to me, and wrote to Julie saying he was recommending me, instead. I think there were about 11 other editors at the time. It was strange — and made me feel virtuous — to dutifully turnout my article and check links knowing that probably no one but Julie ever read them.
After a while I noticed that a couple people were called Managing Editors, and I asked Julie how you got to be one of those. She told me to find more editors. I did. There are about a zillion possible gardening topics, so I actually haven't done as good a job as I should of filling out the section, But it's a start. What do you like best about being an Editor for Suite 101?
Tough question. I love the opportunity to write about something that really intrigues me. I also love the discipline that it requires. Writing weekly is great exercise for a wanna be writer. And my credentials as a Suite 101 editor have helped me to sell garden articles to a couple of fairly big gardening magazines. But another thing I love is the great interaction I have had with my other gardening editors. I had no idea that would be so much fun! How would you like to see Suite 101 progress in the future?
I would love to see more and more editors — so that we become almost an online encyclopedia where anyone can come to find great information, no matter what their interests. And I do hope we continue to be the same kind of online community we are now. I've only seen one of my editors face to face, but I feel like all of them, and the rest of Suite 101 is a community of friends — and I really enjoy being a part of that! How did you come up with the name for your topic, Virtually Gardening?
Virtually Gardening comes from teaching advertising. In ads, "virtually" is a weasel word. People think it means "almost" when it really means "not in fact." I figured writing about gardening was almost gardening, but was not in fact gardening — and I was doing it virtually, to boot! How do you go about researching an article for your topic? Do you read any newsgroups, mailing lists or other on-line forums? How many hours a day do you devote to surfing?
I don't want to know how many hours I spend surfing. I know finding links for my lawn ornament article took me a full day — about 11 hours! I keep a reference shelf of gardening books behind the computer. I also belong to a gardens mailing list, with about 200 posts a day. And I do spend a lot of time checking out any new garden sites that I find. How did you become involved in your topic and what is it about your topic that makes you "passionate"?
I got involved in gardening by accident, too. We have an apartment complex behind our yard. We also happen to have a very large yard. The apartment people were using it as a place to walk their dogs, play softball, etc. I decided maybe a garden would signal private property to them — which it did, to some extent. But in the process I discovered an excitement in running out every morning to see what was new — and in the garden, something is always new. In fact, I keep making more gardens to try out new plants and new ideas.
I'm a frustrated artist. My garden is my canvas, and the plants are my paint, and I love making beautiful pictures. I also loved the unexpected bonuses — new and interesting birds started to appear, I began to make friends with other gardeners. And I found that gardening is one of those topics where the more you learn, the more you find there is still to learn — and I can't resist a challenge like that! You have created an extensive resource for Internet garden shopping at your home page, Garden Sources. What prompted you to create this site?
A lot of thought. I really wanted people to look at my logo designs and maybe hire me. But very few people will purposely look at a page that's specifically there to sell. So I brainstormed with myself for another reason to make people want to visit my site.
Besides — what can I say? I'm a plant junkie. I'm probably the one who uses that resource the most. Also, at your site, you promote your identity package and logo design service for small businesses. Do you think that your creative design talents carry over to your garden creations?
I wish! I've learned to edit my designs, and my writing. I haven't learned to edit the garden. I almost get the design just right, and then I fall in love with a new plant and have to find a place to put it. Although I have to admit — I was quite strict with myself in the last two gardens, and they work beautifully. No orphans allowed! The gardening topics are some of the best, most community oriented parts of Suite101. Obviously, part of what created that atmosphere is your work as the managing editor. What is it about gardening, and the individuals that have that interest, that promotes such outstanding participation in the discussions?
Gardeners tend to be very open, generous people. And passionate about what they do — and probably about what all the other garden editors are doing, too. We just can't resist putting our two cents worth into everybody else's topic areas. And generally, I'd have to say we're a gabby bunch. And what's nicest — we've become friends, and also chat on personal e-mail.
I think we just finished what might be the two biggest threads (both on the same topic!) in Suite 101 history so far. I was tickled to see all the people who joined into the tacky garden ornament threads. Maybe it helps to be a little crazy. Final Comments from Carol Wallace
Do people realize that gardening is not only good exercise, but that it's therapeutic — good for the soul, good for depression? It's even being used in hospitals now as a form of therapy. Everybody ought to try to garden, even if it�s just a few seeds, and a handkerchief-sized patch of dirt.
All the folks at Suite101 are impressed with Carol's work. Julie Bradshaw remarks, "I clearly remember my introduction to Carol and her incredible talents; I was so moved when I read her first article on her application that I read it out loud to our office." Why don't you take a moment to read this first article, Gardening Virtually and experience a bit of what makes the Gardening Topics so special.
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