City Gardening magazine is written for the gardening hobbyist (non-professional) and gardening professional who grow and cultivate flowers, fruits, herbs, shrubs, trees and vegetables in a city. We define a city as a distinct and demarcated area that consists of a population density of a minimum of 6,000 people per square mile. City Gardening will provide articles and reports about the unique features, challenges and ultimate benefits of gardening in the considerable artificial environment of the city. Through well researched and well written editorial content, City Gardening will enhance the understanding, appreciation, and skills of the gardening hobbyist and the professional gardener who will practice their hobby or profession in the city.

Each issue of City Gardening will consist of three to four feature articles on a wide range of gardening topics of direct concern to America’s city inhabitants. Two to three gardening projects are included to help enhance the garden skills of readers. Other departments in the publication include news summaries, letters from readers, profiles of city gardeners, and occasional essays by the publisher and editor.

The editor and founder of City Gardening is Truby Chiaviello. For almost 20 years, Chiaviello has worked in the publishing business at almost every level. He has worked for a number of newspapers and magazines as a publisher, reporter with beats on crime, politics and the environment, managing editor, circulation manager and advertising sales manager. Chiaviello conceived of the idea of publishing City Gardening magazine when he and his wife moved to Washington, D.C., and started and maintained a vegetable, herb and flower garden in their small front yard. In his own words:

“I have always loved cities. I grew up just a few miles outside New York City. I have always been fascinated by the amazing diversity of people, shops, and buildings you will see in a city. However, when my family and I began to garden in Washington, I came to the conclusion that the plants, flowers and trees grown in America’s cities dwarfs all other city characteristics when it comes to diversity. Indeed, the last thing that comes to your mind when you think about a city is plants and flowers. Surprisingly, more than the suburbs or rural areas, cities are home to an incredible number of different flowers, vegetables and trees, many of which you won’t find anywhere else in the country. The untold story of America’s cities is its gardens.

“My idea behind City Gardening is to convey to the world the dynamic and continuing story of the vibrancy, challenge and beauty of today’s private and public city gardens. We hope City Gardening will ensure the continuingm interest and enhancement of skills of America’s city inhabitants with regard to gardening so that gardens remain a cherished element and characteristic of America’s cities for years to come.”