Harrowsmith (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Harrowsmith Country Life was a lifestyle magazine
geared to countryside or rural living. Originally just called Harrowsmith, it was founded as a back-to-the-land and environmental magazine in the small (Pop. 256) village of Camden East
(Ontario, Canada) in 1976 by James M. Lawrence
. Within two years, the magazine had over 100,000 subscribers and eventually became Canada's 8th largest magazine and the country's leading magazine read outside of Canada.
In 1988, Lawrence sold Harrowsmith to Canadian media giant, Telemedia
, where it remained until 1996. Telemedia launched an American edition, and the words "Country Life" were tacked on to Harrowsmith's title. The American edition reached a paid circulation of 225,000 but was folded as Telemedia began to exit the publishing business, eventually killing or selling all of their properties, including the U.S. and Canadian award-winning titles, New England Monthly
and Equinox.
Harrowsmith TV exists as re-runs and Harrowsmith books are no longer published. Some titles, such as the Harrowsmith 3-Volume Cookbook, are available through Amazon and Firefly Books. Telemedia no longer exists, its assets sold, many to Transcontinental Media in 2000.
Editor Tom Cruickshank came on board in 1996, after Telemedia sold Harrowsmith Country Life, and its sister publication Equinox, to its current owner Malcolm Publishing, a small Montreal company. Equinox ceased publishing in 2000, its mailing list sold its arch-rival Canadian Geographic
, while Harrowsmith went on to celebrate 30 years of publishing in 2006.
In 2011, the magazine had only published one issue in March and in August of 2011 it was announced that Harrowsmith Country Life would cease publication just short of its 35th anniversary issue.
No longer available
Lifestyle magazine
Lifestyle magazine is an umbrella term for popular magazines concerned with lifestyle. There is no universally accepted definition of what constitutes a lifestyle magazine: it is often used to encompass a number of men's magazines, women's magazines and magazines about health and fitness, tourism,...
geared to countryside or rural living. Originally just called Harrowsmith, it was founded as a back-to-the-land and environmental magazine in the small (Pop. 256) village of Camden East
Stone Mills, Ontario
Stone Mills is a township located east of Greater Napanee in Lennox and Addington County, Ontario. According to the 2006 Canadian Census, the township has a population of 7,568.-Communities:...
(Ontario, Canada) in 1976 by James M. Lawrence
James M. Lawrence
James M. Lawrence is the founder of Harrowsmith, Equinox, Harrowsmith Country Life, and EatingWell Magazines. He is currently relaunching CORAL Magazine as editor and publisher. CORAL serves an international audience of marine scientists, amateur and professional aquarists, and coral reef...
. Within two years, the magazine had over 100,000 subscribers and eventually became Canada's 8th largest magazine and the country's leading magazine read outside of Canada.
In 1988, Lawrence sold Harrowsmith to Canadian media giant, Telemedia
Telemedia
Telemedia was a Canadian media company, which had holdings in radio, television and magazine publishing.The company was launched in 1968 by Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien.Telemedia was held privately until it became publicly traded in the late 1980s....
, where it remained until 1996. Telemedia launched an American edition, and the words "Country Life" were tacked on to Harrowsmith's title. The American edition reached a paid circulation of 225,000 but was folded as Telemedia began to exit the publishing business, eventually killing or selling all of their properties, including the U.S. and Canadian award-winning titles, New England Monthly
New England Monthly
New England Monthly was a magazine published in Haydenville, Massachusetts from 1984 to 1990. Founded by Robert Nylen and Daniel Okrent , it won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 1986 and 1987, and was a finalist for many other National Magazine Awards in its brief...
and Equinox.
Harrowsmith TV exists as re-runs and Harrowsmith books are no longer published. Some titles, such as the Harrowsmith 3-Volume Cookbook, are available through Amazon and Firefly Books. Telemedia no longer exists, its assets sold, many to Transcontinental Media in 2000.
Editor Tom Cruickshank came on board in 1996, after Telemedia sold Harrowsmith Country Life, and its sister publication Equinox, to its current owner Malcolm Publishing, a small Montreal company. Equinox ceased publishing in 2000, its mailing list sold its arch-rival Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic is the bimonthly magazine of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society . It was first published in May 1930 under the name Canadian Geographical Journal. The society's objective was to produce a popular magazine dealing primarily with Canadian geography...
, while Harrowsmith went on to celebrate 30 years of publishing in 2006.
In 2011, the magazine had only published one issue in March and in August of 2011 it was announced that Harrowsmith Country Life would cease publication just short of its 35th anniversary issue.
External links
No longer available