Digging Dirt with Amy Stewart

Amy Stewart, author of the popular blog titled 'Dirt', rolls back her shirtsleeves and digs in to provide her readers with a variety of topics. Ranging from gardening, worm composting, to chicken raising, Amy is passionate about all of her interests. Her passion has resulted in being a recipient of a National Endowment Arts fellowship, appearances on various television and radio talk shows, and having her books on Discovery Channel Book Club Selection – to mention a few of her honors.

"I really love blogging because it is spontaneous, informal, and because I don't have to worry about offending anybody. I really hate the kind of "Here are five handy tips for adding summer color to your patio" garden writing. I want to read real people using their real voices, and blogging is where that's happening. Garden media is increasingly dominated by a few companies. Go check out the garden magazines on the newsstand – they are almost all published by Better Homes & Gardening or Fine Gardening magazine. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but there's just not much diversity. Plus, it's all aimed at beginning gardeners. I want to write and read about, people's engagement with the natural world – their connection with the plant kingdom. And I want to read something funny and interesting, that has real personality! That is what's happening on blogs," Amy stated.

When asked about her background, Amy says, "I was a regular kid of the suburbs with no gardening experience. I grew up in Dallas/Fort Worth and went to college in Austin. I attended grad school at University of Texas-Austin. Texas is very hot in the summer and 'yard work' was more of an unwanted chore than anything else."

"I am a writer and I write about gardening and nature because it's interesting to me, but like most writers, I depend on other jobs to pay the bills. I have worked for various kinds of public agencies and I am proud to say that all the jobs I have ever had have somehow involved serving the poor. That is something I think we all have a moral obligation to do," Amy said.