Comments on: Just. Plain. Dirty.

By: Gayla

Gayla — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:24:31 +0000

Is that THE Ken Druse of the fantastically awesome book “Making More Plants?”

Thanks for making those important points JNEF and natural gardener. When this came up last week I contemplated writing a much longer post listing the many environmental issues with their products but will admit that my anger got the best of me and I instead opted to fire off a quick post only linking to the chemical issue. If anything this experience has pushed me to be more forthcoming in my indictment of their products. In the past I have tried to focus on educating gardeners on alternatives and mentioning the harmfulness of these sorts of products without pointing fingers (mostly to protect myself from litigation) but am rethinking a less passive approach.

By: naturalgardener

naturalgardener — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:08:01 +0000

OK, So let’s say Scotts is innocent, this time. I am afraid that copying a good idea is the smallest of their sins.
I have done some tests of products, myself, with controls, etc. They actually have a potting soil, now, that kills plants. How’s that one.
Worst of all is herbicide resistant grass seed – -found 40 miles from its test site.
I appreciate capitalism, but Greed…

By: JNEF

JNEF — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:24:10 +0000

And as a side note- the “organic” Miracle Grow packages of potting soil, etc. are printed with this message on the back:

IMPORTANT: Wear gloves when handling this product.

So much for their “dirt manicure,” eh?

By: SueDonym

SueDonym — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:15:30 +0000

Oh. That’s just sad. :(
I went to a lecture about the actual damage that Miracle Grow and their ilk can do to soil, as well as the likely sources for their product, and it was just very shocking. I was surprised since they are so ubiquitous in gardening and I didn’t know much about it. Still don’t.

By: Gayla

Gayla — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:33:58 +0000

I don’t see how the possibility is so impossible… certainly no more impossible than Scott’s legal domain over the colours yellow and green. Furthermore Scott’s PR and marketing people HAVE contacted me in the past…

There are so many examples of big multinational corporations desperate to appear authentic (for a variety of reasons) “drawing inspiration” (to be kind) from some pretty obscure sources. They are in search of a visual and written language that captures that authenticity. It’s not just the advertising companies… and I don’t believe a company as big as Scott’s is naive about the way they advertise their products. In this case it’s about selling a product that is out-of-sync with a past, longterm marketing scheme.

I have also stated a few times now that the “infringement against my property” is not the main point I am trying to make and this sort of “what if?” argument takes away from that point.

The legal issue is a moot point given I don’t have the money or resources to legally go after a company like Scott’s… and frankly whether one is legally in the right or not doesn’t matter… what matters when it comes to these sorts of property rights battles is who has the resources to go the distance. I am not a massive corporation but one person… my resources would not take me down the block.

I think we’ll have to agree to disagree…. it’s a go nowhere argument.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:33:58 +0000

The client may be involved, but as MTHS said I guarantee if they do not have an inhouse as MTHS suggested, they did not do the amount of research it would take to come across your site and that entry and image and phrase. i appreciate that you do not like Scott’s, but i really doubt they purposely infringed on you in any way. it seems more like a coincidence to me.

(i too am a graphic designer. i work inhouse for a national television network, and while we have an inhouse we also outsource some projects to an ad agency so i know a lot about that process.)

By: Gayla

Gayla — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:57:41 +0000

I worked in advertising too… on the side of the agency and I continue to work as a designer. Out-of-house or not the process of putting together a campaign includes input from all sides to greater or lesser degrees depending on the working relationship. But regardless, the client is always involved.

By: MTHS

MTHS — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:18:16 +0000

Interesting post. I am in advertising (writer) and the ads originate with the advertising agency; the client just approves them (usually). Not saying it wasn’t somehow related, but unless Scott’s does their advertising in-house, the agency presented and designed the work. There are companies who try to dictate their ads, of course. I don’t buy Scott’s products and I garden a lot — I’ll read more on your site to learn more. Thanks.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:08:29 +0000

Hey Gayla,

Thank you for being bothered enough by this situation to post about it. It further encourages me to use what power I have to counter the substance-less crap of this company & others like it. If you just turned away from it unruffled & dug into some actual dirt instead, I wouldn’t know about this or have access to the additional info provided by others in their posts. Australia’s example is excellent. Seems some damn good things can happen when a bunch of bothered people get together.

By: alphatango

alphatango — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:30:09 +0000

Gayla,

So we have that in common… “getting out the advertising industry” to use our talents and powers for good. I left the ad biz about 14 years ago for all the right reasons… Then television too… Since then I’ve created for a great municipality/city dreaming up public sector campaigns and designs to fight litter and violence, promote accessibility and civic pride, and… to promote community gardening, the “greening” of our City. My anti-litter campaigns were adopted by about 30 cities and towns around Toronto.

As far as a “talking wallet” is concerned:
1. My city pay is a fraction of what I earned in the ad biz.
2. I never buy BAD corp’ gardening products. And your YGG site and members show/warn me how/when not to…

Perhaps I should have suggested that we all “Water our positives and let others’ negatives wither.” …or “Gardeners don’t need rose coloured glasses.”

…if ad agencies twist those phrases and turn them into profits, I won’t let it bother me. …I’ll just keep gardening responsibly.

Much Respect.

Greg