Being ahead of their time runs in Maria R odale’s
family. Her grandfather, J.I. Rodale, was one of the first to sound
the alarm about the increasing use of agricultural chemicals and their
harmful effect on the earth. He’s credited with introducing the organic movement
to the U.S. when he started Organic Farming and Gardening magazine decades
before organic labels began to appear on grocery store shelves. Today, Rodale Inc.
is the leading multi-platform publisher of health and wellness lifestyle magazines—
among them Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and Prevention—plus such books as
Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. And its nonprofit Rodale Institute provides vital
information to help farmers transition to organic growing methods. • We talked
with Maria Rodale about everything from her family to the new online incarnation
of Organic Style magazine, which Rodale published in print form from 2001 to 2005.
Last year, Rodale sold the trademark to Organic Bouquet, and now the new Organic
Style company is debuting its own digital magazine in this premier issue.

Where it all Began

J.i. rodale and his family played a pioneering role in the organic movement. Maria Rodale, chairman of the board of the company he founded, reflects on yesterday, today, and tomorrow. By JEan viCTOr

Q maria, what was it like growing up in the rodale family?

A^B _moth wonderful and odd. Wonderful because I lived on the original organic farm y grandfather and grandmother started. We had pigs and cows and chickens and a big barn filled with hay and kittens everywhere, so it was a kid’s dream. What was